January 29th Update

The last two days in Kirkland have been very hard on Nancy. In our first meeting, we learned the bone scan and the PET scan have conflicting results. The area in question is Nancy's lower back. So the next move is another MRI for the same area. That is scheduled for today here in Spokane at 5:45. We will know the results next Wednesday. At that time we will know if there is new or more cancer in her lower back. It is possible there is more than one strain of cancer....and one that the Femara drug is not effective. If this is the case, Nancy's treatment will be changed to chemotherapy.

The second day (and issue) is the surgery required for Nancy's lump. There is now another MRI scheduled here in Spokane next Wed, Feb 3rd to have a breast MRI. If the lump is still well defined and the surgeon can remove it knowing the area around the lump is clean or free of cancer, then Nancy would have a lumpectomy. However, they believe the Femara has sigificantly reduced the lump and it may not be possible to know where to operate. If that is the case, they must remove the breast to ensure all cancer areas are removed. We will know those results no later than Feb 8th.

For Nancy's health, the best scenario is for 1) the lower back to show no new or additional cancer (which means the Femara is doing great in treating her cancer) and 2) that the lump is not still well defined due to all the Femara shrinking it, which means that Nancy would have a mastectomy.

Finally, it appears they will not remove all the lymph nodes under Nancy's left arm. They will leave some and the result is that she should have much less of a chance of having issues with her left arm.

We drove home yesterday. Please pray for Nancy to have rest and peace. Also, if there are questions on the above, you can email me at bcurry@huntron.com. Thanks for all the support.

January 24th Update

Nancy drove to Kirkland today with the Brice's. She has a 9:00am Tuesday PET scan. They will expedite the results and she meets with the Oncologist Wed at 9:00am. Tomorrow we will know if we can schedule an appointment with the surgeon on this trip.

Dr Guthrie did complete her review and it is her opinion that all of the lymph nodes under Nancy's left arm should be removed.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and support.

January 17th update

Tuesday we completed Nancy's tests. Late Tuesday we were told the initial finding on the bone scan was increased activity in her lower back. We got all the final reports Sat morning. The bone scan is still inconclusive, but all other tests were positive. Nancy will get another PET scan the week of Jan 25th in Kirkland. That should reveal the final questions on her lower back. The good news is that she will continue the Femara medications.

Thursday we met with the Spokane surgeon Dr. Carol Guthrie. We had a long meeting on Nancy's upcoming surgery. The breast surgery would be a lumpectomy. The real question is do they remove all the lymph nodes under Nancy's left arm....or just some of them. There may be another test to determine this. Timing on this surgery was suggested be in the next couple of months. We will have this same discussion with the Kirkland team on March 11th.

January 12th update

Well, it is Tuesday and we are still in Seattle. We expected to have a review of the surgical procedure that Nancy will need. The doctors instead decided to do some additional testing. Nancy had her normal treatments yesteday as well as a bone scan. We hope to have those results today later. She will have MRI's this morning and a meeting with a specialist this afternoon. We should be on the plane back to Spokane tonight. Discussions on the surgery needed are deferred until the March 11 meeting bask at Kirkland.

January 6th update

Nancy met with Dr. Guthrie, a Spokane surgeon, this morning. There was a complete review and exam. Dr Guthrie will now prepare a plan for Nancy's surgical care. Additionally, she will meet next Tuesday am with a group of doctors, oncologists, etc... and present to this group her plan for Nancy. This group ends up agreeing on a plan. Nancy and I meet next Thursday, the 14th at 4:00pm again with Dr Guthrie to see her recommendations. Sunday it is off to Kirkland and our meetings with Dr Tobin. Happy New Year, BC