(5.9.10)

Now that I’m back from Houston and have got the ball rolling with my treatment, here’s the low-down:

MD Anderson was like the Cadillac of cancer hospitals. It spans 7 city blocks and has a bridge nearly a mile long. My sister and I had to take a go-cart just to go from one building to another. This place is impressive, with modern and state-of-the-art research, technology and service. It’s design and architecture were equally impressive, with calming fish tanks at every corner and towering novel sculptures.

I meet with my oncologist there named Dr. Koenig. To cut-to-the-chase, the hypothetical possibility of what happened to me is known as “needle-tract-seeding” and it’s excruciatingly rare. She suggested Ixempra and Xeloda. Ixempra is FDA approved for locally advanced breast cancer in patients whose tumors are resistant or refractory to anthracyclines, taxanes, and capecitabine. I had the latter of the two in my 1st round of treatment. Xeloda (a pill) is used for metastatic breast cancer that is triple-negative. Moi.

((Inset: If you’re need to be brought up to speed, read the April 8th post titled “This Journey isn’t over Yet”))

Although Dr. Koenig had a treatment plan in mind, she still wanted to present my case to a breast cancer conference. On the day this occurred my sister and I hung out in one of those mini waiting rooms. 20 or so minutes later a hoard of doctors pilled into the room, all laden with their white coats, glooming at me, asking questions. Surely this was similar to being abducted by a spaceship of aliens with I being the abductee.

Kim and I in one of the larger waiting rooms. Note the bubbleliscious water tanks in the background:

After the conference, in addition to presenting my case to yet another board of Dr’s, Dr. Koenig heard the suggestion of either Adriamycin alone (which is an anthracycline) and is very-very old school, and agreement to her recommendation of Xeloda & Ixempra. This wasn’t the 1st time I’d heard of Adriamycin. Although it is commonly used in treatment for breast cancer, three doctors in Denver (Dr. Rifkin, Dr. Paul and Dr. Hesky) were wary to use it with me because of the impacts it would have on my heart. Being that I have received mantle-field radiation (Hodgkin’s treatment), that apparently places me at high risk. Yet I haven’t had any issues with my heart that I know of.

So I took this suggestion back to Dr. Paul (whom had already spoken with Dr. Koenig while I was still down in Houston) and Dr. Paul said we could go either way. Infuse Adriamycin over a 48-hour period (as that seems to reduce the effects on the heart), or go with Xeloda & Ixempra. One being a 3-hour intravenous situation and one being a pill. Per the article here, the later choices have been FDA-approved where the cancer has become resistant to taxane and there are medical reasons why anthracycline cannot be used. So technically, I am a “medical reason” to not use anthracycline (Adriamycin) – unless I went with the 48-hour infused situation. Good times.

The winner for us was Door #2: Xeloda and Ixempra. I will take Xeloda by pill (7 pills a day for 2 weeks, then one week off and do this for 4-6 months), and Ixempra by IV six times every 21 days. Sadly, however, I learned that just a 17-day supply of Xeloda cost me $543.00 out-of-pocket (insurance only covers 80% of prescription). Who can afford $543 every three weeks?!? So I gotta figure something out. Panic!!

By the way, if I didn’t have health insurance I would probably buy Xeloda and order Ixempra at this online pharmacy. ; -)

I started this treatment on Friday, May 7th. My dear friend Emily took me and accompanied me. Here I am sporting my new “do”, which is debatable on if I’m going to lose it or not with approach. If I don’t, I plan to color it, “punk” it out, be playful and sport it this summer. Woot!

The night before I started chemo, some loving fellow chicka-boom-boom’s joined me in suppport of my “celebration” at my most favorite sushi restaurant in Denver. Hapa Sushi! Without my fellow chicka-boom-boom’s, this would be a much harder journey to bare. Thank you my champions!

(L-R: Christine, Lisa, moi, Amada, Rachael, Jennifer, Melissa, Amanda, Laurie).

Now with the chemo explanation aside, I met with Radiologist Dr. Strom at MD Anderson. It should come as no surprise that I am NOT a fan of radiation. That #@%&! caused this #@%&! to begin with. Plus I had heard from surgeon Dr. Bateman, Dr. Paul, and Radiologist Dr. L…whatever, here in Denver that it would likely cause serious damage to my implants and nearby organs, which alone brings with it more consequences. Not!!

Okay, onto the “light at the end-of-the-tunnel” side: Dr. Strom in Houston has this state-of-the-art device that aims the radiation to the skin only – without penetrating the implant or the rest of my chest cavity (heart, lungs, etc). Remember, the recurrance occured in the skin from the biopsy needle scar. In addition, this radiation uses electron-technology and is 18-years advanced from the shit I received in 1992.

Lastly, not a single radiologist uses this special device in Colorado. Thus, I would have to “live” in Houston for 6 weeks. If approved by work, I may work from Houston for 6 weeks around the month of October. Why October? It’s recommended that I start no more than 2 months out from finishing chemo. With six treaments every 21 days, I’m scheduled to end on August 20th. I’m giving myself the month of September to enjoy the Colorado glory before diving into this last part of this journey. And hopefully by then it’ll be OVER!!! You hear me? Universe? Over!

My most favorite part of the trip was Galveston TX, which brought back fond memories of childhood:

After some shopping, here I am sporting my new hat and a breezy sundress:

My friend Donna came down for a visit! Here we are in a Mariott hotel lounge.

Daddy-Pat also came down and stayed a few days. Here he is about to make me his famous “cowboy coffee”:

Lastly, thank you to Ryan for the digs!!

PERFORMING SUNDAY, JUNE 6TH @ THE PEOPLE’S FAIR!! 11:30 AM, INTERIOR STAGE. PLEASE COME BY!

Until next time… !