December 23rd Update

This week we did establish an appointment with a surgeon in Spokane, we will see Jan 6th. And again, we meet Dr. Tobin in Kirkland Jan 11th. We should have a plan soon after those meetings.
Nancy has had more referral aching lately.....which we believe is that means healing is going on. We join the Hefner's in Sandpoint tomorrow for Christmas Eve and Day. Merry Christmas to all, BC

December 16th update

Nancy had her treatments here in Spokane yesterday. Everything went well, she had a good nights sleep and feels good this morning. We are scheduled for both regular treatments and consultation on surgery January 11th in Kirkland. We will also be meeting with a Spokane surgeon in January. Hopefully we expect to learn the type of surgery and amount of recovery/rehab time. After those meetings, we will schedule the removal of the cancerous lump.

Nancy is getting lotsa time with her Grandson. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year....and thank you again for all your support.

December 5 Update

Today was a spectacular day! We are blessed to welcome the newest member of the Curry family. Keeton William Tommy Curry was born at 5:10PM 12/5/09 weighing in at 6lbs. 15oz. and 20 inches tall! We are honored for this blessing and thankful for a very smooth labor. Ally was amazing and extremely graceful through the entire process (Bill notes that she looked better than Todd did right after the labor!)...both baby and mom are healthy and happy. Nancy is thrilled to be a grandmother, though she doesn't look like she could pass for one (as seen in the photo above).

As no one has slept much in the last 3 days, we are calling it an early night. Signing out, Uncle Mike.

November 24th Update

We met yesterday with Dr Anthony, an oncologist here in Spokane. We had a long introduction meeting. Dr Anthony did a review of the two PET scans with us, displayed on the big flat screen TV. It was very easy to see and understand the improvements......the cancer is less active and there appears to be minor improvement in the bones. The meds are working! We have scheduled Nancy's next "routine" visit for Dec 15th here in Spokane.

We did have some discussion on the timing of removing the cancerous lump. Dr Anthony may favor sooner than later. Our Seattle doctors I think may tend to wait a little longer. We are doing some additional homework, trying to figure out what may be best for Nancy.

It is exciting to have great doctors in both cities to work with.... and it will be really nice to not have travel to Seattle in December for treatment.

Todd and Ally were just told the baby date (C-Section) will be Dec 4th. Grama is pretty excited about this.....as is Grampa.

Thanks again for all the calls and support. Happy Thanksgiving!

November 19th update

Nancy had her next scheduled appointment and treatment on Monday. She flew back to Spokane Monday night. Other than being tired and a little achey.....she is doing well. She did get to review the scans with her Oncologist. the cancer has stablized and there is some improvement.

Next Monday (23rd) we will meet Dr. Anthony here is Spokane. Our probable plan now is to have the next one or two treatments here, and the next full review and scans in Kirkland in February.

Nancy's main focus now is to in the next few weeks become a grandma. Yesterday she set up a small crib in our guest bedroom..... go figure.

Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers.

And as far as the Seahawks visiting Green Bay; this should not be much of a game.

October 30th Update

What a wonderful phone call. Our Oncologist, who is on vacation, got the results today and just called Nancy.....the medications are working, all looks good, no meetings next week, no change in meds.......hooray.....what a praise! Nancy is so happy.... So our next appointment is a standard meeting on Nov 16th.... Life goes on.......Packers versus Brett Favre and the hated Viks (chuckle)..... Thank you all for your support.

October 27th update

Nancy is feeling better. She will be flying to Seattle this afternoon, dinner with Mike, tomorrow in the am PET Scan, then lunch with a friend and fly home. We have a phone call Monday between 11:00-noon with the results. Thank you for all your support.

October 25th update

Nancy has not been feeling well the last two days. She is extremely tired, and achey. We hope she feels better prior to the trip to Seattle Tuesday for the PET scan. Thank you all, BC

October 19th update

Today we visited the Hospital. Nancy's blood tests were all in line. She also had a treatment for the bones. Everything was standard until we met with the Oncologist. Nancy has had some backaches in the last couple of weeks....and she tires easier. Although all other indications are positive, these two factors are reason enough to have a PET scan next week. They want to make sure that, at a minimum, the cancer is no worse than the baseline. It is very early to expect much improvement, as the estrogen inhibitor is slow moving. So next Wednesday we will have the scan we were originally going to do mid-November. We should have those results the first week of Nov. Nancy flew back to Spokane on the 9:00pm flight. Thank you all for your thoughts, calls, and prayers.

October 14th update

Nancy continues to do well, other than tiring easily. Our next treatment is Monday in Seattle. We still will not have an update on the effectiveness of the meds until November. We also have selected an Oncologist in Spokane and will meet him the week of Thanksgiving. His name is Dr Anthony, the same doctor our friend and neighbor Kent uses. We are within 6 weeks of knowing lots. Again, thanks for all the support!

October 4th update

Well, Nancy had a good weekend.....not much to report. We had great friends from Spokane here...the Shower for Ally, Todd and Baby went amazing......lotsa friends. So we are two weeks away from the next treatment. The main stress here is tomorrow night, Brett Favre in a Vikings uniform playing the Pack. Thank you all for the thoughts, calls, and prayers.

September 27th update

Nancy had a long walk yesterday. The shower for Ally was great. This afternoon she will go to the symphony with friends. Her back pain is gone. So there may be little to report...which is good.

September 24th Update

Round two of treaments is now complete. Nancy had her visit on Monday, including the infusion for bone health. This time Nancy's aches and pain started Tuesday night and yesterday. All the pain was in her back area, where most of the cancer is. We hope the pain is caused because healing has started. Nancy took pain pills Wednesday. So I drove back to Spokane, Nancy took Horizon. This morning Nancy still has some back pain.

Tuesday we had appointments regarding Nancy's headaches. There was a chance that something in the brain scan could cause hedaches, but further review says no. Evergreen has a specialists for this, and we will try to see on the next visit.

This weekend Nancy gets to attend a baby shower for our daughter-in-law Ally.

Thank you for all the thoughts, prayers, letters and cards, and calls......well, sort of on the calls.......got nailed on the last cell phone bill (chuckle) We just added more minutes to Nancy's plan, keep the calls coming.

September 21st update

Nancy had a great couple of weeks with her Mom, Dad, and sisters Sharon and Lori. Yesterday we drove to Seattle. Today and tomorrow are her appointments. Today's first one is at 10:00.
Thank you all for the calls, letters and cards, etc......

September 5th update from Nancy

Hi and Thank You all for so much support and prayers and love and concern!!! Wow I am sooo Blessed and Thank the Lord for each one of you!! I am feeling really quite good ,Praise God! I'm asking for your prayers that this treatment works!! This latest new medicine is a wonderful development by man, but God is the great and awsome healer! So please pray that His healing power would be made manifest in miraculous way, to His glory!!!!!!!!!!!

September 1 update

The good news is there is not much to report. Life is fairly normal for Nancy.....they have added Vitamin D3 to the regimine. Fighting headaches is still the main hurdle. Nancy's Mom and Dad come to Spokane Labor Day, and her sisters arrive on the 11th. With the in-laws here, Bill is leaving town (chuckle)....for a business trade show. This may be the last update until the 21st, Nancy's next appointment in Seattle. Thank you all for the support!

August 28th, a note from Nancy

Thank you for all your love, prayers, and support. Thank you for all the cards and calls. I am very blessed. I have had no bad side effects from the estrogen inhibitor. The once per month IV causes aches. My part now is to drink 3 quarts of water per day. Whew!

There appears to be as much disease as bone in my spine. Please pray the medication works.

Aug 27th update

Not lots of news this week. Nancy has been fighting headaches.....and has had to take the Maxalt pill to cure. We have a call today with the Oncollogist about this. Taking too many Maxalts is not a good thing.

Nancy has been taking walks daily and her spirits are good.

Weekend update

Nancy had a good weekend. The biggest plus is that she has now been on the Femara for 6 days, and there are no serious effects. So she will be on Femara until the review on Sept 21st (at that time, they do the scans to make sure of its effectiveness). The meds do drain some energy, and she has bone pains..... but one pill per day beats chemo.

For those of you who would like to email Nancy directly, she is at nancycurry@comcast.net.

Again, your support is amazing, thank you.

August 21st update

Nancy felt great...went to Red Robin for lunch with our friend Patsy....no aches and good energy levels!!!

August 20th update

The first treatment made itself known yesterday morning. About 10:30am, Nancy's whole body ached and she got very tired. So we got in the car and got her home to Spokane. The Doctor's said her experience was normal. Sounds like this may last for a couple of days. Her spirits are very good.

Again, thanks for all the support, BC

August 18th update, treatment begins

Nancy had great news today, no chemo, no radiation at least for now. Her first treatments are done. Her daily regimine will be Femara, the estrogen inhibitor. Every four weeks, she will have an IV treatment of Zometa, a phosphotase that helps to build up bones. She had her first IV of that today. The next scheduled treatment is Sept 21st here in Kirkland.

This was the best news we could have given the circumstances. The oncologist wants Nancy to not put stress on her back and spine..... steps one at a time, no heavy lifting, no bike riding, etc. Walking is good.

Tomorrow or the next day, Nancy will add her own words to this blog, with her thoughts and prayer requests. She will also cover the possible side effects for the meds she is taking.

The only real bad news was Brett Favre signing with the hated Vikings!!!!!!

Thank you for your calls, cards, thoughts and prayers.

August 17th update

Hi from Bothell, we are here at the Tomlins. This afternoon Nancy's Oncologist called, advised her that the PET scan showed some areas in her lower back and spine that may require radiation. That is the first mention of possible radiation. We will meet with him tomorrow at 10:30am.

That is all to report until tomorrow's appointment.

Note: This is my first attempt at a blog.......please email me with inputs on what should or should not be included. Just want to make sure to know what you want to know! Thanks in advance for the comments. Email those to bcurry@huntron.com.

August 15th update

The PET scan is now done, and Nancy has at least 4 days of no tests. We are back in Spokane, today is Mike's birthday (25th). The first thing that Nancy did when we got home last night was to review the new tape of Todd and Ally's baby, due Dec 8th..... being a grandma is very motivating for Nancy.

We did receive a preliminary update on the bone biopsy. The spots on the bones are the same cancer as the breast biopsy. There was concern there could be two sources or types of cancer, and that is not the case.

Tuesday at 10:30 we are back at Evergreen with the Oncologist to hopefully make a plan of attack. We also have made contact with the Oncologist here in Spokane that Nancy will also be seeing.

So the diagnostic tests are hopefully done, our medical team is set, and next week hopefully we start treatments.

Thanks for all the support, have a good weekend, the next update will be after Tuesday's appointment.

August 12th update

Nancy had a bone biopsy today....we waited for a guy with a collapsed lung to go first (seemed reasonable). She had the best bartender in the place......not sure what they gave her in the operating room but she never even felt the biopsy. They took the samples from her spine (not the hip as originally planned). The feeling of the this afternoon's operation may be realized tonight....

Tomorrow is a day of healing and rest, then Friday a PET scan.

We will not have any new information until next Tuesday, when we meet with the Oncologist again at 10:30am. Hopefully, all the diagnostic tests and results will be completed, and we can make a plan to proceed beating this disease.

The Tomlin family has been great hosts as well as providing great help at the Hospital. I am sure they will be happy to see the Yukon heading back to Spokane Friday.......

Thanks for all the calls, emails, etc.....

Meetings on August 11th

Our day started early with a stress test. All is ok in this category. We then spent almost three hours with our friend Beth who had the same cancer and stage 9 years ago.......incredibly helpful and eye-opening on our situation.

The Oncology meeting was very hopeful. First, there is a recommendation to do additional testing before starting a program. So tomorrow, Nancy will have a bone biopsy to verify the spots on the bone match the breast cancer. There is still some question that the breast lump/mass may not be the only issue. Second, Nancy will have a PET scan on Friday am. So next week, we will know all the info to complete the diagnosis.

Surprise....Nancy may not need to have chemo!!!!! Unless we have new findings, there are two ways to go after this kind of cancer. The first is chemo, the second is Estrogen inhibitors. Please note, Nancy has breast cancer, it is stage four....however it may be just as effective to use the Estrogen inhibitors (which are pills) and not have chemo. There are side effects....and if it does not work for Nancy, chemo is the second step.... But the hope of no chemo.......

The Oncologist has in-laws who live walking distance from Whitworth. His mother in law works at Whitworth Presbyterian......brother in law at Whitworth in IT.......very cool

We will probably meet with the Oncologist the middle of next week. For now, its more tests....more waiting......but maybe no chemo.

I may try to put some of the more medical stuff on later tonight with the help of Jeff Tomlin.

Again, thanks to all of you for the support and prayers, BC

Monday Aug 10th

We drove to Seattle this am....Nancy met with the cariologist. There is a difference in her EKG of one year ago and now. So tomorrow am Nancy has a treadmill test....at 7:30am. Tomorrow is also the meeting with the Oncologists.....the critical part of this trip. We should also see Dr Tobin at the end of the day.

We had dinner with Mike tonight....which was a very good thing for Nancy (and me). Mike is 25 this Saturday, so they did a little shopping.

Hopefully, we have a basic plan of attack after tomorrow. Thank you all for your support.

This week (Aug 10 and on)

We are headed to Seattle tomorrow am........we have the Cardiologists on Monday afternoon (Nancy had a wave change in her EKG that needs to be reviewed)...Tuesday am with a friend who has experienced the same basic situation over the last 9 years.....for advice. Tuesday afternoon is the Oncologists....maybe the key to success. We have to get a plan that includes Spokane chemo........ Wed am Nancy is scheduled to get a port installed, the way they administer chemo to you. That is surgery. Then we know when the first chemo begins.

Nancy and I are amazed and thankful for all the thoughts and prayers......this kind of support is both wonderful and humbling. We have a hill to climb......this week we start. More to follow, BC

How this all started

Nancy had some hip pain after a long walk at Whidbey Island. We went in to the Coupville hospital, had an X-Ray, they gave her some pain relief for her hip.....and on the way out, the Doctor said the radiologist saw some spots on the X-Ray that might be cancer............

So the next night we met with Jeff and Merrie Tomlins......they reviewed the files......and Jeff said he would have it reviewed by his group at Evergreen Hospital the next morning. They scheduled a bone scan for Tuesday am(July 28th). Our Doctor in charge, Mike Tobin, met with both of us on thursday.......and said he had real concerns about the results.... so Nancy had a mammogram and two and a half hours of MRI's......there was a lump in her left breast. They took a biopsy Friday am at 9:00.....and then we waited until Tuesday for all the results.

Tuesday, Aug 4th (our 36th anniversary) Nancy was told she had cancer, stage 4. She then had two more tests. We are now scheduled for Monday with the cardiologists (Nancy had a wave change in her EKG)....Tuesday with the Oncologists, Wed am she will have a port installed, the device they use to give you the chemo with....and soon after we start the chemo.

Dr Tobin advised us this is a marathon, not a sprint. Since then, the support from family and friends has been amazing.

This is the first entry in the blog. I am stopping here for testing on how to work the rest of this...more to follow, BC