Update 11/21: I got the drugs and their order of appearance straightened out after reading my notes from the meeting. Also, last night a neighbor said she got the impression from my post that we were having to travel out of town to receive this level of medical care - not so. Every phase of this cure is being handled by the most excellent Regional Cancer Center right here in town.
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"I have two goals: get rid of your cancer and save your breast.", said Jinni's medical oncologist Dr. Pete Ennever during our initial consult yesterday morning, "In your case, we will accomplish both." Then came the harsh reality , "The good news is, you are young and quite healthy, the bad news is - because you are young and healthy I'm going to be very aggressive and knock this thing out ... it will probably be hard."
The doctor then outlined the initial rounds of chemotherapy designed shrink the tumors in her breast and lymph node in advance of the surgery (lumpectomy and lymph nodes) to remove the remnants of the little suckers. Called 'neoadjuvant chemotherapy' they will utilize three different drugs in rapid succession - nine separate infusions of chemo, each one spaced only two weeks apart. The three drugs in the series will be aimed at killing the different types of cancer cells wherever they may reside. Neoadjuvant is a systemic treatment and is the most aggressive and cutting edge therapy available for Stage IIB breast cancer - and the games will begin Monday the 29th and continue for a total of eighteen weeks. As they used to say, "Gird thy loins - battle looms."
Her cancer fortunately contains hormone receptors which is a less agressive type than others. Hormone receptive cancer requires estrogen to live and grow and only accounts for about 1/3 of breast cancers. Because of this, the doctor will be utilize adjuvant hormonal therapy to great effect. The order of the chemo trifecta is Epirubin, then Taxol finishing up with Cytoxan.
The doctor asked, "Are you still having a regular monthly cycle?" "Yes", she replied. "Well, we're going to take care of that.", said the doc. "OK by me", Jinni offered... then she asked her big question, "What about my hair?" "With this regimine, you'll start to lose it about three weeks after we start the chemo." the oncologist said flatly... then continued, "but it WILL come back... and usually fuller and prettier than ever." Jinni let out an audible sigh, "OK, what about the nausea and vomiting that I understand will occur?" Ennever said that they have some pretty good drugs to counter those symptoms. Because her white blood cell count will hit rock bottom during the therapy, she will have to go back to the office - each day following every treament - for an injection of Neulasta that will help bolster her immune system. (I gather that Mary Jane is not going to be prescribed here in Greensboro for nausea - another sigh - this time, me)
Jinni will have her PIC line, or porta catheter, embedded next Friday at the surgeon's office. More later.
9:49:57 AM 
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