Page Two

Louise's Journal ... page two

8/17/04 - Returned for injection of Neulasta. Insurance company will be sending the needle each month to my home so the nurse had my husband do

the injection today in my thigh so that we will know how to do this. Really

isn't that difficult. felt a little shaky today but not sick. Face turned red in the

morning like I had a sunburn ... doctor said that is from the anti-nausea

medicine and it eventually faded away.

8/19/04 - Beginning of the days soon after chemo when you get an all-over

feeling of just not feeling well. Shaky, weak and this is the time when you

have to make sure you eat and drink. Chemo book recommends Ensure to

help get enough nutrition. Ginger tea seems to help as well as ginger ale

since it's important to keep fluids going.

8/27/04 - I've had much more energy this go-around than the first chemo session. Had the sickly feeling for two to three days, along with soreness in my throat, but no real nausea. I'm assuming the extra energy may be due to

the Neulasta injection, but I'm wondering if it also causes a pain I get in my

right hip. This starts about a week after the injection ... not sure why it

centers only in the hip but it's more of a nuisance than a problem.

9/8/04 - Had my third chemo treatment yesterday. They always start with the

benedryl because of my first reaction to Doxorubicin. That's worked fine with

the first two sessions but my face began to break out in red blotches this time

so the doctor ordered more benedryl. Other than that, everything went fine.

Zometa was added at the end which is going to help strengthen my bones,

especially in the areas where the cancer may have weakened them. Today

has been a pretty good day. Hands are shaky but that's normal for the day

after and I've been hungry and able to eat. Doctor said my left lung sounded

much clearer and I no longer have fluid build-up so that's encouraging. He

said "markers" from my blood tests are being done on a periodic basis to

check my progress.

9/28/04 - Got through chemo session #4 with another reaction to the drug

Doxorubicin. They gave me benedryl first but not long after they began the Doxorubicin, my body began to itch and feel warm and my face broke out

in dark red blotches. So a second dose of benedryl was given. My white blood count is staying high due to the Neulasta injection but my red blood count is beginning to go down, so I was told I may have to take Procrit. Felt very tired today and digestion is definitely affectged by the chemo. Feels like everything in my stomach is heavy and nothing settles right. This usually lasts

for 3 to 4 days after chemo and then gradually gets better. Doctor had done a "marker" on my last blood test which shows it was elevated rather than going down. A marker had not been done before my first chemo so we really don't know for sure if this current reading shows the true story or not.

10/5/04 - Not getting over side effects in 2 to 3 days like I have previously. This

is a week after chemo and still have a lot of stomach discomfort and very little

energy. From what I'm reading on newsgroups, the feeling of acid indigestion

is a common complaint of chemo and the doctor can prescribe something

stronger than Tums or Rolaids. Trying to eat smaller portions during the day

and drinking ginger ale/ginger tea. Warm cream of wheat in the morning seems to be soothing so that's pretty much my breakfast of choice these days.

Keep telling myself it's one hour, one day at a time. This, too, shall pass.

10/15/04 - Chemo is scheduled for this coming Monday, but my doctor called

today and asked that I come in to talk with him. Appears my markers are

increasing which indicates that my cancer is spreading and he wants to start

me on a new chemo drug, Navelbine. During our conversation, I asked if this

new drug would help to put me into remission or just extend my life for a

period of time. He said that my cancer has advanced to a point where there is

no "cure", so yes, this new chemo is simply to keep me going for as long as

possible. I asked does he not believe in miracles? No, was his answer. He

believes in God, but not miracles because he's a pragmatist and I understand

his point of view because he must see a lot of cancer deaths. I told him I hoped that God would use me to show him that miracles do indeed happen

although I realize that God has a purpose for every aspect of my life and the

outcome is in His hands. Some are healed and some are not and just like the

hymn says, "One day we'll understand".

10/19/04 - Had the Navelbine today .. a lot faster since this is IV injected. The

previous chemo drugs had to slowly drip through the IV and took a long, long

time. Dr. Formanek had explained that a possible side effect of Navelbine is

the stomach may not be able to pass food to the intestines like it should so he

gave me a prescription for Metoclopramide which is suppose to help. However, when I looked up the side effects of this drug, it is doubtful I will use

it unless I absolutely have to. This is the first drug I have seen where the FDA

has said it should only be used 4 to 12 weeks because it can cause serious

side effects such as "tardive dyskinesia", a neurological disorder which causes

involuntary movements of the tongue, mouth, face, lips and sometimes the

arms, legs and trunk. If these should develop, they can be temporary or

potentially irreversible. If I should have a shortened amount of time, I do not

want to be dealing with other problems.

10/25/05 - Had to stop taking Zometa every three weeks because the FDA came

out with a warning that Zometa can cause complications such as a breakdown

of the jaw, teeth can become loosened, gums may not heal. Dr. Formanek

decided that every six weeks should be enough for preventative measures but

lowers the chance of complications. Zometa is necessary because of the bone

cancer so it's one of those things where you have to weigh the benefits against

the risks. We also discussed my being asked by family and friends if I should

get a second opinion. My doctor heartily agreed that I should get a second

opinion and always encourages his patients to do so. I have researched every

drug currently being used for breast cancer and Dr. Formanek said we have

many options as I continue down the road of my uncertain future. I feel he is

doing everything possible for me and I have no desire to look elsewhere at this time. Journal continues ... page three