Going for 6th cycle of chemo...

Let's hope this is the last cycle. I asked the doctor, and he smiled but said he would not know until the next scan.

Sometimes I wish there are easier way... other than drawing blood sample and putting our body into machines. I ask myself, "how are you?". The answers are always the same "fine" as I really felt good most times, except for the some little episodes here and there, where I may have fractured my toes, or got bladder infection...

Anyway, please, let this be the last cycle...

Links and linkages

It's amazing how cancer has brought me new way of life, and renewed relationship with some of my relatives. Am so touched that so many relatives came forward to show their support. A cousin whom I have lost touch with for over 10 years sent me a long email after finding out about my condition. And there's a long list of information and links provided, some of them I am exploring.

While I am going back on chemo and trusting that I am making the best decision, getting the best treatment available, it does not stop me from reading or exploring... The longer I live, the more I believe that there is no "right" or "wrong", but from what perspective, and whose point of view. In some occasions, people justify killing or sacrificing lives, in the name of justice, or in order to save other lives. After all, we co-exist in this universe, and are related to each other in one way or another. So, if we are just a small part of a larger system, and we are all linked together in the same team, does it matter who is right and who is wrong?


http://www.tindakmalaysia.com/showthread.php/2540-Sabah-Snake-Grass

http://ganchinseng.blogspot.com/2011/04/clinathanussabah-snake-grass.html

http://www.mylongkang.com/2011/06/21/sabah-snake-grass-and-d-day-mri-scan/

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs020/1101631005260/archive/1104670902258.html

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/cancer.html#TED

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/TreatmentTypes/hyperthermia

http://www.naturalnews.com/030817_heat_treatment_cancer_tumors.html

http://www.richters.com/show.cgi?page=QandA/Medicinal/20060507-2.html ( just a drink, nothing to lose).

http://www.whale.to/cancer/last.html

http://www.newmedicine.ca/

http://www.tigerflag.com/beatcan.html

Tumor marker back to normal!

Time to celebrate... tumor marker has gone down to normal level!

Doctor said, it is not up to human beings, but up to the one up there! What's important is to keep a strong mind, eat and live well, one day at a time.

CT and tumor marker improves

The nodules are still present, but are reduced in size. The largest discrete hepatic lesion is 1.3 cm.

Tumor marker is down from 135 to 38. (Normal is 32)

So, guess this is god news... So far...

Review of chemo - CT Scan tomorrow

Time flies, and it's been over 2 months since I started the treatment, so it's time for a review, so I'll go for CT scan tomorrow, and hopefully there is some improvement.

Here's the history...

Ultra Sound on 14 May 2011
Right mid-hepatic lobe=11.5cm
Left mid-hepatic lobe = 7.0cm

Liver is within normal in size and parenchymal echopattern. There are few nodules seen in the right hepatic lobe. The sizes range from 0.6cm to 1.0cm.

Impression:
Hepatic Nodules, consider Metastatic Process

MRI LIVER 17 May 2011 Findings
The liver shows hypointense mass in the left lobe measuring 4.6x5.7x4.8cm(APxTXH).....

The CT Scan FULL BODY on 19 May :
Findings:

The left lobe of the liver is small, however, this is not changed when compared with previous scan. There are multiple hypodense nodules in the liver, demonstrating very faint marginal enhancement. These appear confluent in the left hepatic lobe. The largest descrete nodule in the right lobe measures about 1.6cm.

Impression: Past left mastectomy for carcinoma of breast, with multiple lesions in the right hepatic lobe and confluent lesions in the left hepatic lobe, likely representing metastases.
Small mesenteric lymphadenopathy, with mesenteric reticular densities, suggestive of metastatic disease.
Small left renal cysts.
Normal examination of brain

CHEMO HISTORY
Finished 3 cycles of chemo/targeted therapy :
CYCLE 1
21May Herceptin 440ml + Navelbine
31 May Navelbine(white blood low on day 8, so delay 3 days)
CYCLE 2
14 June Herceptin 330ml + navelbine
23 June Navelbine(wbc low on day 8, took 2 granocyte)
CYCLE 3
5 July Herceptin 330ml + Navelbine
12 July Navelbine
CYCLE 4
26 July CT Scan, Herceptin + Navelbine(if my white blood count is good)

Finished 3 Chemo Cycles

I finished 3 cycles of chemo/targeted therapy. Each cycle is 3 weeks with Herceptin(targeted therapy) and Navelbine on Day 1 and Navelbine on Day 8.

1st cycle
21May Herceptin 440ml + Navelbine
31 May Navelbine(white blood low on day 8, so delay 3 days)

2nd cycle
14 June Herceptin 330ml + navelbine
23 June Navelbine(wbc low on day 8, took 2 granocyte) - 2nd blood test done prior to chemo

3rd cycle
5 July Herceptin 330ml + Navelbine
12 July Navelbine

Next week (26 July) will be the 4th cycle, with CT scan...

Doctor said not to think about it before the scan... Even though I think about it, I'm visualizing that the result will be better...

Even if I have Cancer

That's the title of the book by Emma Roberts. One of the many dozens of books that I have come across on cancer and healing.

This one is on EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique, something which is very easy to learn, and totally magical. It involves tapping on certain accupressure points. Let me try to explain a little...

Firstly, rate your "concerns" on a scale of 0-10 before starting. It could be anxiety, fear, sadness, shock or physical pain.

Next, using the 2nd to 4th fingers of your dominant hand, starting to tap on the "blade" of the other hand(the karate chop point). While doing this, say the setup phrase, for example, "even though I am feeling anxious(or sad, or in pain), I completely love and accept myself". Repeat this setup phrase 3 times while tapping on the Karate chop.

Next, tap on these few points using the 2nd and 3rd finger while reciting your concerns (anxiety, fear, sadness, pain) :
start of eyebrow,
side of eye,
under the eye,
under the nose
under the lips(chin)
collar bone
under the arm (near the bra straps)
then use all 5 fingers to tap on the crown.

While tapping on those points, try to bring out all your emotions and name them(when not sure how to describe, just say, this feeling, this emotion I'm feeling), and allow yourself to feel those emotions.

After tapping one or 2 rounds around those points, take a deep breath, and then rate those concern on a scale of 1 to 10. It might go up, or come down. Keep tapping until you have reached a level which you are comfortable with. It may take just few minutes, or longer, depending...

For me, this works well especially when I noted a change of emotion in me.

And I have even invented my own way to cope with the physical pain, by singing to it while doing the tapping!

Try it!

For more information, visit www.emofree.com