JOIN MY TEAM - Casey's Cancer Kickin' Krewe

I recently accepted the challenge to raise funds to support the Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in its efforts to END BREAST CANCER FOREVER.

I invite you to join me in this important mission by becoming a member of my team, Casey's Cancer Kickin' Krewe! Together we can raise awareness and funds to save lives and find a cure. So yes, I'm asking for your help in several ways: 1) join my team for this great event, 2) help me reach my fundraising goal, 3) DO BOTH!!

Join me:

Becoming a team member is easy! All you need to do is click the Join a Team button on the Race Registration page to register for the Komen Austin Race for the Cure® and "Join a Team". Select "Casey's Cancer Kickin' Krewe." It's going to be a fun day... we have plans for a fun Mardi Gras theme with crazy hats, big sunglasses, beads, lots of beads, fun team shirt and big after race get together (details on team shirt and get together coming soon)! ;) Oh, and the more the merrier! Invite your friends and family to join us for a fun day and great cause!!

Support me:

You can help me reach my fundraising goal by making a tax-deductible donation. Any little bit helps... $10! $25! $50! $100! But please don't stop there if you can afford it! ;) Together we can make a difference! Komen Race for the Cure accepts cash and checks, but to make a safe online donation with your credit card, go to my fundraising page and click the "DONATE" button above the thermometer. Your support will help us get another step closer to a world without breast cancer.

Thank you for your support!

XOXO,

Casey

Click here to visit my personal page.

http://austin.info-komen.org/site/TR?px=10422721&pg=personal&fr_id=2282&et=9azn3vgcH3_ZaODoNXVcWA..&s_tafId=82339

Click here to view the team page for Casey's Cancer Kickin' Krewe

http://austin.info-komen.org/site/TR?team_id=175688&pg=team&fr_id=2282&et=AD0Umzw9aGhfiD67PE7LAQ..&s_tafId=82339

Target Now Update

After a few comments from friends this week I realized I never updated my blog from last week's Drs appt.  Oops!  Basically, the "Target Now" from my liver biopsy results are in!  This is a new test that can target a specific area and tell you what drugs would best treat that area.  Pretty amazing if you ask me!!  Anyway, they were not able to complete a few of the tests, BUT Dr. H is pleased w/ the analysis they were able to do... meaning I won't have to have another liver biopsy at this time.  WHEW!!!  The results of the analysis they were able to complete are pretty much in line w/ the recent drug changes Dr. H made... laying off a few of my IV drugs (Herceptin & Ixempra), while increasing the rest of my oral drugs and adding the anti estrogen drugs.  The plan is to stick w/ this for a 6-8 week period and then reevaluate the situation (using lab work, tumor marker, etc)...

Now speaking of the tumor marker, last week my lab results indicated that the tumor marker increased from 160 to 245.  Ya, not quite the direction we were aiming for!  I'm not going to lie, my heart sunk into my stomach after hearing this news.  BUT Dr. H seems to think this is a "flare up" due to the recent changes in my medications.  Which makes sense... the tumor marker has had it's "flare ups" in the past when I've changed my meds so it makes sense we'd have another one.  So next week I'll have another Drs appt, another tumor marker test (which will hopefully drop back down) and I'll be getting only one IV infusion (the Zomeda for my bones).  Fingers crossed that this is winning combo!! 

 

Tha tha tha tha that's all folks!

Meno-Who, Meno-What, Meno-PAUSE?!?

So I received a call from my Drs office on Friday... don't get too excited... we're still waiting on the Target Now results.  But until then, Dr. H is wanting to add 2 more drugs to my cocktail.  As if my cocktail wasn't already full!!  As a reminder, we're still holding off on a few of my IV drugs until we receive the Target Now results and in the meantime we've increased the oral meds I'm taking.  So the 2 new drugs we're adding is Lupron which is an injection/shot that I would get every 3 months and Femara, another pill to take daily. 

A little background on my diagnosis to refresh our memories...

I am HER2+ which is a form of breast cancer caused by the overexpression of a gene called HER2 in tumor cells.  I am also ER+ (estrogen receptor) which means that the cancer grows in response to estrogen. 

So if my cancer is growing in response to estrogen... why not shut down the estrogen.  So the 2 new drugs are anti-estrogen drugs which basically means that my ovaries have put the "temporarily going out of business" sign in their windows.  Which also means... hello menopause!  I just can't tell you how excited I am to experience the side effects of menopause at the age of 33 AND in triple digit heat!!  What fun this is going to be!  YAY!!

Speaking of side effects... I'll go ahead and complain about one of the odd side effects I'm experiencing.  I know I have an upbeat, positive attitude about kicking this cancer's ass, but I've gotta do a little complaining now and then!  Plus, some of these side effects are odd... who knew?!?  I sure as hell didn't so why not share it w/ anyone who will listen.  And if you have lasted this long reading my blog, I thought you'd be interested!  Anyway, there's a little side effect known as Hand Foot Syndrome in which you can experience redness and peeling of.... you guessed it... your hands and feet!!  My feet feel sooooooo raw!  I'm afraid if they peel anymore I'm going to need to start wearing a smaller shoe.  Or next time you see me I may be a couple of inches shorter!  Anyway, nothing I can't handle... if anything, it's just annoying!  I used to be quite the speed walker and it's killing me that I'm walking so slow!  It's hard to "walk w/ a purpose" at a snail's pace!

So there you have it.  I apologize in advance if I decide to make a blog entry under the influence of any menopausal side effects... it could get ugly!!  Just sayin'!!  ;)

Challenge Accepted III

YAY!!!  I love it... I've received some more pictures!  Y'all made my day!  Thanks for accepting my CfR Challenge!!  ;) 

Marnie & Riley (also known as Marn"i" and Ril"i")

Vail, CO

Ooooommmmmaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Davis Cup

Austin, TX

Spencer & Erica

Frying Pan Lakes, CO

Team CfR

Creede, CO

J & I 4 Wheelin'
South Fork, CO

Biopsy Results... ALMOST all in

Well, J and I got back from an amazingly restful and fun vacation in Colorado on Saturday.  We had Sunday to "recover" from our vaca and today I was back in the infusion room.  Talk about jumping back into reality!  ;)

So down to business... Even though we are still waiting on one final aspect of the biopsy results... what we do know is GREAT NEWS!  We know that the lesions on my liver that were not responding to my treatment are NOT cancerous!!  Whew!!  Yes, talk about a HUGE relief!!  We also know that the lesions on my liver that are responding to the treatment are still HER 2 Positive (for those of you who follow the specifics and details of my diagnosis).  Now the "aspect" of the biopsy results that we are still waiting on, called "Target Now," will end up taking another week or 2 to officially come in.  It's a test that is relatively new (being used w/in the last year) and actually targets the areas to specifically determine what treatment is most effective.  So when these results come in, Dr. H will have an even better idea on whether or not to increase or decrease my oral drugs and/or IV drugs.  My next appointment w/ Dr. H is scheduled for August 17th.  So until then I'll try to post some pics from my vaca in CO.  I also have some new CfR pictures that I've recently received (Woohoo, thanks for taking the CfR Challenge) AND since my birthday is coming up, hopefully I'll have some fun bday pics to post as well!  ;)

Thanks again for your support!  I couldn't kick this cancer's ass w/out you!!!