Dr. Knight Visit at UCMC

Monday, October 29, 2007 trip to University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC)

• Met w/ Dr Knight and, get this, a Dr. Gina M (for Mauer) because Dr Olapade was out of the country trying to get back.
• The plan was that since Gina's Breast cancer is HER2 positive, we are going to start two new types of Chemotherapy - in a pill form.
• The first one will replace the Herceptin IV she was starting to get and is called Lapatinib (Tykerb) and is five tablets taken daily at once.
• The second chemotherapy pill is called Xeloda and is taken three pills at a time, twice daily
• Both types attack only the 'bad' cancerous cells and attach to them and destroy them - without harming the good cells (like traditional Chemotherapy does)

Also had another MRI of her brain, as it has been almost two months since the Gamma Knife Radiation so we had the scan with and without contrast (dye) injected.

• A follow up with Dr. Nicholas is scheduled for this Thursday, November 1, 2007, which just happens to be All SAINTS Day - GOD's presence again working for us! 8)

UCMC Visit

Monday, October 29, 2007 Trip to See Dr. Knight

• Met w/ Dr. Knight and Dr. Gina Mauer (Gina M just like my Gina) who said they have a plan for treatment.


• Since they are HER2 positive breast cancer cells, we are going to start two new treatments of Chemotherapy - both pill forms


• The first will replace the Herceptin IV treatments we were going to get every three weeks and is called

Dr. Olapadpe Visit

Dr. Olapadpe and Dr. Knight (Dream Team) at UCMC on Oct 8, 2007.

• Dr. Olapadpe was truly a blessing from above - she is world renowned and a very uplifting person to be around


• Dr. Olapadpe was accompanied by Dr. Knight and they said there were many backup plans they could do if one type of treatment doesn't work


• Gina was told that she has HER2Positive breast cancer and it is a stage IV (but all breast cancer that comes back is labeled that way, no matter where it comes back at)


• Waiting on pathology slides from Riverside from original breast cancer in 2002 for treatment plan from Dr. Olapadpe


• Started Herceptin - a new breast cancer drug that targets HER2 cells and keeps them from growing! (see attached video clip) Herceptin is basically an IV that is given every three weeks, and, for Gina, lasts around 90 minutes, with little to no side effects!


• Also, started a "monthly" IV of Zometra (a.k.a. "super glue for the bones") lasting about 30 minutes.

Benefit at VFW

Gina Mason Benefit on Saturday, October 6, 2007 from 4 pm - 10 pm

• Held at VFW in Bradley
• U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E !! (No words can quite capture the emotions or inspiration that you guys gave to Gina and our family)
• This was a truly awe-inspiring event that gave Gina's spirit a lift and showed her (and the rest of us) just how many people are out there supporting us each day through prayers, kind words, gestures and gifts.
• In my entire life, I have never witnessed so many people come together just to show how much love and support they have for us! There were so many beautiful baskets, thoughtful donations and supportive volunteers that made this night a truly unforgettable, life-altering event for me and my family. THANKS TO ALL and GOD BLESS! 8)

I hope you all had a chance to see our tiny Thank you message in Sunday's paper (10/21/07).

Dr. Swale Appointment

Dr. Swale @ Riverside for Eye appointment on Oct 4, 2007

• After discussing Gina's vision problems (double vision, blurriness) she was referred to opthamologist (Dr. Swale)
• New eye glass prescription for those big, beautiful blue eyes with prisms in glasses that allow her to see more clearly with less problems

* Radiation starts today and continues every day (except weekends) for nine total treatments by Dr. Schwartz office. The girls there were GREAT! 8)

Bone Scan of Whole Body

October 3, 2007 @ Riverside Medical Center

• Dr. Peabody from Univ Chicago Med Cntr ordered a whole body scan of all bones
• Riverside did scan by injecting Gina w/ dye @ 8 am then did scan later at 11 am
• Dr. Peabody said should be only @ 3 more weeks on crutches and all looked good

Radiologist Visit at Riverside Annex

TUE, October 2, 2007 - Visit with Dr Schwartz

• Mark Gina for Radiation treatments to leg and discuss how many treatments (possibly 15, or 3 weeks worth)
• Dr Schwartz said a total of nine radiation treatments to be given to right femur area

Follow-Up with Dr. Peabody at UCMC

Monday, October 1, 2007 @ 1400 HRS

• Met w/ Dr Peabody for follow-up from leg surgery
• Staples are finally out (all 27 of them) and it was virtually painless
• An X-Ray of right knee was done to check the swelling and some bruising where Gina said she had some pain there - all looked good from X-Ray and no cancer or anything out of ordinary was seen on scan
• Dr Peabody said USE BOTH CRUTCHES for @ 3 more weeks and gave "hands-on" demo of proper use of crutches
• A Follow-Up w/ Dr Peabody in @ 6 weeks
• A Bone San was ordered for WED, OCT 3, 2007 @ Riverside to make sure no other things show up (PET scan only went to lower thighs)