Chapter 2
We met with our Oncologist Friday for the first time to get an idea of what treatment for Angie is going to look like from here. From here out he’s pretty much our guy. He’ll coordinate the rest of her care… That’s the good news; we really like our doctor.
Before starting treatment she’s scheduled for 2 more tests; the first one is a bone scan on Thursday. The CT scan we did to check for any spread doesn’t do a great job of looking into bone, so this is one more precautionary look. If nothing showed up on the CT it’s very unlikely we’ll find anything on this one, but he’s covering all bases. Good thing, but one more little bit of anxiety… On October first she’s going in for something called a “MUGA” scan, it’s a look at the condition of the heart. This one is to get a baseline pre-treatment so they can monitor for signs of a problem while she is undergoing chemotherapy. (One of the drugs she will be getting has a risk of congestive heart failure)
Angie will get 3 different chemo drugs, the first two will be given together in 4 sessions 2 weeks apart starting the first week in October. The third drug will start after those are finished and will be another 4 sessions 2 weeks apart. 16 weeks. Normally with the tumor she had he would recommend radiation after that, but we’ll talk more about that later. Her lupus complicates things, it sounds like we’re going to be talking with her lupus specialist and a radiation oncologist before that decision is made.
The initial pathology report from her tumor showed a ‘weak’ match for a protein called HER2, we should know in a couple of weeks the result of a more specific test. If this comes back positive it is a good thing, it means that the tumor is fed by that protein, and there is a drug which will suppress it. In that case she’ll start that drug (Herceptin) concurrent with the second round of chemo and keep taking it every 2 weeks for a year.
After all of that… we’re looking at further (but far less brutal!) oral drug therapy for probably 5 years.
Quick Highlights:
- Bone scan Thursday (9/20)
- ‘MUGA’ scan (heart) 10/1
- First Chemo 10/4, then every 2 weeks for 4 months
- Possible radiation in late January?
- Possible year of Herceptin treatments (IV, every 2 weeks)
So thanks again to everyone who is caring so well for us, but please continue to pray! It’s still a long road ahead…
Beth Zarlenga said:
Dearest Friend,
You are constantly on my heart and in my prayers everyday, throughout the day. I love you and can not wait to be by your side soon…..I am so thankful to the Lord for your life, for your heart that is and will continue to be made more into His image everyday. There is no doubt a long road ahead….I will continue to pray that you will experience the nearness of Christ, His unchanging love for you, and His peace in your heart as you face each day, one moment at a time….
Love you with all my heart,
Beth
Lindsey said:
Dear Angie and family,
Gracious God,
It is the flame of my life to worship thee,
the crown and glory of my soul to adore thee,
heavenly pleasure to approach thee.
Give me power by thy Spirit to help me worship now,
that I may forget the world,
be brought into fullness of life,
be refreshed, comforted, blessed.
Give me knowledge of thy goodness
that I might not be over-awed by thy greatness:
Give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God,
that I might not be terrified,
but be drawn near with filial love
with holy boldness;
He is my mediator, brother, interpreter,
branch, daysman, Lamb;
in him I am set on high.
Crowns to give I have none,
but what thou hast given I return,
content to feel that everything is mine when it is thine,
and the more fully mine when I have yielded it to thee.
Let me live wholly to my Saviour,
free from distractions,
from carking care,
from hindrances to the pursuit of the narrow way.
I am pardoned through the blood of Jesus-
give me a new sense of it,
continue to pardon me by it,
may I come every day to the fountain,
and every day be washed anew,
that I may worship thee always in spirit and in truth.
-p 196 Valley of Vision
I love you all and am thinking and praying for you. I know this is a hard time.
Love,
Lindsey