Meet the Girls at Dr. Sipahi's Office

TUE, SEPT 16th, 2008 - Another Round of Chemo

• Visited Dr Sipahi office for Chemotherapy
• Had Herceptin again and Dr Sipahi said also having Procrit & Zometa ("super glue" for bones) again 'cuz of leg pains where surgery was
• Supposed to get Zometa every other Herceptin treatment (every six weeks), now changed to every three weeks
• Dr. Sipahi going to check with dr Schwartz to see if more radiation can be done to leg but thinks maxed out doseage already
• Gina's HFS (Hand, Foot Syndrome) which is caused by the Xeloda is VERY painful lately - hands and feet very red, swollen and starting to crack! 8(
• Going to order more scans after the next Herceptin chemo on October 7th to see progress of the Xeloda and Herceptin is having

Cross your fingers, bow your head and help me to ask GOD for good news that my wife Gina will be cure! I pray to GOD every day in my heart that he will give me the rest of my life with her.

Thanks to all those who have been supporting us through the months, past, present and future, and keep on praying for the day we hear She is all cured! 8)

Dr. Sipahi visit for treatment

Gina saw Dr. Sipahi and the "girls" today on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008.

• Herceptin treatment, Procrit and Zometa given.
• All seemed to be good with blood work - red blood cell count even went up!
• Dr. Sipahi said he doesn't argue with "Chicago (doctors)" and okay with treatments.
• Gina told him about bone pain in right leg so Dr. Sipahi ordered an X-Ray for the leg.
• The X-Ray came back okay - nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. Good News! Why the pain then?!?
• We asked Dr. Sipahi about Gina not taking Coumadin anymore and he did not think she was still taking it, so said to try stop taking it
• Gina is also taking Iron supplements every other day - to help with swelling of hands and feet from Xeloda side effects. Very PaInFuL for Gina and she keeps them lotioned up constantly.

Trip to Dr. Olopade

Gina and I went to see Dr. Olopade on Monday, August 25th, 2008 in Chicago.

• Dr. Olopade decided to change Gina's dose of Chemotherapy with the Xeloda - still taking four 500 mg pills in morning and same at night BUT, one week on and one week off, instead of two on and one off.
• Considering changing doseage down to 225 mg pills instead of 500 mg; however, only wants to change one thing at a time to see what happens.
• We asked her if Gina should still be taking Coumadin since we saw on Xeloda video that not recommended since they counteract each other (thus making treatment less effective). Dr. O said to stop taking the Coumadin now since it is for blood clots.
• Dr. Olopade suggested seeing her every other month now unless needed.
• Gina still doing IV chemo - Herceptin every three weeks, Zometa ("super-glue" for bones) every six weeks

Keep prayers coming this Xeloda not as easy as we thought. Gina gets very tired and sick feeling with Xeloda for a couple hours after each dosage.