We met with the Oncologist.....Linda said "Do you have good news..I don't want to shoot the messenger"...the Oncologist, Dr. Kornfeld said "I have good news"...
The scan showed "marked improvement"...not just improvement... "marked improvement".
He went on to say that there was reduction in the left lung tumors, decreased size in the small tumors in the right lung and decrease lymph node cancer and decrease in lesions in the one lesion in the liver and the one lesion in the spleen (if they are cancerous). He said the reduction was 30% on a side which is good...this means a 60% reduction in volume of the tumors.
This means the cancer is responding to the treatment. He went on to say that it is not so important as to where the cancer is and how much or how many organs or...as opposed to the response to the treatment...that is, if one has cancer in one organ and there is a negative response...that is the worse case.
Linda's immune system is good.
Linda is continuing to become more anemic..she received a shot of Procrit again today (to stimulate the creation of red blood cells.)...she will receive a shot every week until we see him again. If this is not enough, she will go in for blood transfusions. The net affect of this is tiredness.
Linda will not see the Oncologist again for three weeks...she is to continue on the same course of treatment for at least three more cycles as the cancer is responding to this treatment. There will be another scan at the end of the 6th cycle (ie 9 weeks).
He said the screwup (our word) yesterday with the contrast is diminishing..there was still swelling today but not as dramatic as yesterday...the Oncology nurses were appalled and a bit disgusted....as they work with injections all the time...Linda is a tough one for injections and infusions...we have never gotten a clear answer as to why she doesn't have a port....(a different permanent system for infusions rather than finding veins each time for infusions, blood draws etc. etc.).
How does Linda feel ..."Grateful"...
Does this mean the cancer will go away...no...but it can go into remission....and then a maintenance program of chemo is established....will it rear its ugly head again...most likely....some day..we hope for some day not too soon...a long time away.
Linda got a "nutty bar" (her fabvorite) at Costco to celebrate (hey, what do you mean saying I'm cheap?)
We came home for Linda to get a nap and then back to Bend for a "Defeat Dinner" ...sponsored by the Livestrong program...Lance Armstrong Foundation...
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Some pictures from last week....Linda and Dave at the hockey game last Thursday in Tampa....good friends Neil and Terese (she just won 2.5 million on the slots at the Indian Casino) and Linda flying back to Oregon (as opposed to the last trip).
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10 comments:
So good to hear this news. So glad to hear "marked improvement". You must have felt like kissing the doctor. Dave I mean. lol Well Linda Lou too! Hope Sadie is better too. Love you,
Ginnie
What great news! And you deserve
it. We'll miss you in Long Beach.
Take care and keep up the fight!
Julie and Bob Brown
Way to go, Linda Lou!!!! Can't keep a gal like you down. I was so HAPPY to read the GOOD NEWS tonight. That was so nice of Dave to get you a nutty bar. It sure looked good and it seem like you really was enjoying it.
Love, Janet
I'm so glad that you got good news. This makes it easier to face the continued treatments.
I started using some new creme for my dry hands today..O'Keeffe's Working Hands...and I see it is manufactured in Sisters. I will think of you both every time that I use it, which is multiple times per day.
Love & prayers,
Ruth Ann
Yippee! I am so glad for you. Your army of supporters will all celebrate, each in their own way.....I like the nutty bar choice(or anything chocolate) and John will have a beer in your honor.
Rest up. I am going to bed with a smile on my face tonight!
Marilyn
We are very happy with your good results...keep it up.
We had a stange weather day here
yesterday...Mother Nature put on a show which started with lightning, thunder and light rain around 3 am. Then at 8:30 we had the tail end of a tornado that went thru Wesley Chapel. Lot's of wind...rain. Other than a few tree's being blown over..no damage close to us that we could see.
When you get a chance send us the info we talked about when you were here about the house you have for sale. Our buddies from ID are heading up to OR at the beginning of May to start looking for a home. You never know...
Hugs,
Terry and Dave
Linda,
You are a strong, positive woman! I knew you could do it. Every time someone asks me how you are I always tell them that I think you could defeat anything with your positive attitude and smile. I'm so happy for the news.
Love you!
Kisses,
Jenn
Fantastic news!! So glad the treatments are working. We'll hope for a long, long remission.
Glad you're both doing well. Sorry you can't come down for Long Beach, but as you know, I won't be there, anyway. I'll hoist a drink in your honor at the Fanatics gathering tomorrow night.
Keep that positive attitude and keep moving forward. You're doing a great job, so far!
Love to you both, as always.
Yeah... I never doubted it for a minute, because you are quite a Remarkable Woman. God has a plan, obviously.. It is in your never failing attitude and faith.
Love You, Both. Vicky
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm thrilled to pieces!!! Such tremendous news on those tumors. Keep on doing what you're doing, L!!! It's working and will continue to work and heal you until the suckers are gone.
And I'll keep you well wrapped in that golden glow of health and healing!! You go, girl!!!
Susie
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