Back from Houston

Well, we're back from Houston! We got into Houston late Wednesday night and had several tests early Wednesday morning. I had an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), spirometry and DLCO (lung tests). Passed all with flying colors. Chemo went fine! I was glad to see the last drops of that red devil go in! Felt a little nauseous during chemo. Not sure why. I think I was just thinking too hard about how nasty chemo is! I have tried not to think about how toxic it is, just thrilled with how it is working! I felt fine as soon as chemo was over though, just a little shaky in the legs. My blood counts were the lowest they have been so far. Last time I was borderline in getting my chemo (Neutrophil count at 1500) and this time it was actually way to low (1200), but she decided to overwrite it so I could get this last FAC since I am in such good shape at this point during chemo, very healthy and doing so well. We go back in 3 weeks to be rescanned and have my first dose of Taxol. Taxol is better tolorated than FAC, so I am assuming I will fly through it also. We will know in May when we will be doing the stem cell transplant. I was hoping for August/Sept but it may be as soon as July/August. I just hate the thought of missing swim meets, tee ball games and Children's Summer Theater. So, here is hoping we can do it starting in August!! That's all the info from this trip!
~Kasey

Sunday, February 18

Hello! I hope everyone had a great week last week and a great Valentine's day! I haven't had much to post lately, which I suppose is good! Just busy living life! I posted a couple of photos from sessions I did last week on my photo blog: http://photographybykasey.blogspot.com/
Feel free to check them out!

We are headed back to Houston Wednesday evening. I have several tests scheduled for Thursday to prepare for the stem cell transplant. The need to run tests on my heart and lungs I guess to make sure they are healthy and strong enough to endure a transplant. I also have my last FAC chemo Friday! That is the chemo with the "Red Devil" in it. I thank the Lord everyday for how easy I have went through it! Most days, I forget I am even on chemo! I have had no side effects at all, except for being a little tired the day after chemo. Three weeks after the last FAC chemo I will begin a chemo called "Taxol". I will have 12 weekly infusions of this. The first infusion will be done at MD Anderson as I will be there all week that week for scans anyway. After that, I will have them done here at CRMC. Yep, I am a little scared and hesitant about that! I am glad I will be having the first one at MDA so I will know how it should go. You can bet I will be running the show here! I will know EXACTLY what they should and should not be doing. If anything doesn't seem right, they can kiss my a**! I will just have to have them done at MDA. But, I will give them a try.

I was going to post some photos of Raisa and Kevin leaving for the Daddy/Daughter ball, but I haven't downloaded them yet. They both looked so nice! My Dad is doing MUCH better! Thanks for all the prayers! I have been spending some time reading the pslams this past week and have found Psalms 91 quite inspiring! "My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust!"-
-psalm 91

I probably won't post again until next weekend. No news is good news though! I will just be busy!

~Kasey

~Happy Valentine's Day~

The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched~
They must be felt with the heart!
--Helen Keller

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!

More good news!!!!!

We got more good news from our Oncologist yesterday! After meeting with the transplant Doctor (Dr. Ueno----pronounced Way-No) he wanted to have my mri and cat scans that were inconclusive from 3 weeks ago reread. They had the best of the best Radiologist there look at them and compare and he said it is all activity from HEALING! YAAA! My oncologist has never seen a case of mixed resposne with chemo like this, where tumor markers are going down and tumor is decreasing (BY 94%!) but other areas showing no improvement. Now we know WHY! It's all just healing, but still showing up (or flaring) on mri and ct scans. I am so relieved!
I will have my last FAC chemo on February 24, then we will be reacanned on March 16 and I will start my first infusion fo Taxol (a taxane). I will have Taxol weekly for 12 weeks. I am going to check into having those done here (as scared as I am about that!). I just don't want to make weekly trips to Houston. To much for me!
I am expected to fly through the Taxol also, since my Dr. called me the "poster child for chemo!" I am glad I was able to tolorate it so well! I think it was because I KNEW I would!!! The mind is truly a powerful thing! That reminds me! A friend of mine (thanks Carrie!!) lent me a dvd called "The Secret". Very good show! It basically teaches you mind over matter---quantom physics. I have alway been a been a very driven person and ususlly get what I want. Now I understand why. Have that faith and belief that what you want, you can have!
Take care!!
~Kasey

Thursday, February 1

Hi! Sorry I didn't update yesterday! We met with the transplant Doctor and it looks like I will be a good candidate for a transplant!! I have had an excellent response to chemo. What it looks like we will do is a Stem Cell transplant using my own stem cells. The procedure is the same as a bone marrow transpant, but recovery is a little shorter. We will only have to stay in Houston for 2 months instead of 3. They will give me a drug to increase my stem cells, then "harvest" them. I will be hooked up to the machine for about 3-4 hours a day for 3-4 days. Then they wil give me the maximum amount of chemo they can over the next few days. Then, I will stay in the hospital for about 2 more weeks, for a total of 3-4 weeks actually in the hospital. Then they will release me, but I have to stay within 15 miles of the hospital for the next month.
We will do the transplant after I finish all my chemo and have surgery to remove as much of the cancer they can. They will also replace my port with another type (central line or something?). We meet with my Onconlogist tomorrow and will find out how long we are going to do chemo.
Today, we had a day of R&R and rented a car and drove down to Galveston. We love the ocean! We ate at Joe's Crab Shack for lunch and I pigged out on Calamari. YMMMMM! We drove around Nasa Space Station on the way back and got a little lost in downtown Houston, but we got the car returned in time!
That's all the new info for now! We have chemo tomorrow at 2:30 and will be home tomorrow night. I heard it snowed again! I have not seen it snow once yet this year HAHA! We have been in Houston every time it snowed!
See ya all soon!
~Kasey and Kevn