Diane's Breast Cancer Story - 5

When Diane shared her story with me, I asked if I could post it for others to read. All of us know of someone whose life has been turned upside down by breast cancer. What I found over the years is that a lot of us do not know how to be proactive when it comes to our health. Most of the times, we're too busy to pay attention. Sadly we care for others better than ourselves, and we wait until we're literally crawling into the ER before we acknowledge that there is something wrong. This is our body, God's temple and we need to care for it but in order to do that, we must make the effort to educate ourselves and raise awareness for others.

There will be several posts that represent updates she sent family and friends via email. It allows us a glimpse of heart struggle and her relentless search for answers.

Thanks Diane... xo

Disclaimer: This is a true story. This represents the writer’s opinion only and should not be used as a medical guide. The writer does not claim that medical information contained in this story is completely accurate, current or error free. The writer is not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or any other damages arising out of or in connection with the information provided in this story. Please consult your physician for all medical procedures, advice, plan of actions and tests.

Thursday, March 23, 2006 12:56 PM

Last week was my FINAL Chemo and it was a rough one, but its over now. I also had an ultrasound last week of my liver, gallbladder, kidneys and spleen and every thing was clear. I promised my Mom that if the ultrasound was clear that I would stop worrying. Last week I was planning my final days on earth. This week I feel great. I guess the big C will do that to you.

I met a women who is 6 weeks out of Chemo (she also had Taxol only) and she has fuzz on her head. So by early May, I will have hair again. YEAH!! I really want my eyelashes and eyes brow back more than my hair. I did not lose them all but I have no bottom eyelashes and only about a 1/3 of the top eyelashes I had before C.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 1:54 PM

It’s been awhile since I wrote. I am in my second week of radiation. 25 more treatments to go. So far it is very routine. The drive back and forth is longer then the treatment. Kristie gave me an aloe plant and I take a leaf with me every day and after treatment, I cut it open and spread it on. So far, I have had no adverse reactions to the radiation. Of course they say that it takes two weeks before you will have adverse reactions, soooo fingers crossed.

My eyelashes continue to fall out and it has been 5 weeks since my last chemo round. I now have about 3 eyelashes on each eye and really no eye brows. Unfortunately, I have heard that it takes about 3 months before they start to come back. So, I lost my hair, but not my all my lashes and now just when my hair is starting to come back, I have no lashes. Hey, I guess things could be a whole lot worse. I should be finished with radiation around the first of June and then start on Herceptin June 14^th and I plan to return to work on June 26^th. I thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts.

Thursday, June 01, 2006 3:18 PM

Completed radiation yesterday. Yeah!!! Radiation was five times a week and between the treatment and the drive it took all morning. Radiation was tiring, but it was a cake walk compared to Chemo. The radiation gave me a rash on my breast. I peeled like a bad sunburn, but I think my skin will recover nicely. I am really glad I used the aloe plant leaves or it could have been much worse. I cut the leaves vertically and the aloe liquid oozed out. Great for burns and cuts.

I didn’t really realize how bad I was feeling on chemo until after it was out of my system. They say radiation stays in your system and continues to work for two weeks after you quit. I have been really tired this week, but as most of you know Charlie’s wedding was this past week end and we had the wedding reception at our home. It was a beautiful wedding and the reception went off with out any incidents. We had about 75 people at our home but had lots of great help setting it up and cleaning it up. Between the wedding and daily radiation, I think I am just worn out and now need to rest.

My hair and eye lashes are both growing back. I never thought I would go around in front of people without hair when I first started treatment, but I am comfortable looking like Sinéad O’Connor. I have discovered the beauty of false eyelashes. They do not all have to look fake and they are so easy once you learn the trick. I may keep wearing them.

Next step is Herceptin and a clinical trial involving Tamoxifen & aromatase inhibitors. This will happen on June 14^th. That gives by body time to heal from the radiation.

Technical stuff next:

Herceptin is not chemotherapy. It is a monoclonal antibody (sometimes called biologic therapy). Antibodies are part of the body's normal defense against bacteria, viruses, and abnormal cells such as Cancer cells. Herceptin targets cells that make too much HER-2. HER-2 is a protein found on the surface of Cancer cells. 25% of Breast Cancers are HER-2+. HER-2 + Cancer tumor are more aggressive and tend to grow back faster. My Cancer was HER-2+. Herceptin binds to HER2-positive Cancer cells and may block them from dividing and growing. It may also signal the body's own immune system to destroy the cell. Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody, zeroes in on Cancer cells much more closely than chemotherapy drugs do, thereby sparing surrounding tissue. Because it's a monoclonal antibody and not a chemotherapy drug, Herceptin doesn't bring about the same side effects as chemotherapy drugs do, such as nausea and vomiting, hair loss, and increased risk of infection. And Herceptin is not an anti-estrogen treatment, so it doesn't cause side effects related to the lowering of estrogen levels, such as bone thinning or hot flashes. However, Herceptin does increase your risk of congestive heart failure. Although this risk is low, trials don’t yet provide long-term outcomes, so it's possible this risk could increase over time.

IBCSG-24-02: Estrogen can stimulate the growth of breast tumor cells. Ovarian function suppression combined with hormone therapy using tamoxifen or exemestane may fight Breast Cancer by reducing the production of estrogen. It is not yet known whether suppression of ovarian function plus either tamoxifen or exemestane is more effective than tamoxifen alone in preventing the recurrence of hormone-responsive Breast Cancer.

Tamoxifen is a medication in pill form that interferes with the activity of estrogen. Estrogen promotes the growth of Breast Cancer cells. Tamoxifen works against the effects of estrogen on these cells. It is often called an “anti-estrogen.” Estrogen is produced by the ovaries and other tissues of the body, using a substance called aromatase. Aromatase inhibitors do not block estrogen production by the ovaries, but they can block other tissues from making this hormone. Unfortunately for me, the most effective treatments today are for post menopausal women and I am still pre menopausal. This is one time (and hey retirement) that I wish I was older.

Tamoxifen and exemestane (AI) both block the growth of breast tumors that respond to estrogen, but the two drugs work in different ways. Tamoxifen interferes with the ability of Breast Cancer cells to use estrogen for growth, whereas exemestane interferes with the body's ability to make estrogen.

Exemestane inactivates the enzyme aromatase, which the body uses to make estrogen. Before menopause, most estrogen is produced in the ovaries, which contain more aromatase than exemestane can block. After menopause, however, the ovaries are no longer a major source of estrogen, and exemestane is able to block estrogen production by other tissues. Therefore, exemestane and other so-called aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are effective only in postmenopausal women which is why they I am joining clinical trial IBCSG-24-02.

Most Breast Cancers need supplies of the hormone estrogen to grow. Production of estrogen by the ovaries is stimulated by a hormone called leuteinising hormone, which is produced by the pituitary gland. Goserelin (brand name: Zoladex) stops the production of leuteinising hormone from the pituitary gland, which leads to a reduction in estrogen levels. The Cancer cells then grow more slowly or stop growing altogether. The Cancer may shrink in size.

Triptorelin is a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, or LHRH agonist. These medicines work by slowing or stopping the release of estrogen in women and testosterone in men. Triptorelin, which has been used effectively for prostate Cancer, is in the same family as leuprolide (brand name: Lupron) and goserelin (brand name: Zoladex). This medicine is being studied in other trials for its effectiveness in preserving fertility in pre-menopausal women with early-stage Breast Cancer.