Bitch is Back!

Bitch is Back by Elton John 

This is definitely an appropriate title. My latest cancer treatment, Gemzar, quit working. I'm not sure it even started. 

If you follow the blog, you know I started getting Gemzar infusions on December 10. Luckily for me, my oncologist runs tumor marker tests at least once a month. I knew we were in trouble when the markers kept going up and not down. The February 3rd PET confirmed our suspicions. Here is a summary of the PET results:

Description/Location                                                     2/3/2021

Left submandibular                                                 12 x 8, max suv 11.4

Portacaval Lymph Node                                                 Max suv 27.7

Right subpectoral                                                         16 x 6 mm; max suv 6.5

Anterior mediastinal lymph node                                 ill defined, max suv 2.2

Aortopulmonary window lymph node                         Max suv 11.2

Left Infrahilar lymph node                                         Max suv 8.2

Right Paratraceal                                                         11 x 8, max suv 12.3

Right subraclavicular                                                 Resolved

Left jugulodigatric                                                          11 x9 mm; max suv 13.3

Lungs - left upper lobe                                                 Biapical scarring; trace pleural effusion

Liver #1 - Segment VIII                                                 Max suv 16.3

Liver #2 (lateral left hepatic lobe); Segment II         Max suv 16.8

Liver #3 Caudate lobe                                                 Max suv 16

2/3/2021 - 1. Overall findings are concerning for progression of disease, with several hepatic lesions having increased tracer avidity. 2. Mixed nodal findings are seen, with a couple newly avid nodes appreciated, others unchanged, and a few decreased or resolved. 3. New from prior are trace bilateral pleural effusions, and a small amount of free fluid in the pelvis.

Items highlighted in red indicate progression. Items in green indicate marked improvement from the December scan. Items without any highlighting are basically stable with little movement. So, not a great scan, but not completely horrible either. Frustrating is a better description. Surprised? I am surprised it wasn't worse. So I count my blessings every day.

So now what? Now we move on to Abraxane. This chemo stops cancer cells from dividing and making new cells. It is 48% effective in killing, as in wiping out, cancer cells. Let's hope my resistant sneaky suckers succumb to Abraxane's charms! This chemo is given in 3 weeks on, one week off. Sadly, I only had one treatment before the mother of all winter storms hit Texas. Texas Oncology was closed all week so my chemo AND COVID vaccine appointments were canceled. Bummer! My next scheduled chemo is Friday. I suspect we will just stick with that and schedule another round for the following week. We'll see. 

I think I am slated to see Dr. Kocs this week before chemo. If so, we have things to discuss. First, I was told that when Abraxane quits working, we go to a chemo that is given once a month. OMG! Red Devil? Not sure, but I don't think I will skate through that one without some side effects. I suspect I will definitely need the weekend to recoup. No worries. Hubby is here to help in case I struggle. Chemo queen hasn't been beaten yet .... let's keep the streak going!

I have also been doing research on chemo used to fight MBC. I want to find out from Dr. Kocs which ones are available to me. Interesting what I've found:

• 5-Fluorouracil - Inhibits DNA synthesis; slows tumor growth, possible liver damage
• Abraxane - On this one
• Carboplatin - Inhibits DNA replication, inducing cell death
• Cisplatin - Binds to N7 reactive center; can cause DNA damage in cancer cells resulting in apoptotic cell death
• Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) - Binds to DNA; slows or stops cell growth by inhibition of protein synthesis
• Doxobubicin (Red Devil?) - Slows or stops growth of cancer celss by blocking enzyme tope isomerase 2; used to divide and grow
• Epirubicin - Inhibits nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) and protein synthesis, which can result in mechanism to cell death
• Eribulin - This one quit working - Suppresses microtubule growth; stops cancel cells from separating into 2 new cells
• Gemzar - Did NOTHING for me - Kills cancer cells undergoing DNA synthesis by inhibiting ribonucleotide reductase enzyme
• Ixempra - Microtubule inhibitor in combinataion with capecitabine; low success rate
• Navelbine - Interferes with genes and stops the cells from reproducing themselves
• Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin - Doxorubicin encapsulated in a closed lipid sphere that work in multiple phases of the cell cycle
• Taxol - My first chemo -Kills cancer cells by inducing multipolar division; prevents cancer cells from dividing 
• Taxotere - Interferes with the cancer cells ability to divide
• Xerloda - Binds to cancer cells to inhibit formation of thymidylate triphosphate, essential for DAN synthesis

This does not include the list of 13 targeted therapies, usually in pill form. 

Anyway, this girl is still feeling fine. My liver appears to be "talking" to me more these days, but not as much since my new chemo session. Definitely something to discuss with Dr. Kocs. My blood work is okay, nothing alarming to report. 

I still have at least two more blankets to make before I can relax. I have another three that I want to make because of the color schemes; new things I want to try. Just trying to buy the right colors, while on sale, is a challenge. They put the yarn on sale .... but the colors I need are never available. I've reached out to the craft store asking how I can take advantage of the sale and get the colors I need. Their response? These has been no response. Sigh.

Anyway, wouldn't it be wonderful if my most pressing issue was yarn colors! 😄

Stay warm, my friends!

  
 

Let It Snow - The Texas Winter Apocalypse

 Let It Snow - Frank Sinatra

The title of this blog has absolutely nothing to do with my fight against metastatic breast cancer and everything to do with this crazy weather we've had this past week in Texas. I fear this may become an annual event. Ugh!!

The Bishop household lost power for a total of 38 hours straight, beginning at 1:30 AM on Monday, February 14. Luckily we have a gas stove, so we were able to make hot tea, hot coffee, and hot meals. Water was fine, but we filled both tubs with water just in case. During the day, we wore up to three layers of clothes and at least two pairs of socks. At night, we piled the bed high with extra blankets and quilts. We managed to stay warm through the night with the exception of an occasional cold nose or face that managed to escape the blankets. 

We used Mike's car, and then mine, to charge cell phones and portable chargers. This proved to be a god send in helping us stay up to date as to what was going on, as well as keep us connected with the neighborhood to hear what others were experiencing and strategies to cope during this lovely storm. Cell signal was spotty at best, but we managed to call the kids from the car with no issues. By Tuesday noon, with no expectation of getting power at anytime on Tuesday, we ventured out on a search and find mission for gas so we could continue to use Mike's car to charge phones. Luckily the snow was light and fluffy, so driving wasn't too bad (as long as we didn't try to go uphill from a dead stop). When we drove by the grocery store to see if their pumps were working, we saw that the line to get in was at least 2-hours wait time, with more joining the line every second. It was crazy. It took three tries before we found a place with gas .... it was a 7-11; the store was closed but the pumps were on. Yay! 

We then decided to look for some fast food places open for a change of pace. The ONLY place we found open on Tuesday was Taco Bell. You know things are bad when the line for Taco Bell is blocks long. That is/was a pass for the Bishops. Nothing against Taco Bell, but if I am going to wait an hour or more in a huge line for food, it won't be Taco Bell.

Time to change strategy. We needed some chocolate ... and chips! That was another adventure! We finally found a convenience store that didn't have a line going out and around the store; spent $45 on chips and candy. Stress eating at its best! It was on the way back from our 3-hour seek and find mission that we got a call from our daughter to tell us we had power! We didn't get too excited until we made it back to the neighborhood ... and saw the outside garage light on for several homes. Thank you, God!!

We remained anxious, waiting for the power to go out again, until today. We finally found a press release today saying no more rolling brown outs. Whew! The extra blankets are still on the bed. We will probably put most of them up for another day. But I think we will leave at least one on the bed for that extra cozy snuggle of a warm bed. 

I did manage to get out and make a cool snow angel. I was hoping to also make a snowman, but the initial snow was too soft ... great for skiing but not for snowmen! By the time we had a nice ice mix to the snow, perfect for a snowman, it was too darn dangerous! I almost face planted stepping off my porch! I'll save that adventure for another day.

I finished Iana's blanket and made Mike's blanket during the storm. Amazing what you can get done with no distractions. 

I finished Iana's blanket (the green one) and then worked and completed Mike's blanket - the maroon and white one. Can you tell he is a Texas A&M fan?

My greatest accomplishment? Bread!  I made bread! Before your roll your eyes and think, "Pulease! Bread is a no brainer", please consider this ... my first attempt to make bread was a disaster. It was so hard I could use it as a door stop or a weapon. So when my son asked "Is it edible?", I was not offended. That is always a legitimate question for anything I make in my kitchen. 

I have since tried French bread but I missed a step .... it didn't rise the way it was suppose to. But it still tastes great! I will try again this weekend .

Hope all my Texas family and friends fared okay and are getting back to normal ... or as normal as possible, two days post Apocalypse!