Round Two of Chemo

Dr Sipahi office

• Gina and I visited Dr Sipahi today


• Dr Sipahi increased Chemo because he said her kidney functions are better.


• The blood test results were good - just need to increase iron and calcium intake.


• Gina had all three chemos - Taxotere, Carboplatem and Herceptin - and is doing fine.


• The new port seems to be working great and it made things a lot easier for her.


• Lots of Rest and back tomorrow for shot

Post Surgery

Port Surgery @ Riverside Medical Center

• Gina had her port put in by Dr Brockman this morning
• Dr Brockman told me all seemed well with it (we even were ahead of schedule with surgery - around 9:10 am instead of scheduled 10:30 am)
• The port will help to ease pain with Chemo Therapy IV injections
• Gina also had the shot on Wednesday last week so, once gain, she is wearing her Superwoman cape and staying strong with a smile on her face against all the adversity she has been up against!
• Doctors and nurses both stressed many time for Gina to rest, Rest, REst, RESt, REST!

Keep those prayer lines coming they are working and getting our Gina healthy and kicking that cancer in the A-@#! Thanks again for all your support and Love!!!

New Chemotherapy Begins

Chemotherapy at Dr Sipahi Office

• Gina at Dr Sipahi office today for new Chemotherapy treatments
• Dr Sipahi reviewed Dr Olopade's notes and agreed with treatments
• Gina asked Dr Sipahi about getting a port put in and he said it would be okay
• We told Dr Sipahi that Dr Brockman had the port surgery scheduled for this Monday (January 14, 2008) and he said to go ahead with it (Gina's veins do not need any extra stress from all the new IV treatments she will be getting, so I agree that she should have the port put in)
• Gina had first dose of the three new Chemotherapies by IV at Dr Sipahi's office
• Gina also had the Zometa, "super glue" for bones, since she was getting IV already
• Dr Sipahi and Dr Olopade have Gina scheduled for Neulana (shot) on Thursday (01/10/08) that helps with side effects from Chemo

Visit with Dr Olopade and Dr Knight

Trip To UCMC with Dr Olopade

• Dr Knight from Chicago called and wanted to see Gina a week earlier than scheduled based on latest scans
• We met with Dr Olopade at the University of Chicago and she decided to take Gina off the Tykerb and Xeloda (chemo pills) now that her brain tumor appears to be under control (it had shrunk 75%)
• Dr Olopade changed Chemotherapy now to IV form and is using a combination of: Herceptin (had one dose before the Tykerb), Taxotere and Carboplatem
• The new Chemotherapy is VERY strong so it will unfortunately make Gina pretty sick and tired. (We will be giving her LOTS of extra love here at home to compensate)
• Dr Brockman is going to put a port in Gina to help with all Chemo treatments with IV
• Dr Olopade said Gina on Dexamethasone again for three days during Chemo treatments (before, on and after the treatment) to keep down swelling in the body
• Gina's white blood count good and she is in Good health and spirits (that's my tough-as-nails Gina though)
• Gian will be on new Chemo for 6 treatments (@ 18 weeks), one every three weeks and see Dr Olopade every second cycle (6 weeks) to see how her body is handling the Chemo

Keep up the Prayers and Thanks to all for your support!!