Second Round of Chemo Update ~ Memorial Day

I fortunately seem to be tolerating my chemotherapy treatments well.  After this past infusion, I only felt bad for two days and that was only due to my white blood cell injection.  I received an injection of Neulasta - which stimulates the bone marrow and promotes the growth of white blood cells called neutrophils in your body.  Unfortunately, one common side effect is severe bone pain....and sure enough I felt achey for a couple of days.

None the less, I was only on my chemo meds for 5 days and will be med-free for 17 days prior to the start of my third chemo round (one extra week of being med-free when comparing it to my first chemo round)!

Next Monday I go in for a CAT scan to see what progress has been made with just two rounds of chemotherapy.  Keeping my fingers crossed!  As of now, our plan is to undergo six rounds of chemotherapy, with a CAT scan performed after every two rounds.  My third round of chemo begins next week, so I will be at the hospital every day (due to the scan, three days of chemo treatments, and then fluids/another possible WBC injection).

Many people have asked what happens after the six chemotherapy treatments....if needed, we plan to consult with the top neuroendocrine cancer specialists in the United States (possible consulations include:  Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Cedars-Sinai Hospital in NYC, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, a liver transplant specialist, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, etc...).

For now, I am just taking it day by day and living by my oncologist's words regarding his take on how I will respond to chemotherapy...."you will respond beautifully!"

Peace, Love & Miracles

Memorial Day Parade ~ New Wig

Second Round of Chemotherapy

Round two is now complete!  I am feeling much better this time around....still a bit sleepy, but nothing compared to the first round.  Will wait and see how this weekend goes, but so far I have been more active and have only taken cat naps during my treatments.  Thinking it may have to do with having a better understanding of all my meds (what works and what doesn't).

I received fluids and a white blood cell injection this morning (to stimulate new white blood cell growth) and I am now off for two weeks!  Finished the afternoon in the city by pampering myself with a Reiki (energy healing) massage.  Trying to do anything and everything to balance my mind/body connection.

Thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers.  I am truly blessed.

Shaving Party

My (last) Saturday evening in a nutshell:

• Donating some beautiful hair to some special little girl out there.
• 4.5 hour process of donating ponytails, getting short haircuts, shaving my head and finally styling my new wig.
• My dear friend Karen supplied a beach scented candle, wine, chips/dips, upbeat music and encouraging support that meant the world to me.  
• Although an emotional evening, there was much more laughter than tears and I was surprisingly strong through the whole process.  Thanks to Karen, she kept me smiling and distracted, especially when her scarf caught on fire...luckily it wasn't my new wig! 

The next day I was a bit more insecure and was fearful of how the boys would react....despite them cutting a strand of curls the night before they went to bed.  To my surprise, Zevy greeted me with the most beautiful accepting smile and is now calling me "Boozer" from the Chicago Bulls.  Perfectly okay with me since he is my favorite player.  :)  Cohen on the other hand, is still adjusting...he wants my "old hair back," and prefers when I have my wig on.

Nonetheless, I find myself going "au natural" most of the time at home.  I think it is a good lesson to teach the boys that beauty comes from within...it should be recognized as something other than a person's appearance.

Physical beauty is temporary for all of us, but the beauty inside of our hearts is eternal.

To cutting old memories off and beginning a new chapter in my life.

Peace, Love & Miracles,
Dawn Berlynn

Styling my curls one last time!

Bald and Beautiful

Portraits from our family vacation in May

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." 
             ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Peace, Love & Miracles

Beach Therapy

We just returned from a relaxing and loved-filled (9 day) family vacation.  The beach, warm weather and being surrounded by loved ones definitely soothed my soul....and I cherished every moment of it.

I am physically feeling great (like I am not even "sick") and have been medicine free for the last five days!  Hoping this is how every chemo round will be (difficult for the first five days and then better and better each day after). 

I go in for blood work and fluids tomorrow....and then next week I begin my second round of chemo.

Peace, Love & Miracles

Papa and the boys

Dawn & Kevin

Dad & Dawn

Believing

"Healing is an inside out process.
It begins in the heart with a glimmer of hope.
The more we trust in it, the stronger it becomes until we are mended - body and soul.
Good things happen when we believe."

Update and Review

The PET scan results came back on Friday and they have not been able to find the "primary" tumor which has metastasized to my liver.

Originally, when I was diagnosed, they took a biopsy of my liver because this is the organ which they could see masses in.  The biopsy revealed neuroendocrine cancer cells, which were testing positive for a "marker" called TTF-1.  This marker indicated that the primary (or original) cancer site was either in the lung or the thyroid, but both of those tissues have turned up clean.

Since then, we have learned that sometimes the cancer will test positive for TTF-1 but not originate from those two organs, and instead be located in the "gut."  When the doctors say "gut," they mean:  pancreas, intestine, colon, ovaries, or cervix.  However, again, the PET scan, MRI, CAT scan and octreotide scans have shown nothing anywhere but in the liver.

The doctor said on Friday that in approximately 15-20% of neuroendocrine cancer cases, the primary is never found.

This may sound very confusing, because it is... and we are consulting with two oncologists to get the best treatment and the best expertise possible, in trying to figure this all out.

In the meantime, last week I did my 3 days of chemotherapy:  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (I now have two weeks off before starting my second round of chemotherapy).  It was extremely difficult, due to the fatigue from the chemo, and the zombie like effects of the drugs they use to control nausea.  However, by Monday I was starting to feel better and am happy to report that I was able to travel on a trip that had been planned months ago, with my parents and family to Gulf Shores.  So far I am feeling better each day.

One of my good friends told me that if I was going to feel crappy due to the chemotherapy, then why not do it on the beach.  I agree, and took her advice to heart.  It seems like good medicine to be in the sun, listen to the waves, have your feet in the sand and to be around loved ones.


Dawn Berlynn

Sleeping on the beach.