Laurie
I heart Leonard
On Monday the news we received of Lisa's cancer spreading was bleak and dismal and as most of you know made us realize the finality of Lisa's disease. I didn't suffer this news alone as MANY of you responded to my post as well as PM'd me--thank you for that.
This is what we learned today at the doctor's appointment. Dr Mullane said 8 months is a very long time to go without progression so the drug did work for a long time. He thought it would be a shorter period than 8 months. That's good news. Despite the fact Lisa's cancer has spread to liver and kidneys she still has good functioning organs and her counts are good--thats' good news. The new drug she will be receiving Gemzar (I believe could be spelling it wrong) has milder side effects and she most likely won't be as fatigued which is also good news. She is filing for social security disability and work disability and can get social security disability as long as she doesn't exceed x amount from work--which is also good news. If this new drug does not work there is still another drug they would choose to treat her with--again good news.
The bad news things are--she can't have radiation for the lesions in her kidney and liver. She will always have the cough she does because she has a tumor in her lung--although today was the first time he came out and said that's why she has the cough. Because she has this cough she is pulling muscles in her side from coughing so much and yesterday she was in the Emergency room in immense pain. They did give her morphin and sent her home with Advil 600 mg--none of this pain has to do with liver bleeding or pneumonia which they were worried about--but when she coughs she cries because it hurts so much--that's very bad news.
Lisa has agreed to part of a study and even though this study drug may not help her it will pave the way for curing breast cancer in the future.
After the doctor's appointment today Lisa, Lynelle and my mom felt better. Dr Mullane has assured Lisa and our family that he will tell us when the time has come when treatment is not an option and again he said, "Today is not that day"
I know how difficult it is for everyone to hear this news of Lisa--you have all shown wonderful support and compassion--but I will continue to let everyone know what is going on.
Thank you all for your love and support for me, my beautiful sister Lisa, and my family--you are a great group of friends!
This is what we learned today at the doctor's appointment. Dr Mullane said 8 months is a very long time to go without progression so the drug did work for a long time. He thought it would be a shorter period than 8 months. That's good news. Despite the fact Lisa's cancer has spread to liver and kidneys she still has good functioning organs and her counts are good--thats' good news. The new drug she will be receiving Gemzar (I believe could be spelling it wrong) has milder side effects and she most likely won't be as fatigued which is also good news. She is filing for social security disability and work disability and can get social security disability as long as she doesn't exceed x amount from work--which is also good news. If this new drug does not work there is still another drug they would choose to treat her with--again good news.
The bad news things are--she can't have radiation for the lesions in her kidney and liver. She will always have the cough she does because she has a tumor in her lung--although today was the first time he came out and said that's why she has the cough. Because she has this cough she is pulling muscles in her side from coughing so much and yesterday she was in the Emergency room in immense pain. They did give her morphin and sent her home with Advil 600 mg--none of this pain has to do with liver bleeding or pneumonia which they were worried about--but when she coughs she cries because it hurts so much--that's very bad news.
Lisa has agreed to part of a study and even though this study drug may not help her it will pave the way for curing breast cancer in the future.
After the doctor's appointment today Lisa, Lynelle and my mom felt better. Dr Mullane has assured Lisa and our family that he will tell us when the time has come when treatment is not an option and again he said, "Today is not that day"
I know how difficult it is for everyone to hear this news of Lisa--you have all shown wonderful support and compassion--but I will continue to let everyone know what is going on.
Thank you all for your love and support for me, my beautiful sister Lisa, and my family--you are a great group of friends!
