Yesterday, we met with the Oncologist and got some good and bad news.  The P.E.T. Scan showed that the spots on Sarah’s Lung are positive for cancer, but that her liver and bone scans came back clean.  The chemo is working well and her tumors have shrunk significantly since the start of treatment. 

After this next chemo cycle, the Doctors are going to switch her to different chemotherapy drug because they are afraid of causing permanent damage to Sarah’s heart.  These chemicals, called TCH will be administered in 6 cycles, with 3 weeks between each cycle.  The hope is that she will be in remission by the end of this treatment.   

Because her cancer is HER-2new positive, the Doctor recomended continuing to treat Sarah with Herceptin for the rest of her life.   This drug is an anitbiotic that Sarah would take every three weeks, to keep the cancer from coming back. 

This gives us mixed fellings knowing that that we are close to getting through the hardest part, and yet never being able to put this all completely behind us.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  

Sarah has started her third cycle on monday and things are going well. The Nurse said that her white blood cell count was so good that they debated not giving her a booster shot this week.  Sarah’s next oppointment will be to meet with the oncologist today the 23rd.  Sarah had been doing better but is still very tired and gets exhausted after just a little activity.  Thanks for all your notes encoragement ( especialy our Texans friends).   

Sarah had Her P.E.T. Scan today.  She was very apprehensive about having to get a Radioactive Isotope injected into her body.  This scan will show the doctors how well the chemo is working and if the nodules on her lungs are actually cancerous.

On Monday Sarah will have her third chemo cycle.  She has an appointment to see the Oncologist on Wednesday and we should have the results of the P.E.T. Scan explained then.  Please keep us in your prayers.

It has been a quiet week for us since Sarah had her chemotherapy on Monday.   We have had a break from any doctor appointments which has been a good thing because Sarah has been very weak the past few days;  unable to do most anything at all.   This has been a good week for Sarah to stay inside due to the heat wave and poor air quality we have all been experiencing. 

Sarah took Hailey in for a haircut like hers and it turned out very cute.  Everyone at church calls Hailey, ‘little Sarah’. 

Today Sarah had her second chemotherapy treatment. It took several hours. The nurse got her port hooked up after only two tries instead of four tries like last time. Everything went smoothly after that and Sarah was able to come home to rest.

If her white blood cell count drops too low, her chemo has to be placed on hold, so tomorrow Sarah will have to go back to the infusion center to get a shot to help boost her immunity. Sarah is somewhat fatigued with all that is going on, but we count our blessing and struggle on, while trusting that The Lord will give us the strength to handle each new day.

Happy 4th of July to all of our friends and family.

We met with Sarah’s Oncoligist on Wednesday and found out that after just 1 cycle of chemotherapy, the cancer is responding!  This is really good news and we left feeling very uplifted! Sarah will have her second cemo cycle on Monday, July  7th.  If the cancer continues to respond and shrink, she will have two more chemo cycles which are every two weeks.  After this they will change  the type of chemo drugs and begin giving her more chemo cycles until the cancer is gone, or has shrunk enough to be located in only one location.  Sarah is doing well and greatly enjoys reading your notes of encouragement to keep her spirits up.  We thank the Lord for your encouragement and the love you have shown our family in this difficult time in our lives.  Please continure your prayers for us.

Sarah has been doing well the last couple of days.  She’s in the middle of her first chemo cycle and is now over the nausea.  She went in for blood work on Monday to make sure her white blood cell count was in the normal range and received no phone call, so all is well.  The biggest problem she faces right now is getting fatigued easily.   We’ll count our blessings if this is the worst side effect she has during this chemo treatment.

We wish to say a special Thank You to all our friends who have brought us food.  It has helped  Sarah to take it easy these last 2 weeks.   Thank you all for your prayers and notes of encoragement to Sarah.  You have helped to keep our spirits up!