So far, so good!

I think it's been past time to update!

Mom has been doing great! I'm hoping to get her to write up her own update for me to post, but this is my version. :)

So far, Mom has had one infusion of chemo via IV, and has been on 12 days (of 14) of the chemo pill. After the two weeks of pills are up, she'll have a week of nothing! Then, back to MD Anderson for Round 2, which is the same thing all over again: a few hours of a chemo IV, then 14 days of pills.

So far, there have been almost NO SIDE EFFECTS!! Hallelujah. Every once in a while she'll feel a little queasy (who wouldn't?). The way she describes it best is that she just doesn't feel "quite right".

Her next appointment will be May 6th. Please say special prayers for her that day.
The nurse said that some people may not experience any major side effects until after the 2nd treatment. I'm hoping Mom will experience none at all!!

What a day, what a day...

It's almost 11 p.m. and we are getting ready to crawl into bed at my house in Austin.

Mom's chemo went really well today - we don't think she's really experienced any side effects yet. She did have a little bit of nausea, but it's more likely that it was from the whole emotional ride the last 30 hours have been.

Mom should have flown out of Austin today at 5:30, but we weren't quite sure we could make it to the airport on time (if we did, it would have been WITHOUT her luggage) so we booked her on a 7 a.m. flight tomorrow morning.

Mom spent the evening with me planting my flower bed! (Pictures to follow). I thought that was a great way end the first day of a chemo infusion and kick some cancer butt!

Thank you all for your love and prayers - we needed it so much today. Whenever I received a comment on the blog or an email, I had to hand the computer over to Mom to read it because I couldn't read it out loud without bursting into tears, nor could Mom. We love you all!

And, more than anything, praises to God for a smooth first day of chemo. The side effects on the labels are miles long - but God, and only God, can hold 'em all back.

Getting hooked up...

Mom is getting hooked up to saline solution, via I.V., right now. They run it through her body, followed by a antihistamine to prevent any side affects, then the chemo...

The process will take about two hours....

We thought it was just a check-up!

Mom starts chemo today. What?! Yes! Today.

She flew into Austin on Monday evening and we drove to Houston on Tuesday morning. We were expecting just a quick check up, a discussion on what her treatment options were, and a drive back to Austin.

Right now, I'm sitting in the diagnostic clinic while Mom has blood drawn, prior to her first chemo treatment.

Please say a prayer for her - she's definitely nervous. This has started much faster than we ever expected.

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Well, I WAS sitting in the Diagnostic Center. Now we are in the Ambulatory Treatment Center waiting to be called back. Mom has a bright orange bracelet on showing her name, and a few codes (to make sure they have her connected to the right file, right treatment, etc).

Here's what happened yesterday:

We met with the doctor to learn what treatment options were. Apparently, there aren't a lot of options because one option is the best and he said anything less, is just that: less. So, Option 1 is a Standard Treatment Plan which would include a 12 week cycle of chemo infusion via I.V., followed by 12 week cycle of "FEC", also by I.V., followed by 6 weeks of radiation, followed by five years of an anti-estrogen medication (pill).

The doctor also said Mom was a great candidate for a research study that they have been conducting over the last 2 years. As of yesterday, there are 587 patients in this study. They hope to enroll over 900. The research study is randomly divided into two groups of patients. Group One is given the Standard Treatment Plan. Group Two has a slightly different treatment plan.

Mom and I made up our own medical names for the plans: "Basic Care" (for Group One) and "Basic Care Plus" (for Group Two). Group Two will be given a 12 week cycle of chemo infusions AND a pill. Then, the rest of the cycles are the same as Group One.

Mom is now patient number 588 of the research group AND is in Group Two!

More details from the doctor include:

1. If Mom were to pursue no other treatment after her lumpectomies, she would have a 40% chance of the cancer recurring.

2. If she were to have only radiation and anti-estrogen medication, her chances of recurrence drop to 28%.

3. If she were to go through the "Basic Care" treatment plan, her chances of recurrence are 20%.

4. If she were to be part of the research study, be selected for Group Two (Basic Care Plus) her chances of recurrence are 20% or less. The purpose of the research study is to see if the additional medication during the first 12 week cycle of chemo decreases the chances of the cancer returning to the body.

So, as Mom goes through "Basic Care Plus" her chances of never having breast cancer are 80% or better.

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We were presented with the decision of joining the research study yesterday, and were given some time to think about it. We made the decision pretty fast. In my mind I thought, "If Mom signs up for the research study, God will place her in the treatment plan that he has planned for her." When I told Mom that was what I was thinking, I didn't even finish my sentence before she said, "That's what I was thinking!" So, God has placed Mom in the "Basic Care Plus." And that's where we are starting today.

This is turning into a really long post, so I'm going to end it and start a new one with what the "Basic Care Plus" Adventure will entail!

We are still sitting in the waiting room of the Ambulatory Treatment Center, so please pray for us as we wait to be called and for Mom to receive a first round of chemo.