CHEMO FRIDAYS are back!

We are in back in Chicago for Beth's 2nd round of Chemo.   We actually should stop keeping count because there isn't a set number of rounds she will get this time.  Her doctor said that she will be on Chemo until it doesn't work anymore - whatever that means.

When Beth finished Chemo 5 years ago she vowed that she would never have Chemo again, even if her cancer returned.  So, why did she agree to have Chemo this time?   In 2008 Beth was diagnosed with Breast Cancer that was ER/PR Positive, HER2 Negative.   During her last back surgery in December they had to shave down part of a vertebrae.  As a matter of routine they sent a portion of the bone to pathology.  When the results came back it showed that her cancer had changed.  She is still ER/PR Positive but now she is HER2 Positive as well.  The Chemo that she has had twice before was for HER2 Negative cancers. Because her cancer has changed, it opens new treatment options for her including a different class of Chemo all together.  It is pretty rare that cancers change at all and even rarer to change from HER2 Negative to HER2 Positive.  This is a huge blessing and an answer to many prayers.  Beth's doctors mentioned to us (after we learned that the cancer had changed) that she was running out of treatment options for Beth's HER2 Negative cancer and was relieved to have the unexpected change.

In addition, HER2 Postive cancers are more reponsive to hormone therapy treatments.  

Today Beth is getting a 5 hour infusion of Chemo.  To make things even better, today marks one week from her last radiation treatment.  Her doctors said that the peak of the effects of radiation will be 7 days after her last treatment (today).  So the combination of today's Chemo and peak sickness/fatigue from radiation should make for a fun couple of days for her.  

Beth's hair is starting to fall out.  She is about not happy about that.  We will probably shave her head in the next few days to avoid clumps of hair falling out which is more disturbing to her than being bald.  Speaking of being bald, we are going to play a joke on the kids and tell them that we are all going to shave our heads bald together as a family.  We will make sure to video their reactions when we tell them.  Lily will for sure have the most to say about this.  She had a major problem with Beth being bald the first 2 times.  One of our favorite quotes from Lily was from when she was 4 years old.  "Mom, you are invited to my birthday party but you have to wear a wig or everyone will laugh at you".