My Breast Cancer Story
By Judy Hatch


There are several reasons for telling you about my breast cancer experiences --

The main purpose of writing this web page is to share experiences with others who might access this page and give hope to those who may be faced with a similar condition. I began writing this page by trying to be brief and concise, but I realized that many people search the Internet by typing in certain medical terms, so I have added the medical terminology for the various conditions that I have encountered along the way. I hope that you will not be overwhelmed by the information that I have included here, but can view it as my journey through this illness that I have survived for more than 13 years.

Another purpose of the page -- is to communicate with my friends who can get the most up-to-date information on what is happening concerning my health. Since I began this page, many friends have told me that they never really understood my various health problems until they read about them here.

I want to convey that I have taken my illness one day at a time. I have maintained a positive attitude, and I live my life to the fullest, cherish each day, and I would encourage every person to do the same, regardless of their health. Being faced with the knowledge that life may be much shorter than expected is a real eye-opener. No longer do I look ahead in terms of years, but instead, I try to do things that I know that I can do at the present time, or just months ahead. Cancer has a way of forcing a person to prioritize what is really important in his/her life. My husband, Ray, is my caregiver. He and I constantly try to reason out what the different symptoms mean, and strive to understand the different reports from scans, etc.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer (Grade IV invasive adenocarcinoma) in June of 1990 while living in Panama City, FL; 13 of 21 lymph nodes tested positive for cancer; my tumor was hormone receptive. I had a segmentectomy (large wedge), chemotherapy (Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and 5-FU). I then had eight weeks of radiation, plus one week of a booster radiation because the margins of clear area around the tumor were only 1.5 mm. I was told that I was at extreme risk for recurrence. I took Tamoxifen from December of 1990 until May of 1998 with absolutely no side effects. I had regular check-ups and tumor markers were watched constantly. They were always on the high side, but always within normal ranges.

In January of 1998, my tumor markers began to rise. I began to worry that perhaps I should stop taking Tamoxifen because after five years, it may not be helping me as much as it did in the past. My new oncologist had me stop taking Tamoxifen in May of 1998. In July of 1998, I began to have pain in my right arm. Symptoms progressed until I could not hold my right arm straight up over my head. My right shoulder blade would stick out unnaturally (significant scapular winging). My oncologist in Arlington, VA said that breast cancer did not extend to extremities, so I should go to another type of doctor. I went to an orthopedic surgeon. I was sent to physical therapy for weeks while waiting to have a test to evaluate my long thoracic nerve (EMG scan) which showed an abnormality in several nerves (brachial plexopathy). He then ordered an MRI of my brachial plexus. The report showed a suspicious lesion or lymph node and suggested a biopsy. The orthopedic surgeon then gave the MRI report to my oncologist who immediately took action. I had a CT guided needle biopsy which revealed cancer in the cells, but not the tissue of the affected area (this was the first part of January of 1999). This was diagnosed as being a recurrence of the breast cancer; I received radiation (4 weeks) to my right shoulder. In hindsight, I realize that an MRI should have been performed on my cervical and/or thoracic spine at that time, but it was not. After radiation, my arm gradually returned to normal. After finding out about the recurrence, my oncologist thought I should get the tissue from my initial surgery in FL. When the the hospital in FL was contacted, they had disposed of the tissue from the initial surgery. This tissue could have been used to test to determine if my tumor contained an overabundance of the HER-2/neu protein (this protein was discovered years after my surgery). I have had no other cancer in my tissue (only bone) to be tested, so I don't know if my breast cancer is HER-2/neu positive or not.

But by the next month (March of 1999), I reported to my oncologist that my left arm was hurting. She did not acknowledge my complaint. In her office notes, she reported that I did not have any pain in either arm.

We moved to Tennessee in July of 1999, as my left arm pain continued to get worse. My first visit to my new oncologist in Tennessee was July 26, 1999. He listened to my history and complaint about my left arm. He said that any problem with the movement of an arm should indicate a problem with the spine, so he ordered an MRI of my spine. The MRI revealed another recurrence, in my cervical spine (C-6 & C-7 -- which I believe was the same recurrance which was not seen earlier because my spine had not been included in the previous MRI; the previous radiation field was just to the right of my spine and the cancer went right up to that radiation field). I received radiation to C-3 through T-2 vertebraes (4 weeks). After the insertion of a catheter (port) in my chest, I received chemotherapy (18 weeks of Taxol and Carboplatin). I also began to take Fareston, a drug used for patients with recurrent breast cancer.

Beginning in August of 1999, I was started on Aredia, a drug to help to strengthen the bones and fight bone cancer (every three weeks).

During the radiation and chemo treatments, it became difficult to swallow. Having both of the treatments at once to the neck area apparently made my esophagus swell shut and I eventually had to be given TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition), which is complete nutrition through my port from a pump, for over 70 days, during which time I did not eat. When I began to eat afterwards, my husband would sometimes have to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on me to stop me from choking on food.

In October of 2000, I had an endoscopy to enlarge the width of my esophagus. The doctor said that my esophagus was only 9mm, and that normal size was about 17mm; he stretched it to 11mm on the first endoscopy. I had to have the procedure performed again to stretch it a couple of weeks later to 14mm. I think I probably always had a small esophagus opening. I can now swallow pills much easier than ever before in my life.

In March of 2001, I was diagnosed with another recurrence which included my skull, base of my skull, left rib, T-9 and T-12 vertebraes. I had weekly chemotherapy for 10 months; 40 treatments (Taxotere). In April of 2001, I was taken off of Farestone and started on Femara.

In October of 2001, I began to take Zometa, the replacement for Aredia, yet only takes 15 minutes to infuse, compared to the two hours to infuse Aredia. I have now discovered (December of 2002) that Zometa can harm your kidneys and I am now getting my Zometa over a 30 minute period. And I am trying to drink more fluids the day before, the day of, and the day after receiving the Zometa.

In September of 2001, I complained of a tightness in my chest. I read the brochure for Taxotere and saw that one side effect was fluid retention in the chest wall and even around the heart. On October 9, 2001, my oncologist did an x-ray of my chest and found the fluid retention was noted in my left chest wall. A CT scan later that day reported that the problem was probably pneumonia. My oncologist felt as if the fluid retention was metastatic breast cancer, but I kept reminding him that the brochure said that one was of the side effects of Taxotere. In a CT scan in February of 2002, the fluid was also noted in the right chest wall as well as around the heart. I was referred to a thoracic surgeon. I asked the thoracic surgeon if the fluid retention might be a side effect of the drug. He said he had never seen that before; he said it was probably metastatic breast cancer. The fluid was drained from the left chest wall on February 26, 2002; only 350 cc; no cancer was found, only inflammation. I still contend that the fluid retention was a side effect from the Taxotere (my last treatment of Taxotere was on February 4, 2002). A blood test done within hours of having the fluid drained from my chest wall, my tumor markers (CA 15-3 and CA 27-29) dropped into the normal ranges immediately. I have had no more problems with fluid retention.

I have talked with other patients who have had severe fluid retention from taking Taxotere. My oncologist said that he has seen it in several more patients since my problem.

Bone scans have shown a problem with my left mandible since March of 2000. After seeing dentists, periodontists (surgeries), endodontist (root canal on #17 tooth), oral surgeons (surgery on October 3, 2001 and biopsy which indicated only inflammation), radiation doctor, having scans (MRIs and CT scan), taking pain pills for months, having numb jaw, chin and lip, my #17 tooth (wisdom) was finally extracted on April 22, 2002. The oral surgeon cut out a large chunk of my mandible and sent it for pathology. It was just dead bone; no cancer, but the #17 tooth was totally decayed from under the crown to the root. My oncologist had been 80% to 90% sure that it was metastatic breast cancer in the mandible.

June 26, 2002: I am again having problems with my TMJ (jaw). I can hardly open my mouth to eat or take a pill. My left cheek is swollen.

July 15, 2002: After seeing my oral surgeon on June 28, I took antibiotics for what was thought to be an infection of my left salivary gland. The swelling has gone down, and my mouth will open to a somewhat normal amount.

August 2, 2002: A bone scan from July 12 shows that the cancer has spread to the L2 verebrae and right inferior sacroiliac joint, the left mandible, as well as still showing up on T9 and T12 verebraes. I had a P.E.T. scan on July 17 which show approximately the same results as the bone scan. I had an MRI on July 22 from T9 vertebrae down to the L2 vertebrae. The findings were not as bad as the bone scan and P.E.T. scan indicated. I had an MRI on July 26 of my left mandible. The radiologist reported that due to my history, it was probably metastatic breast cancer.

September 12, 2002: My tumor markers remain in the normal ranges. My oncologist says that he is very pleased that my situation has stayed about the same and has not gotten worse. We will continue to monitor the tumor markers and I will have more tests in several months. My oncologist thinks, and my husband and I agree, that Zometa might be helping by keeping the cancer from advancing, or at least might be slowing it down.

To clarify my mandible problem, the oral surgeon at University of Tennessee said that cancer does not present itself in the way my situation has presented itself. He termed my problem as being inflammation. I am taking Ibruprofen, 600 mg., approximately every 6-9 hours and that seems to keep the inflammation in check. If I wait too long between pills (12 hours), I do begin to have a problem with my jaw not opening very wide and I have soreness in the joint area. I contend that the mandible problem is caused by the fact that my immune system has been compromised by having so much chemotherapy and other traumas. My local oral surgeon told me that is what he thinks.

October 30, 2002. I just returned from seeing the oral surgeon who removed my wisdom (#17) tooth in April. I am still having trouble with my mandible. There is always a little swelling in my cheek. Recently, the swelling was also under the mandible, like where a lymph node would be, just to the left of my mouth. I applied heat to the area and the swelling went away. Then the swelling went to the joint area. I applied heat to it and the swelling did not go away. The oral surgeon gave me a prescription for Z-Pak (an antibiotic called Zithromax -- 6 tablets, two of which a person takes first, then one a day for five days). He said that the this drug is a broad range antibiotic. He feels that I have an infection. He took an x-ray of my mouth. He thinks that the #18 tooth might have a problem. The #18 tooth has had a root canal and is anchoring a bridge which is also anchored by the #20 tooth. He has suggested that I see my dentist to ask the dentist to remove the bridge to see if something is going on with the #18 tooth. I will make an appointment to see the dentist. The oral surgeon said that he sees nothing which would indicate cancer in my mandible.

November 1, 2002: I went to my dentist this morning. He found an unhealed area where my #17 tooth was removed. It is inflamed and draining. There is a flap there so that he had to pry the flap open in order to see it. He gave me instructions to use an irrigating syringe containing a bacteria-killing solution. I have an appointment for a cleaning on November 7 at which time he will check to see if the inflamed area has cleared up. I developed more swelling after I finished the Z-pak prescription, so the dentist prescribed another prescription of the Z-pak. If this does not work, the oral surgeon might need to clean out the area where the extraction was done to make sure all infected or inflamed tissue is removed. I hope this is the problem and that we can get it healed.

My tumor markers from November 2, 2002 show increases: CA 15-3 is now 41.4 and CA 27-29 is now 54.3.

November 18, 2002: When I returned to the dentist's office on November 7, the inflamed area was still the same. He referred me back to the oral surgeon to have the surgeon clean out the inflamed area. The oral surgeon's office called to schedule the surgery, saying they wanted me to have the crowns and bridge removed first by the dentist. I refused to do that unless it was absolutely necessary (the dentist had not thought that was necessary). I suggested that we do the surgery to clean out the gum area first. They agreed to that. I suggested a local rather than having to have my port accessed for the surgery, to which the surgeon agreed. When I arrived for the surgery today, I actually thought that perhaps the additional prescription of Z-pak could have cured all of my problems, but that was not the case. When the surgeon looked in my mouth, he saw the inflammation and proceeded to numb the area, etc. He cut out the inflamed gum area, and then said that he was going to have to drill out the dead bone in the mandible. Some of this procedure was bearable, but then he hit an area where I could feel much pain. He had cut out enough bone and tissue to send in for pathology. I was given another prescription for Z-pak.

December 2, 2002: I returned to the oral surgeon to have my stitches removed. He gave us a copy of the pathology report showing no cancer in the mandible. He scheduled no return visit, and he thinks that the mandible problem may be due to radiation which may have killed the blood supply to the area. The results of the pathology show "acute suppurative osteomyelitis with osseous sequestra," but no evidence of metastasis. Ray looked up the osteomyelitis (bone is not healing and is inflamed) on the Internet and found that one treatment for this condition is to have antibiotics given intravenously in order to reach deep into the bone area.

December 12, 2002: Visit with my oncologist: Upon hearing my report from my oral surgery, he is referring me to an infectious disease doctor for consultation about an intravenous antibiotic.

December 16, 2002: I had an MRI of my thoracic spine on December 11 which showed an increase of tumor growth on the left side of T-9 as well as new places on T1 and T2. A small disc protrusion was again noted at T11/T12. I had a bone scan today (I took a copy of my pathology report on my mandible to show the radiologist that it is not cancer). Another problem I have been having is with the right side of my neck and some cramping and restriction of movement in my right arm (an indication of a problem in my vertebrae). At my appointment with my oncologist on December 12, he said that all indications are that I will need to begin a new chemo drug soon.

December 18, 2002: My oncologist called the infectious disease doctor, who said that until I get an appointment, I should be taking 6-8 weeks of an antibiotic, so my oncologist prescribed Augmentin, 875mg, twice a day.

December 29, 2002: My oncologist's office faxed my bone scan and MRI reports, as well as my tumor markers to me. The bone scan shows involvement in the T9 and T12 as well as L1. The radiologist also mentioned "interval increase in the amount of metastatic involvement of the left mandible." (So much for taking in the pathology report showing no cancer in the mandible). My tumor markers are still rising: CA 15-3 is 68.4 and CA 27-29 is 78.8. My oncologist said he would arrange for me to begin chemo on January 2.

We received an appointment via mail from the infectious disease doctor -- for February 5 at 10:00 a.m.

January 4, 2003: I received my first treatment of my new chemotherapy drug, gemcitabine HCI "Gemzar," on January 2. I was given Zofran and Decadron before my treatment to keep me from being ill, and I was instructed to take another anti-nausea drug, Phenergan (gel that can be rubbed into the wrist), if I needed it within 24 hours of my treatment, or Zofran after 24 hours of treatment. I haven't had any side effects except for heartburn, which I was having before due to a hiatal hernia. I have been having pains in my head/skull; I have asked my oncologist to schedule an MRI of my brain/skull, hopefully to include the cervical spine down to T1 and T2 to see what that will show. My head was aching the night of January 2, but the next morning, the pain was almost gone. I am wondering if the chemo worked that quickly to reduce tumor growth in the skull.

January 10, 2003: I had an MRI today of the brain/skull, C-spine (C1 through C7), and the technician said that they could include the T1 and T2 vertebraes.

January 16, 2003: I received my third treatment of Gemzar today. I have had a side effect from the Gemzar: my eyes are sensitive to light. On the third day after my first treatment, I seemed to have motion sickness, so I used the Phenergan gel for it. My eyes have difficulty in viewing a television or computer screen, as if I have looked into a bright light just before viewing the screen, but I haven't looked into a bright light.

Before my second treatment, I asked the oncology nurses if it would be okay for me to take a Prilosec before the treatment in order to reduce the heartburn caused by the irritation to my stomach from the chemo. They said that would be fine. Taking the Prilosec was a great help. My oncologist gave me a prescription, and decided to give me Nexium instead of Prilosec.

After my second treatment, I noticed that my eyes were badly bloodshot for several days. Another problem I had this past week was apparently a problem from taking the antibiotic for so long -- like a yeast infection, and constipation. We remembered that my dentist's hygienist had told me that I should take Acidophilus to replenish the bacteria in the intestines when you have been taking an antibiotic for a while. So, we pieced that information together and I started taking Acidophilus and my problem finally cleared up.

I had to begin to have Leukine injections (to rebuild white blood counts) after my second Gemzar treatment. I got a copy of MRI report. We were encouraged by the findings. It said nothing about any lesions in my skull, and no major problems in my brain or C-spine. It did not mention anything about T1 or T2. We have previously discussed with the oncologist that we might consult with a radiologist to go over some of the scans to find out more about the various scans I have had and get more answers about the reports.

January 23, 2003: I began a new drug today to replace Femara. It is Faslodex, an estrogen receptor antagonist, or antiestrogen, that blocks the effects of estrogen. It is used to treat hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This drug is injected into the buttocks (oh, happy day) once a month.

I had four treatments of Gemzar, the last causing me more trouble than any. We decided that I should take a week off for my body to recuperate. My platelet count was down to 71, so that was also a determining factor. I did have to begin my first Procrit shot to help rebuild my red blood count, on January 30. I had blood work done on January 30. My tumor markers have come down a little -- CA-15-3 is 51.00; CA-27-29 is 68.9.

I finally had my appointment with the infectious diseases doctor who immediately ordered daily treatments of antibiotics given intravenously -- for six weeks. I am getting Rocephin (2 grams). I am also taking Clindamycin (2 capsules three times a day), and also Nystatin which is to be swished in the mouth and swallowed. We are glad to be able to try to cure this infection in the mandible and this appears to be the only way to do so. Ray and I are giving me this medicine at home each night -- about 15-20 minute gravity drip.

February 6: I had my fifth Gemzar treatment and a Procrit shot (to help rebuild red blood counts) without any side effects.

February 13: I had my sixth Gemzar treatment, my Zometa treatment, a one shot injection of Faslodex, and a Procrit shot today, as well as changing my port access from one side of my port to the other, which I keep in so that I can do my infusions of the antibiotics. During the evening, I had chills and had to go to bed.

March 23: I have finished with my daily infusion of antibiotics (six weeks) and the Clindamycin capsules. I am now taking Augmentin 875 twice a day until April 30. My last tumor marker results were not good. They have risen -- CA 15-3 was 100.8; CA 27-29 was 122.7. My only hope is that the antibiotics had some effect on the tumor markers. Hopefully, after a few weeks of being off of the antibiotics, the tumor markers will be back in a lower range. If not, we will have to determine what is causing the climb in the marker numbers.

Another problem I am having is with my #21 tooth. It began to be sensitive to cold. On February 26, my dentist cleaned out the inside of the tooth; he found some decay. He thought that maybe after putting in the filling and putting on a temporary crown, that would cure the tooth problem. The tooth is still sensitive to cold, so he says that I need to have a root canal. I had the root canal on April 1. The tooth was still sensitive to cold, so I haven't had the permanent crown put in yet.

Tumor marker results from April 12: CA 15-3 was 82.1; CA 27-29 was 110.7.
Tumor marker results from May 15: CA 15-3 was 81.6; CA 27-29 was 109.2.
Tumor marker results from June 12: CA 15-3 was 77.4; CA 27-29 was 97.8.

I finished taking my antibiotic pills on April 30. I saw the infectious disease doctor on June 11. We think that all of the antibiotic treatments have cured the osteomyelitis in my mandible. I surely hope so!

We have decided that I should have two Gemzar treatments, one each week, then take a break for a week. I was not doing well on the three treatments in a row and then a week off.

June 26, 2003: I went today for my blood test and Procrit shot (no chemo). The big surprise was that my platelet count had dropped from 198 to 18 !! This is extremely low. While we were contemplating this, we noticed that I had bled from the port all over my clothes; that is a definite sign of my blood not clotting. Anytime the platelet count goes below 50 (50,000), the oncologist will order that you take Neumega to help increase the platelet count. I had one shot today, will have to go to the doctor's office tomorrow (Friday) for another, then have one on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. My white blood count was 1.5, which is very low, but I will take Leukine shots for five days to help build the counts back up. The Procrit shot will help to bring my red blood count back up a little. My oncologist said that this is all a result of being on the Gemzar for a while; the drug is taking its toll on my body. He said that I can have a bone scan after the July 4 holidays to see how the Gemzar has helped the cancer.

June 27, 2003: Today is my 13th anniversary of my initial diagnosis of breast cancer.

The Neumega shots of Thursday and Friday made me so weak that I was in bed for about five days. I refused to go into the office for the Monday through Wednesday Neumega shots; Ray called and told them that I wouldn't have chemo on July 3 because my body was just too weak to withstand any more. I took the next couple of weeks off of the chemo so that I could be present at my birthday party on July 19 (I am now 60).

July 26, 2003: I had my blood taken for tumor markers on July 10 and my bone scan performed on July 11. The tumor marker results were 94.3 for CA 15-3 and 121.7 for CA 27-29 -- high -- not good. The bone scan report says that there is "increased activity" in the L1 vertebral body; lesser degree of uptake at the T9 verebral body as well as some uptake in the sacroiliac. The only problem with the report is that the radiologist compared this scan to a report from a year ago and not the latest report of 12-02. It does say that the uptake in the jaw area is less apparent than on the report of 7-02. We have an appointment with a radiologist on July 31 to review my latest scans (MRI, bone scan, etc.) with him to try to better understand what is going on.

August 5, 2003: Ray and I met with a radiologist who said that my bone scan looked better than the last one. The L1 verebrae is the worst; the L9 is improving. Not bad. Yesterday, my platelet count was only 15 (15,000), so I had to have a Neumega shot to help bring the count up by next week in order to receive my chemo.

August 30, 2003: My oncologist gave me a break from the Gemzar chemo treatments because I had been feeling so badly. My last tumor markers came down (CA 27-29, 98.1; CA 15-3, 77.4). He said that we will try to rely on the Zometa infusions to help to keep the cancer in check. On August 26, I figured out that my mandible infection (osteomyelitis) is back. I called the infectious disease doctor and he told me to start back on Augmentin 875 twice a day. I got a panaramic x-ray of the mandible yesterday and have an appointment to see the doctor on Wednesday, September 3. I am still very weak. Just going to get the x-ray and driving back home wore me out. The x-ray report indicated more deterioration of the mandible since the last biopsy in November of 2002.

October 2, 2003: I have been on a daily i.v. antibiotic (Rocephin - 1 mg.) plus two Clindamycin capsules three times a day since September 5. My creatanine levels (kidney function) have been rising. On September 17, the infectious doctor noticed that my blood pressure was high (I had just had it taken the day before at the oncologist's office and it was okay). For the first time in my life, I had a high blood pressure reading. He sent me back to the oncologist where they verified it. The nurse practitioner gave me a prescription for two days' worth of blood pressure pills and scheduled an appointment for me to see a kidney specialist two days later. The kidney specialist gave me a sample bottle of blood pressure pills and scheduled me for an ultrasound on my kidneys. In the meantime, my vision is getting worse. Each eye is seeing clearly, but the eyes are not focusing together (I have to close one eye in order to see). On September 29, I went to my optometrist. He prescribed new lens which won't be ready for a week. Two days later, the eyesight is even more uneven. On September 30, at my regular visit with the oncologist, I again told him about my vision problems. I had been assuming that the vision problems were a side effect from Gemzar, but since the situation was getting worse, I finally figured out that something else might be happening. He suggested that I have an MRI of my head which is scheduled for Monday, October 6. Ray and I strongly suspect a tumor in the brain.

October 4, 2003: My lenses were ready, but my vision had gotten so much worse that the lenses did not help. The optometrist said that he thinks I have a condition called third cranial nerve palsy. The cause might be a tumor pressing on the nerve. My left eyelid is drooping. We will hope that the MRI on Monday will show us what the problem is. In the meantime, I have to close the left eye in order to see only one image out of the right eye.

October 18, 2003: The results of the MRI of my head on October 6 didn't show anything conclusive. On Friday, October 10, when we visited my oncologist, he decided to put me in the hospital to have a team of doctors see me and order whatever tests they thought necessary to try to figure out what was going on with my eye, blood pressure, kidneys, etc. By the end of the day, they had performed a lumbar puncture, blood tests, another MRI of the head, and an MRI/MRA of the throat area. Tests results were slow to come in over the weekend, so we decided that we would leave the hospital and wait for the results. We didn't get the MRI of the head results until Friday, October 17, which didn't appear to show anything new. The doctors - oncologist, neurologist, nephrologist and ear, nose and throat doctor all seem to think that the breast cancer has spread to the third cranial nerve, causing a palsy condition. They cannot find anything specific to prove this, but considering my history, that would be the most probable cause. They said that sometimes they are sure that the cancer has spread to that area, but can't prove it, and go ahead and treat the patient. In order to have radiation, you would have to see the problem area. Another treatment is chemotherapy administered through the top of the head through a pump into the spinal fluid. My oncologist said that this method would add "months" to my life, but in my situation (the eye problem), it wouldn't help that much. So I guess we will wait until I have even more symptoms which will give us a better idea of what is happening. If indeed, this is a spread of the cancer, the prognosis is "months." The progression would be headaches, disorientation, and swelling in the brain. I was having some headaches; I received a patch with medication which would last 72 hours, but after a couple of days, I would be sick at my stomach, so after the third patch, I discontinued using them. I am using Lortabs when I need pain relief. I can take steroids for the swelling when that begins, but the neurologist said that shouldn't be necessary for a while.

I received the results of my tumor markers from October 10: CA 15-3 - 142.5; CA 27-29 - 144.7.


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If anyone has any questions about my breast cancer experiences, please feel free to send me an e-mail me by clicking the e-mail button below.

I would like to offer some advice to anyone who is undergoing extensive medical treatments of any type:

-- Obtain copies of reports to have at home to supply to other doctors or for your reference;

-- Obtain tissue specimens from hospitals to keep at home in case a new discovery is made; you can then have your initial tissue tested for the newest discoveries

-- Do some research on your medical problem;

-- Ask your doctor questions so that you will understand your treatment.

-- Study the brochures to familiarize yourself with the side effects of any drug that you take.

-- Maintain a positive attitude.

A gentleman wrote recently to ask what the normal range is for the breast cancer tumor marker test, CA 27-29. The normal range is from 0 to about 38.6, depending on the laboratory that your oncologist uses. Doctors warn to not place too much emphasis on these test results unless the numbers continue to climb at each blood test; if the numbers continue to climb, it could be that the cancer is becoming more active, but it could also mean that you have some type of inflammation which might be affecting the numbers of the tumor marker. There is another tumor marker for breast cancer, called CA 15-3; its normal range is from 0 to about 31.3, again depending on the laboratory your oncologist uses. I usually have both tumor marker tests done for comparison.

There is a wonderful magazine which is available free to cancer patients and caregivers. It is CURE Magazine. You may go online to order your free subscription: www.curetoday.com. It has information on the latest treatments on many types of cancers. AND you can look at articles from past issues online.



Feb. 27, 2004