First Chemo Day

All went well. I am being treated with Avastin and Taxotere each week. I am two days out and my prior chemotherapy had me feeling much worse than I am now. Of course my mother was with me and we are both confident with the treatment plan that has been layed out.

The length has yet to be determined. The goal is to get me to a normal PET Scan. With alternating doses of Taxotere each week rather than higher doses every three weeks my oncologist seems to think I might just keep my hair. So stay tuned.....

Infusaport Today

Today I got an infusaport. This goes into the upper chest and is placed in a large vein under the skin. This will help the doctors easily draw blood and give IV medications. It was a simple,short surgery I was home by noon.

My PET scan results were not so good. There appears to be more bone metastacies in my back and sternum as well as a new cancer growth in the liver.

One oncologist has recommended Avastin. This chemo drug is used for colon and lung cancer with good results. The drug is not FDA approved for breast cancer but is in stage 3 of testing with good results. Unfortunately, insurance will not pay for it $6000 a dose. However, my doctor has written Genentech company in hopes of waiving the fee.

If all goes as planned, chemo starts Tuesday with treatments once a week.

5isters 4 a Cure in Atlanta, October 2007

I have four sisters whose names, like mine, all start with "T" and end with "i." They've all signed up for the 3-day breast cancer walk in Atlanta on Oct. 12-14 , 2007.

You can find more details on their 5isters 4 a Cure web page where you can click through to their individual pages and also make a donation.

Proceeds from the "Breast Cancer 3-Day" walk benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to fund breast cancer research and community outreach, as well as the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, to provide an endowment for breast cancer initiatives.

Here are all of us last summer with Mom and Dad. From left to right: Tori, Terri, me, Traci, Tami.