What is it?

[Uben]

I saw Carol's cancer surgeon (from nine yrs ago) at the hospital today. She was having some fluid drained from her abdomen and he stopped by to say hi to her. He is the one who wanted the liver biopsy when Carol's recurrence was discovered because she had had lobular carcinoma. HE said usually when it recurs, it recurs in the breast, and that's why she had a double mastectomy at the time.
Since it recurred in the bone and liver, he had a hunch it was not the same cancer, and thus the liver biopsy. It gets strange here, because as of now, the pathology says the recurrence is breast cancer, but not lobular, ductile. So, I guess this is a new cancer and not a recurrence of the other. I really don't understand it, and neither does he. He said several labs have attempted to identify the specimens, and they had not come up with a definitive answer, as far as he knew, but he is not her oncologist. Her Onc said it was definitely breast cancer, but what type? That matters because more treatment options are available if it is HER2+, as opposed to a triple negative (estrogen, progesteron, and HER2). The triple negative, which occurs in only 10-15% of patients, cannot be treated with hormone drugs such as Herceptin. So if it turns out to be HER2 positive, Herceptin might be an option. Right now, it's just Taxol being used, and it has brought her liver numbers back to normal (well, most of them), which is a sign it is shrinking the lesions.
She was having stabbing pains that she said went from front to back just below her diaphram before the chemo Tuesday, but they have since subsided, so I guess that, too, is a sign it is doing some good. They drained off over three liters of ascites this morning, and that has got to be some relief!

[Irishonly]

1. What a roller coaster ride you and Carol have been on

I am really hoping and praying you will soon get many days of calmness. do you know when you will get a definitive answer? I am glad her pain level is down.

[Uben]

2. Not sure......

...her Oncologist may know now, but the last time we talked to her, she hadn't heard a definitive answer from any of the labs. Right now she's being treated as a triple negative. The onc is sure it is breast cancer, so that is good in that the prognosis is much better than maybe some other primary.

HAving the 3 liters of fluid removed has to feel better, but she says she doesn't notice much change. Of course, it was only done this morning. She ate four or five good bites of enchiladas (I know, but it's what she wanted) tonite, and drank some ensure for the calories. Everything gives her indigestion, but not nausea.

I talked to her about eating to keep her thinking straight and how the brain needs nutrition to function, just lilke every other organ in the body. She said she had watched Dr. Phil today and they had something on there about not eating. I think that impacted her, but she seems more depressed than usual this evening.

She starts taking lasix tomorrow, along with the diuretics, and I sure hope that starts pulling the fluid out. I think maybe the shock of seeing just how thin she really is might stimulate her to eat. Her normal weight was around 175 on a 5 ft 6 in frame. She struggled with weight issues most all of her life. I'd bet she wouldn't weigh 140 without the excess fluid. She weighed 223 today before the 3 liters were removed. I couldn't get her on the scales tonite, but I will tomorrow to see how much she weighs.

I just kinda try to stay on "auto-mode" and focus on what needs to be done so things don't get too overwhelming. Keeping the washing done, cleaning, paying bills, giving her her meds, etc. I might be a little obsessive about some of it, but it keeps me busy and passes the time, and it's what works for me. I've gone thru more anti-bacterial spray the last few months than I have in the past few years!

[Irishonly]

3. You are doing great

As far as the food goes, I would give her what ever she wants when she wants it. She needs to eat and if she wants enchiladas let her eat them. Bless you both.