Chemo-Round 3

I am about 1/3 of the way through these chemo treatments! YA! I had another 25% drop in my tumor markers so we are excited again about that!
I do need to get on a little soapbox for a moment, so please forgive me. I have tried not to bad mouth Coffeyville health care too much, even after all they have done wrong to me, BUT all I needed done was to have blood drawn for my counts before I flew to Houston, that way I can make sure my counts are fine to do chemo. They also drew my tumor markers. They had to send that report off and the next day I get a call from the nurse that they came back and were at 15! She was excited and expected me to be also. Normal tumor markers are 35 and under. This would indicate I have NO cancer activity in my body. I kept repeating back the test that was done (CA Antigen 27.29) and she kept saying YES, that's the one! This is the reason we had to get out of Coffeyville for treatment. Things like this. I can't even have them draw my blood with out second guessing them! Needless to say, the test was wrong. I am almost feeling like it is going to be my person quest to tell everyone being treated around here to make sure you get second opinions OUTSIDE of Coffeyville. I won't get into everything else they did wrong (like telling me twice in 2005 that I did NOT have cancer!!). It's just scary the errors they make here and I know I am not the only one that falls through there cracks. OK, off my soapbox!

Chemo number 3 is going great! We didn't get home until around midnight, so I slept in today and am feeling great! Tonight the kids and I are going to bake some cookies for Santa, some fudge and gingerbread. YUM! I can't believe Christmas is here already! What a great time!
MERRY CHRISTAMS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
~Kasey

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It's almost here! We want to wish each and every one of you a VERY Merry Christmas! You are all so special to us. This tough time has been made easier by all the kind thoughts and prayers. It is nice to know that we have such a great support system around us!!!
I am still feeling great! I've been a little tired this week, but nothing I couldn't handle. I got my Christmas shopping finished up (now just to get it all wrapped LOL!). I even had several photo shoots this week! I will post some photos from those on my business blog (photographybykasey.blogspot.com) when I get them proofed. I have gotten several emails from people about the link to My Journey not on the other blog anymore. I did remove it, but you can still click on my photo to access it. I want to keep my business blog seperate from my personal blog. Personal updates on me will only be posted here.
We go back to Houston Friday, just for the day, for Chemo Round 3 (out of about 10). I am about 1/3 of the way through! YA! I am taking my MIL with me this time. She has never been on a plane before, so it will be her first trip!
I hope you all have the best Christmas! Just don't forget the real meaning of the Christmas Season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
~Kasey, Kevin, Raisa and Larson

Flowergirl and Ringbearer

I just had to post these photos of Raisa and Larson! They were SO cute!







Here are 2 from the ceremony:

December 7th

Hello all!
Sorry I haven't posted this week yet, just busy with life! I am feeling GREAT and have quite a bit of energy. I think we all need it this time of year just keeping up with Christmas--decorating, baking, shopping! We got 3 trees up--one in the living room (the gingerbread tree), one in Raisa's room (she has a new white one with white lights decorated in turquoise and hot pink!) and one in Larson's room (mainly sports but a few other misc. stuff). We did not put our tree up in the dining room or the back porch this year. Kind of sad not seeing them, but I won't feel sad when it's time to take them down this year as I will be glad then we only have these 3! All my nutcrackers didn't make it up either, but they will be back next year. Hey, I am looking for a real good sugar cookie recipe to bake with the kids if anyone knows of a great one, email me! Raisa is going to make some oatmeal fudge too. YUM!
I am sending off the last order of Christmas cards this week if any of you had a session with me this past year and would like to order cards, or if you want to order any collages or photos for gifts, get those orders in to me by the first of next week.
Raisa and I started a Yoga class this week! It's very relaxing. I think we are going to enjoy it! I have been walking a few miles each day on my treadmill also. Got to stay in shape (or get in better shape hmmmm!).
I think we are going to head to Owasso or Tulsa Saturday to get some more Christmas shopping done. The weekend after that is Kevin's younger bother Donnie's wedding. Raisa is the flowergirl and Larson is the ringbearer (if we can get him into a button up shirt and if you know Larson, you know what I mean!).
Have a great weekend and email or post those sugar cookie recipies!
Thanks!!
~Kasey

GREAT NEWS!

HI! We had a great visit with my oncologist Friday! She was excited to show me on my blood test that my tumor markers (CA Antigen 27.29) which records cancer activity had WENT DONW 30%!!!!!!!!!!! She was thrilled with that as she said she normally doesn't even see them drop let alone SO MUCH after just the first chemo. What great news! Looks like this chemo combo is working! She was very optomistic about being able to talk to the bone marrow tranplant team in Jan. or Feb. We will finsh off 6-8 months of chemo first.
Thurday I went to surgery and had my port put in and that all went great! They put a patch behind my ear so I wouldn't get sick from the anthetheia. I never did (unlike at crmc haha!) Friday, chemo went great, got to order lunch there. They really make you so comfortable. Just for kicks here are a few photos Kevin took for you viewing enjoyment! LOL!

Monday, November 27

HI! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know we did! After a great dinner, we headed off to Branson for an Old Time Christmas. If you have never been to Branson at Christmas, I urge you to go! It is so beautiful. We enjoyed Silverdollar City and lots of shopping. I loved the water and fire show at the new Branson Landing. Pretty cool! While at Silverdollar City, we caught their production of A Christmas Carol (which we see each year!) and they changed it up a bit this year. New scenes were added that were awesome. Definetly worth seeing. We also saw the Living Nativity. It was about a 20 minute show with great music. You leave feeling what Christmas really is about. Now that we are home I am ready to get all my decorations up! We usually put up 5 Christmas trees, but I think we may only do 3 this year. I love taking picutres of my trees, so I will post some when we get them up. I just love Christmas! Such a special time of year!
This week will be another busy week! Kevin will be making a flying trip to St. Louis Tuesday for work, then we head to Houston again Wednesday morning. Meet with a surgeon Wednesday to talk about my surgery Thursday to put the port in. Have the port put in on Thursday and round 2 of chemo Friday. Then, we won't be back until round 3 of chemo on December 22.
Talk to you all soon!
~Kasey

Happy Thanksgiving!

We want to wish everyone a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!

A 4-year-old boy was asked to give the thanks before Thanksgiving dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation.

He began his prayer, thanking God for all his friends, naming them one by one. Then he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles. Then he began to thank God for the food.

He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, even the Cool Whip.

Then he paused, and everyone waited--and waited.

After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked,
"If I thank God for the broccoli, won't he know that I'm lying?"

Monday, Novemeber 13

GET READY! IT'S TIME FOR "A CHRISTMAS CAROL"! (Is Raisa cute or WHAT!) Opening night is this Thursday. Raisa is so excited! She loves theater. Here are a few photos of her. She has several parts, but the one she likes the most is Fan, Scrooges sister.








Here are a few other photos from the show:





As for me, this past week has been GREAT! I feel GREAT! I am back to doing daycare and a few photos sessions (not many, can't get stressed!) I am looking foreward to the play this week and Thankgiving next week. We are heading to Branson Thanksgiving day to spend the weekend. We usually rent a log cabin, but didn't get our reservation in time for that. We just decided last week to go and get away for a few days. It's so beautiful there with all the Christmas lights!
For those of you that have seen Kevin this week, yes, he did break his thumb! He should have the cast off the last of November. I am just so happy to be doing so well, I feel like I could take on the world! You all have a great week and be sure to make it out to see "A Christmas Carol"!
~Kasey

Chemo-Round 1

(I posted this last night, but I guess it gost lost in cyber space! Here it is again!)

Round 1 is done! All went quite well. They had an "IV Specialist" come to access my vein. She was great. Found a good vein on the top of my left arm, shot me with lidocane and then I didn't feel the IV at all. Total time to administer the chemo was 2 1/2 hours. I had a nice coctail going. First, I had some medication so I won't have an allergic reaction, then a medication to help with nausea, then the first of 3 parts of my chemo (AKA the Red Devil!). The nurse had to stay by my side during that one to make sure it won't leak from my vein--major problemos if it did! Then, we went onto the 5FU or something like that and then the last part which I can't even remember now. (Can't blame it on chemo brain yet, but maybe it was the pill they gave me before all of this to calm the nerves!) Kevin was great! He actually sat beside me and cracked my pistacio nuts open for me for like 30 minutes! We even had room service! They had a menu you could order salads, sandwiches and stuff from (comes with the room too!). Pretty neat. Now that I have this chemo in me, I can just visualize it killing all the cancer cells! We leave Houston at 10:30 tomorrow morning. Ready to be back home again. Now, we won't have to go back until Nov. 30-Dec.1. Then, I will have my port put in and my 2nd round of chemo.
Just wanted to check in with everyone to let you know so far, so good!
~Kasey

Back at MDA

Well, we're back here again. We got in yesterday and had to attend a "Chemo class". We met with my Oncologist again today and had blood drawn. She again seemed real pleased with with our treatment plan. She thinks I will do well with it. I KNOW I will. I was telling Kevin today that I have this really weird sense of absolute calmness about me right now that I can't explain. Here I am in a fight for my life and I am just as happy as I have ever been. I almost feel strange feeling this way. I am not sad or scared anymore. Kevin told me that it was just faith kicking in right now. I KNOW I will come out of this just fine. I told my Oncologist (who likes statistics) that I will be her statistic that will walk back in her office for a 10 year check up. I think I told her that more as a promise to myself.
We start chemo here in about an hour. It should last around 3 hours. Time to sit back, relax and take care care of myself for a few months. This cancer picked the wrong person! I have been reading some books by Charles Capps ("God's Creative Power for Healing" and "The Tongue-A Creative Force (thanks Joni!)). VERY good books! They teach you to call things that are not, as though they were, until they are. When you are sick and confess that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus, you are calling for what God had already given you, even though it is not yet manifest.
That is something I have repeated every day:
"By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed".
And, I truly believe it!

Have a great evening everyone! I am off to my first Chemotherapy!
~Kasey

November 1

Hi!! It sure has been nice to be home for a whole week! Nice to have a few of my daycare kids around too! I hope everyone had a great Halloween! Here is a photo of Raisa and Larson dressed up last night. Raisa was a fortune teller and Larson was an "invisible medival monster!"

Aren't they cute! Well, you can't really see Larson, since he's "invisible" and all! Today is All Saint's Day and Raisa got to pick a Saint and dress up for it for school. She chose Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Here she is in that outfit today (thanks, Mom!).

Raisa will also be in the upcoming production of "A Christmas Carol" at Coffeyville Community College. Opening night is November 16 and I believe tickets will go on sale next week. Another show worth seeing!!
We will be leaving again in the morning for Houston. Will have my first round of chemo Friday. We are planning on coming back Saturday. They won't be able to put the port in until our December chemo session, so this one will done by IV. Thanks again for all the cards, prayers (and dinners!!) this week! I am so lucky to be surrounded by such great people!

ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS.

~Kasey

A Treatment Plan!

:) <-------that's me smiling!

We finally have a treatment plan. We have chosen to be aggressive with this cancer. It really wasn't a hard decision. I think our Doctor was pleased that we have chosen the aggressive route also. This is what is ahead for us--Next Thursday, we go back to Houston (thank goodness for frequent flyer miles!) and talk with our Oncologist and a surgeon who will put a port in me. Friday, I will have a port installed and begin the first round of chemo! The port will be put under the skin by the collarbone and they will use that to administer the chemo into. Then, we won't go back until the First Friday in December. After that, we will be there every 3rd Friday. In about 3 months, I will be rescanned (CT of abdomen and MRI of pelvis) to see if I am responding to the chemo. If it looks like I am, then we will meet with a bone marrow specialist and discuss a bone marrow transplant. I will be on chemo for about 6-8 months. It will be a tough road ahead, but with lots of prayers, we are hoping to put this thing into remission!

~Kasey

MRI-Head

Well, here is the results of the MRI of the head:

There is no evidence of metastasis to the brain (yea!)
HOWEVER, calvarial metastases are seen limited to the diploic space with no evidence of epidural tumor.
Bony metastases is also seen involving the clivus/adjacent petrous apieces with a slight enhancement around the Meckel's cave bilaterally surrounding the trigeminal ganglia.
Visualized images of the cervical spine also reveal bone matastases involving the visualized C2 and C3 vertebral bodies.


I think we need medical degrees to figure it out. What we have gathered is NO brain involvement but bone involvment to the skull on the forehead and deep inside at the bottom underside of the brain (the "Meckel's Cave") and 2 top vertebrae.

We are ready to come home! We visit with Dr. Green tomorrow and should have some info on that to post tomorrow. I really want to thank you all SOOOOOO much! Every post on here and email to me has brought a little bit of sunshine to my days! I just got finished reading Lance Armstrong's book "It's not about the bike--My journey back to life" (THANKS LESLIE!). It was a very inspirational book. He too was at a stage 4 cancer and beat all odds. No doctor expected him to live. It just really goes to show you the power of the human spirit. I am feeling good, sometimes I just can't even image something so terrible is in me. Here's hoping I continue to feel great for MANY years!

"God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons we could learn in no other way."

~Kasey

Sunday, Oct. 22

Sorry to all for the delay in posting an update. As some of you already know, we decided to stay in Houston for the weekend. Although it is very hard being away from Raisa & Larson, we needed a couple days to recoup. We have spent most of the time in prayer, research and thought. The rest of the time we spent seeing a bit of Houston, and just relaxing.

Kasey goes in Tuesday for the MRI of the right breast, and has a meeting with Dr. Green on Wednesday to go over results. We hope to hear the plan for treatment then, and to also get started with it.

Still no results on the MRI for the head/brain yet.

Again, thanks to all for the thoughts, prayers and help for us. We appreciate it so much!!

All in all, Kasey is doing well. She's keeping her positive attitude!!!

We miss everyone, especially you guys, Fred and Little Man!!!

To all..feel free to give us a call anytime on our cells. And thanks for the continued replies on this blog.

Love all and God Bless!!!!

Kevin & Kasey

MRI-Pelvis

I have waited all day to post this because I couldn't find the right things to say. Bad news again. I got a call this afternoon from our Oncology nurse, while trying to enjoy the Meusum of Natural History. She read the report from the radiologist. It looks like it has spread to the bone marrow of my pelvis (75% of my pelvis is involved). So, will will stay at stage IV. I was obviosly hoping for better news. I have the scan of the skull and brain tomorrow. We won't know those results until next week. I will be coming home tomorrow and come back here Monday night, as of now. Any extra time I can spend with Raisa and Larson is well worth it! I just love them so much!
~Kasey

A visit from some angels!

Here is the Holy Name childrens choir that stopped by to sing us a BEAUTIFUL song right before we left for the airport! What a treat to hear such beautiful voices! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!

Back to MDA

Well, we are leaving tonight to go back to Houston. I have an MRI of the pelvis scheduled for 6:30 tomorrow morning and an MRI of the skull and brain Friday. As of now, we are planning on coming home Friday night, then going back next Tuesday for the Breast MRI. PLEASE say some prayers that both of these are NEGATIVE for cancer!

Thank you to everyone who came over last night for prayers! It really lifted our spirits! We are hoping to be able to speak with the Radiologist to find out something.
I will post when we find out about the test tomorrow.

~Kasey

I am here

Thank you all so much for the visits, phone calls and emails while we have been home. I know I have not been able to respond to each and every email, but I DO read them! As I am sure you all can guess, it has been beyond tough. I heard from a great Oncologist at one of the best cancer treatment centers about the WORST news we could have heard. I haven't taken it too well. We do have 3 more tests for this week, 2 are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. We are waiting to hear when the 3rd one will be scheduled. I am having MRI's done on the pelvis, brain and right breast. I am not one to be told there is nothing they can do. I NEED to fight. I WILL fight and from the words of Lance Armstrong, "Fight like Hell!"

(I just may need a little help from all you great people to help me not lose focus!)

I think my theme song right now would be "I get by with a little help from my friends" by John Lennon.

~Kasey

Day 4: A little more info.

I just wanted to add some to Kasey's post.

We flew home tonight (Friday).

As said before, lymph nodes on her right side were positive for cancer. This meant one of two things:

1. Cancer has traveled through her body, and found it's way to these nodes.

2. Possible 2nd cancer in the right breast (better case than #1)

The latest test results indicate possible cancer at that spot on her skull, and possible cancer in the right hip.

We will be going back to Houston later next week for 3 MRI's.
Head, right hip, and right breast. These tests should indicate if cancer or not.

Best case will be negative on the skull and hip, but positive on the right breast. This would mean two separate cancers, but not traveling through her body.

Again, thanks to all for the thoughts, prayers, e-mails, and calls.

Kevin

M.D.A.—Day 4

Met with the Oncologist, all I am going to say is it looks like we are dealing with Stage 4 with metastasis to the hip bone and skull. I am not going to post any more right now, if you want to know about it, please look it up on the internet, I am on my way to catch a flight home to hug my children.

M.D.A.---Day 3

This blog is about my journey and on this journey there will be good days and bad. Today wasn’t a good day. I finally broke down with the Radiologist. It was tough. We are dealing with extensive lymph node involvement. I ended up having a lymph node biopsy today from the right side (cancer is on the left side) and it came back as cancerous. It means there is cancer also present on the right side that isn’t being picked up yet (which may be the case with lobular, since it is also called a “hidden cancer”) or the left side is worse than they thought. I am in tears as I write this. It’s tough right now. The Radiologist wants to have an MRI done. We meet back with the Oncologist tomorrow. I am glad Kevin is here with me. He picked me up when I was down and took me for a ride on the “metro train” to downtown. It was interesting. I don’t know what else to write today. I am scared and that’s all there is to it today.

~Kasey

A Husband's Perspective

Plane tickets for a flight that was so rough that we couldn’t even
get our peanuts and pop…………………………………………….$360.00

Cab ride from Houston Hobby to everywhere but where we
needed to go………......……………………..$35.00

Finally getting where we needed to be, and having the feeling that
this place was put on this earth just for us……………..PRICELESS!!


This Medical Complex is huge. We’ve been lost several times.
It’s kinda like Vegas, but they’re hospitals instead of hotels.

Thanks to all for the support, thoughts and prayers. Kasey checks
this blog several times a day, and it pleases her so much to read
your comments. Keep it up. I am so proud of her.

Fred and Little Man (you know who you are), we miss you SO
much!! We can’t wait to be back home with you.

Say hey to Grady and Sammy, and pet them for me.

Again, thanks to each and every one of you that are helping us in
this journey. It’s only just begun, but your kindness has touched
us in such ways that make things so much easier for us.

In the words of Rev. John Mullen…

“God love ya, and keep smiling!!”

Kevin

M.D.A.---Day 2

I made it through the tests today. The CT scan went well, and they have better stuff to drink for prep! It was clear and I got to mix it with cranberry juice. I had to drink 6 cans of cranberry juice, but I didn’t throw up LOL! The bone scan wasn’t as good. They picked up the same spot on my skull that was picked up at crmc. They immediately did follow up tests, but we won’t know anything until Friday. They will get to the bottom of it here though. Something is going on there, we just need to figure it out!
Other than that, the day has been ok. I still LOVE this place. It is like a HUGE hotel (or actually like 5 or 6 HUGE hotel all connected). Everything is so organized, with big waiting rooms that have recliners to rest or sleep, computers for internet access. AND, if your appointment is for 12:15, they call you at EXACTLY 12:15! Can you tell I love it here?? This is just the type of care I was hoping to get! Kevin says “HI”!
We have a few more tests tomorrow—Ultrasounds and mammograms. I should have an idea of lymph node involvement by tomorrow (or Friday if we have to wait for our Oncologist to go over them). We may take a ride around Houston tomorrow to check it out. Kevin is doing great! He’s such a great husband and I LOVE HIM! I will post again tomorrow or maybe I can get Kevin to add a post later!
I love ya all!!!
~Kasey

M.D.A.---Day one

We made it! We love M.D. Anderson! We met with Dr. Green our oncologist and we are IMPRESSED with her! I just loved her. We are under great care here. I found out today that I am at Stage 3 (out of 4). There does seem to be lymph node involvement. The cancer is also Estrogen positive and Her2NEU negative. This means the cancer is feeding off of estrogen, so I will probably have my ovaries removed. They are going to do some genetic testing for a “gene mutation” and if they find it, will remove my ovaries to also reduce the risk of Ovarian cancer. One other thing I love here is that my case will be reviewed by all the other Doctors here (23 of them) with Dr. Green. They are some of the best Oncologists in the country. The nurses and staff here are great! VERY helpful and friendly. We talked some today about my treatment plan and it looks like I will have 6 months on Chemotherapy. The good news is that it will be only one day every 3 weeks for 3 months, then once a week for 3 months. We are going to be able to come here, have my treatments and then go home. If I can, I may do the every week part of it more local. Then surgery will be done here. We will be making our appointments to meet with the surgeon and plastic surgeon soon. After all this, I will have 6 weeks of radiation that will need to be done here. That will be around the beginning of the summer.
We also had a long talk with a Research Nurse (Reuben) whose wife went through this a few years ago. They took some blood to be used in a study.
Well, I better get off of here and get some sleep! I’ve been up since 3:30 this morning and have to be back at MDA at 6:30 a.m. Here’s hoping I don’t throw up the barium before my CT scan! LOL!
THANK YOU for all the emails and comments! They really help keep my spirits up!
~Kasey

Wer're off!

Here it is 4:30 in the morning! We are getting ready to leave. Our flight leaves at 7:10 a.m. out of Tulsa. I am nervous, scared, anxious and sad right now! More scared than anything. It is hard leaving Raisa and Larson. Hopefully we will find out more about when I'll get to come back in the next day or two. I will still have acess to my same email. If anyone wants either Kevin's or my cell phone numbers, just email me and I will be happy to give them to you! Keep up the prayers! I will post more later!
~Kasey

My Oncologist

Want to see my Oncologist? Here she is! Dr. Marjorie Green, M.D.

Marjorie Green, M.D.

Titles/Appointments
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Department of Breast Medical Oncology

Undergraduate Degree
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, IN
B.A., History
1991
Medical School
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX
1995
Internship/Residency
Internal Medicine
University of Virginia Health Science Center
Charlottesville, VA
1995-98
Fellowship
Medical Oncology
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
2001
Medical Hematology
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
2001
Marjorie C. Green, M.D.
Dr. Green is an assistant professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She is a member of M. D. Anderson's Clinical Research Committee and an associate member of its Institutional Review Board. Her research interests include breast cancer drug therapies and dosing strategies, among others. She received her medical degree at the UT Medical Branch in Galveston, and completed her residency at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center and fellowships in medical oncology and hematology at M. D. Anderson. She is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. Dr. Green reports that she is on an advisory board for Aventis Pharmaceuticals. She reports that she has received funding as a speaker for Pfizer and Roche.


I think she's quite qualified! I will get to meet with her on Tuesday. I was hoping not to have to repeat any tests that were done here in the last 2 weeks, but it looks like I may have to. That's ok though. None were too bad, well, except for the CAT scan of the abdomen. My stomach didn't agree to well with the Baruim (?) they make you drink and ended up throwing it up before they did the test. I tried so hard to keep it down! Haha. Luckily, they didn't make me drink any more and were able to still do the test. Now, I may have nightmares about doing that again! Here is my lovely schedule for the first few days were will be there:
10/10/06 1:30PM NEW PATIENT REGISTRATION - 1220 Holcombe Blvd - Mays Clinic - Please take elevator U to the 5th floor reporting to the Nellie B. Connally Breast Center - Please sign in at the receptionist desk and be seated to the left of the desk with films and the completed 9 page Patient History Database forms in hand.

10/10/06 2:30PM NEW PATIENT VISIT - Dr. Marjorie Green

10/10/06 4:15PM CHEST, PA & LAT

10/10/06 4:30PM BLOOD/SPECIMEN COLLECTION

10/11/06 06:30AM CT PREP-DO NOT EAT 3 HRS PRIOR

10/11/06 08:00AM CAT SCAN, ABDOMEN

10/11/06 10:00AM BONE SCAN-DOSE

10/11/06 12:00PM BONE SCAN-EXAM

10/12/06 08:20AM CHECKIN FOR TEST / EXAM

10/12/06 08:40AM MAMMOGRAM, DX BILATERAL

10/12/06 12:00PM CHECKIN FOR TEST / EXAM

10/12/06 12:30PM US, BREAST WITH FNA

Sounds like fun! WHOOOO HOOO!

OCTOBER 10th!

Well, it looks like our first appointment at M.D. Anderson will be on October 10th! We will spend next week going over all my test results, meeting my team of doctors (Oncologist, Surgeons, etc) and coming up with my treatment plan! Finally! These last few days have been SO tough. I find myself not being able to concentrate on anything! I have been keeping busy finishing up some photography work for people and businesses. I have really been missing all my daycare kids though! (You all know I LOVE YA!) We are still waiting on the path report for my ERA/PRA (Estrogen/Progestrogen factors)and the HER2 NEU. Our Doctor in Houston should have that by then. They will tell how the cancer cells are growing, what makes them grow and how fast. I am just ready to go into fight mode and get this over with!
~Kasey


"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." ----Joseph Campbell

Posting comments

After receiving several emails from people not sure how to post comments on the blog, I though I would just post "how to" here. It's easy!
Just click on the the little blue "comments" button at the bottom of my post. Then just type it in on the right hand side in that box. You can check Anonymous, but just make sure when you are typing the message to put your name at the bottom of it. Then hit "Login and Publish". That's it! It won't require you to sign up or anything. That way, I know you were here and thinking of me!

We bought a laptop this weekend, so I can stay connected down in Houston. I should still be able to access my current email address, but if that changes, I will post here. Thank you again for all the support and prayers. I will post when we know we are leaving for MDA. I hope this week!

Saring an email

"Gift of the Heart"
Dear Kasey,
I searched around, yet, never found
A card with words that could say..
Nor gift that could quite portray..
What I want you to know on this day.
So,with pen in hand..I pondered
How should the message start?
Then, the ink began to flow...
With words straight from my heart!
I would give you the moon on your darkest
night..the sun on a cloudy day.
I'd hang the stars to guide your steps
When you have lost your way.
Golden days..Silver nights
All that is beautiful / all that is bright
Wrapped in shiny paper,
Tied with a gilded bow.
A heart,filled with love,is the gift I give
Just wanted you to know.

Karen G. Law (Copyright....)


Thank you for all the wonderful poems, Karen! You have a special gift!
~Kasey

Still waiting!

Still waiting on our call for our appointment day from M.D. Anderson. Just to keep everyone updated, last week I had a CT scan of the abdomen and all organs (lungs, liver, etc.) look good and my bloodwork is looking good. I had a bone scan Tuesday that came back not so great. There was an area on my skull that they needed more scans of so I went back in today for a CT scan of the head. It came back showing an area of "caution, but not conern" for right now. So that to me was good news! I do have to go have another biopsy done tomorrow morning. M.D. Anderson called and requested another one done that will be more specific as to the the type of cancer we are dealing with. So, once that gets done, they will pair me with a Doctor that is specialized in that particular cancer. We are really hoping to be able to go next week. It is hard sitting here feeling like I am not fighting it yet! I am ready.

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot erode faith.
It cannot destroy peace.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot erode the spirit.
It cannot conquer the soul.

The start of my journey

As many of you know if you are reading this blog, I have been diagnosed with "Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma" otherwise known as breast cancer. This blog will help me journal through this journey, knowing I am not alone. Thank you to everyone for all the prayers, cards, phone calls, everything! It has truly meant ALOT to me! There is such a comfort in knowing that people care. As I told a friend of mine, there is good in this crazy world! I welcome you to follow along with me on my journey.
Kasey