Amy's Cancer Story

Dr. Ellis was behind on Wednesday so we finally got in to see him for our 11:00 am appointment sometime after 12:30.  We spent more than the average time with him because we talked about a lot.  He had not had a chance to look over any of my test reports prior to coming in so I waited while he read them.  Immediately he said my MRI on my chest looked good.  There were no other concerning spots.   The MRI was done to investigate other nearby areas.  I watched him read the pathology report and he circled some things and looked very serious.  So when he was done, to my disappointment and suspicion he informed me of the cancer spreading to the lymph nodes which meant the more extensive treatment including chemo.

Dr. Ellis said I would need 6 rounds of chemo.  A week of chemo and then two weeks off.  This is estimated to go on until May.  The reason it is a week on and week off is that your body has to recover for two weeks after being shot down.  Blood counts have to go back up.  The next step is radiation and then the pill for 5 years.  I don’t have further details yet on how that will all be handled.

Dr. Ellis said my Alkaline Phosphatase were normal and I think it was around 80 something.  When I had cancer  last time (2005-06) it was around 700.  Normal is less than 100, I believe.   But each cancer may elevate that level differently.  He also said my blood platelet count is low.  This is because of having all the chemo before.  So he said they will have to watch that closely.  If your platelet is too low, you have to postpone chemo until it comes back up.  Often the patient will have to receive a platelet infusion the same way you would get blood.  I had to receive both last time around more than once.

I asked Dr. Ellis if there was any kind of diet that I should be aware of.  He said that studies showed that high fat diets spread breast cancer and informed me that a couple of studies indicated this.  He also said the amount of sugar intake did not effect the cancer spreading.  You have to eat, so the best thing is to be sensible.  Protein also promotes healing.

I think that was most of what we discussed.  Then I had to have my blood drawn and get a bunch of appointments scheduled on the way out.  Then off to Dr. Goldstein’s office for surgery follow up.

Chris and I walked over to the next building and did not have to wait too long.  She was behind as well.  She checked me out and went over a few things and pulled my surgical drain out.  I am glad I did not know what it looked like because there was thing big thing on the end of the tube she pulled out.  It hurt but I made it through.  She gave me a hug and told me she loved me and went on to her next appointment and said to come back in a week.

I really like all my doctors.  It makes all the difference.  After my cancer treatments were done last time, Dr. Ellis said that he had done all that he could humanly possible and that God had to do the rest.  Now how many doctors are going to tell you that?

By the way my, wonderful hubby (the computer guru) bought the domain for this site, had it programmed, and up and running in less than 24 hours.

Good night.  🙂