MsC1210

((((Patti)))) I already talked to you but wanted to chime in here and say CONGRATS!!!!! Now keep up this good work and we will be celebrating together in June! Love and Hugs!!! Chris

I am so very sorry to read this. Like Sue, I had learned of Carole's passing last evening from another member but just was unable to find the words. I am grateful for having been able to "meet" Carole and have learned so much from her wisdom, her unselfishness in sharing her journey and mostly just from being the wonderful human being that she was. Thank you for letting us know and my sincere condolences to her friends and family. Carole, you are missed my friend..... Love and Hugs Christine

I posted this in new treatments/clinical trials as well but thought it was worthy of being here, at least for a while. Is my chemo working? Scans may give faster answer By MALCOLM RITTER , AP NEW YORK -When Mike Stevens learned his lungs were riddled with cancer, it took only a week to start chemotherapy — but six weeks to find out if it was doing any good. "You're going through all this suffering and stuff and you want to know, am I going to survive? Is this stuff working?" said Stevens, 48, of La Jolla, Calif. "Your whole life is in sort of a limbo." Doctors typically must wait weeks or months to see if a treatment is shrinking tumors or at least halting their growth. But researchers are exploring a new use for medical imaging that could shorten the stay in purgatory, possibly revealing within a few days whether chemo is working. That speed could save both lives and money. It would allow doctors to switch more quickly from an ineffective drug to a different one, and save health care dollars by waving doctors off expensive but futile treatments. The same approach may also prove useful for monitoring radiation therapy. This experimental imaging relies on a familiar hospital workhorse: PET scans, typically used for things like detecting cancer or revealing the effects of a heart attack. Unlike CT scans or MRIs, PET scans can show a tumor's internal activity, not just its size. When used to assess the effects of cancer treatment, it can reveal inside information about what the therapy is doing to a tumor even when there's no outward sign. To do a PET scan, doctors inject a patient with a radioactive substance that shows up on the scan in places where certain processes are happening — like hungry cancer cells gobbling up a lot of blood sugar. Think of it as looking around your neighborhood late at night for light in bedroom windows to see who is still awake. Many cancer patients get PET scans now to assess their disease before treatment, or to spot recurrences later on. But except for lymphoma, PET scans aren't routinely used to get a quicker answer on how cancers are responding to therapy. The new research tests both standard PET scans and a newer approach that involves injecting a different tracer substance. The standard scan, which looks for blood sugar usage, has gotten good results in tests with a variety of tumors including breast, prostate, colorectal and esophageal cancers, said Dr. Steven Larson of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. "I think it's going to be extremely valuable for most tumors where there are effective treatments," he said. Some experiments have revealed chemo's effects within 10 days to two weeks. As a practical matter, the goal of researchers is to convince federal regulators to cover the procedure under Medicare and Medicaid, which would open the door to routine use. That might take two or three years, he said. Farther out on the research horizon is a PET scan that uses injections of a different radioactive material and has revealed chemotherapy's impact even faster. Larson figures it will be especially useful for assessing newer drugs that aim to stop a patient's cancer from growing rather than killing the tumor. This scan is called FLT PET, after radioactive fluorothymidine. These scans show whether cancer cells are dividing. Uncontrolled division is a hallmark of active cancer, and stopping that division should be an early effect of successful chemotherapy. "Our hope ... is you might be able to give a single dose of a chemotherapy agent and within a day or two figure out whether the tumor is going to respond," says Dr. Michael Graham of the University of Iowa. If the tumor doesn't respond, doctors would "go on to Plan B," he said. "This is really ... giving us the ability to tailor the therapy to the disease." Research into FLT PET is still in the early stages. Graham said there are maybe a dozen published human studies so far, most involving too few patients to draw a firm conclusion. One report that impressed him involved 28 patients in Korea who were treated for advanced lung cancer — just like Stevens, who had to wait six weeks to learn whether it was working. The researchers reported that just one week after treatment began, they could tell with 93 percent certainty which patients would eventually respond to the drug and which would not. In a much smaller study at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, seven patients with acute myeloid leukemia were scanned at various times during a week of aggressive chemotherapy. Normally, doctors wait a month after chemo is stopped to see if it worked. But the FLT PET scans offered an answer as soon as a day after treatment started. "It's always hard to get too excited about a study that just involves seven people," said Dr. Mark Juckett, one of the authors. But "in these few patients, it looked like we could predict those who were going to respond well to chemotherapy and those who weren't." Other preliminary studies suggest the new PET technology might be useful in gauging treatment for breast and brain cancers as well as lymphoma. Graham figures there's a good chance FLT PET scans will become routine for assessing therapy in the next 10 years. "It's a terrible waste of money to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on these patients when it doesn't do any good," he said. Graham, president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, has been involved in discussions between the society and drug companies about incorporating FLT PET in their studies of experimental cancer drugs. The hope is that, over time, FLT PET would prove reliable for giving a faster answer on whether an experimental treatment is working. That would save companies a lot of money, because they could spot ineffective drugs more quickly and not waste further research on them. And the drug company research would produce data to help persuade federal regulators to approve FLT PET for use in tracking therapy. Dr. Samuel C. Blackman of pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. said he couldn't comment on the specifics of talks with the nuclear medicine group, but he said, "We're definitely enthusiastic about FLT PET" for cancer drug research. Mike Stevens, the lung cancer patient, has seen his disease held generally stable by continuing chemotherapy since 2005. And along with the scientists, he also likes the idea of an earlier end to the limbo of not knowing whether a new treatment is working. "It's like having a rope tied around you and you're leaning over a canyon at about a 45-degree angle, and you don't know if someone is going to pull you back in, or let go of it," he said. "If you get that encouragement earlier on that you're doing well ... you've got something to fight for." — On the Net: Information on PET scans: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PGpet Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2009-03-04 15:41:12

Is my chemo working? Scans may give faster answer By MALCOLM RITTER , AP NEW YORK -When Mike Stevens learned his lungs were riddled with cancer, it took only a week to start chemotherapy — but six weeks to find out if it was doing any good. "You're going through all this suffering and stuff and you want to know, am I going to survive? Is this stuff working?" said Stevens, 48, of La Jolla, Calif. "Your whole life is in sort of a limbo." Doctors typically must wait weeks or months to see if a treatment is shrinking tumors or at least halting their growth. But researchers are exploring a new use for medical imaging that could shorten the stay in purgatory, possibly revealing within a few days whether chemo is working. That speed could save both lives and money. It would allow doctors to switch more quickly from an ineffective drug to a different one, and save health care dollars by waving doctors off expensive but futile treatments. The same approach may also prove useful for monitoring radiation therapy. This experimental imaging relies on a familiar hospital workhorse: PET scans, typically used for things like detecting cancer or revealing the effects of a heart attack. Unlike CT scans or MRIs, PET scans can show a tumor's internal activity, not just its size. When used to assess the effects of cancer treatment, it can reveal inside information about what the therapy is doing to a tumor even when there's no outward sign. To do a PET scan, doctors inject a patient with a radioactive substance that shows up on the scan in places where certain processes are happening — like hungry cancer cells gobbling up a lot of blood sugar. Think of it as looking around your neighborhood late at night for light in bedroom windows to see who is still awake. Many cancer patients get PET scans now to assess their disease before treatment, or to spot recurrences later on. But except for lymphoma, PET scans aren't routinely used to get a quicker answer on how cancers are responding to therapy. The new research tests both standard PET scans and a newer approach that involves injecting a different tracer substance. The standard scan, which looks for blood sugar usage, has gotten good results in tests with a variety of tumors including breast, prostate, colorectal and esophageal cancers, said Dr. Steven Larson of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. "I think it's going to be extremely valuable for most tumors where there are effective treatments," he said. Some experiments have revealed chemo's effects within 10 days to two weeks. As a practical matter, the goal of researchers is to convince federal regulators to cover the procedure under Medicare and Medicaid, which would open the door to routine use. That might take two or three years, he said. Farther out on the research horizon is a PET scan that uses injections of a different radioactive material and has revealed chemotherapy's impact even faster. Larson figures it will be especially useful for assessing newer drugs that aim to stop a patient's cancer from growing rather than killing the tumor. This scan is called FLT PET, after radioactive fluorothymidine. These scans show whether cancer cells are dividing. Uncontrolled division is a hallmark of active cancer, and stopping that division should be an early effect of successful chemotherapy. "Our hope ... is you might be able to give a single dose of a chemotherapy agent and within a day or two figure out whether the tumor is going to respond," says Dr. Michael Graham of the University of Iowa. If the tumor doesn't respond, doctors would "go on to Plan B," he said. "This is really ... giving us the ability to tailor the therapy to the disease." Research into FLT PET is still in the early stages. Graham said there are maybe a dozen published human studies so far, most involving too few patients to draw a firm conclusion. One report that impressed him involved 28 patients in Korea who were treated for advanced lung cancer — just like Stevens, who had to wait six weeks to learn whether it was working. The researchers reported that just one week after treatment began, they could tell with 93 percent certainty which patients would eventually respond to the drug and which would not. In a much smaller study at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, seven patients with acute myeloid leukemia were scanned at various times during a week of aggressive chemotherapy. Normally, doctors wait a month after chemo is stopped to see if it worked. But the FLT PET scans offered an answer as soon as a day after treatment started. "It's always hard to get too excited about a study that just involves seven people," said Dr. Mark Juckett, one of the authors. But "in these few patients, it looked like we could predict those who were going to respond well to chemotherapy and those who weren't." Other preliminary studies suggest the new PET technology might be useful in gauging treatment for breast and brain cancers as well as lymphoma. Graham figures there's a good chance FLT PET scans will become routine for assessing therapy in the next 10 years. "It's a terrible waste of money to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on these patients when it doesn't do any good," he said. Graham, president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, has been involved in discussions between the society and drug companies about incorporating FLT PET in their studies of experimental cancer drugs. The hope is that, over time, FLT PET would prove reliable for giving a faster answer on whether an experimental treatment is working. That would save companies a lot of money, because they could spot ineffective drugs more quickly and not waste further research on them. And the drug company research would produce data to help persuade federal regulators to approve FLT PET for use in tracking therapy. Dr. Samuel C. Blackman of pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. said he couldn't comment on the specifics of talks with the nuclear medicine group, but he said, "We're definitely enthusiastic about FLT PET" for cancer drug research. Mike Stevens, the lung cancer patient, has seen his disease held generally stable by continuing chemotherapy since 2005. And along with the scientists, he also likes the idea of an earlier end to the limbo of not knowing whether a new treatment is working. "It's like having a rope tied around you and you're leaning over a canyon at about a 45-degree angle, and you don't know if someone is going to pull you back in, or let go of it," he said. "If you get that encouragement earlier on that you're doing well ... you've got something to fight for." — On the Net: Information on PET scans: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PGpet Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2009-03-04 15:41:12

I think I figured it out. I have been feeling Brad's loss A LOT over the past couple of weeks. I could not figure it out as there is no "logical" reason behind it, it's just been happening. This morning as I was replying to John's post about the young girl at the cancer center, the tv on in the background with the NHL network on, it hit me. This won't make much sense to most of you and honestly I don't know why I am even posting it but I needed to get it out of my head and figured this was as good a place as any. I will apologize in advance as I know it's not the appropriate place or topic but.... Brad was a HUGE hockey fan. He is the person who finally made sense of the game for me and I have been "addicted" ever since. Today is the NHL's trade deadline, THE day that all the big trades are made etc. This is a hockey fans Christmas so to speak. When Brad was alive, on deadline day he would spend the day emailing me from work to find out who the latest trades were, who was going where and the deals. That night we'd catch up on the rest of the NHL news and debate who got the best deals and all. It was the highlight of the season for him... Today I am sitting here anticipating the big news items but without his opinions and input. 3 years later and this is so hard! I cannot explain it, I just know it hurts like hell and I have not cried like this in a long time.. Hopefully it's just more healing and by the end of the day I will feel better... Again, sorry for the off topic content...Just really needed to get that out of my head. Chris

((((Kerri)))) Like Patti B, I have responded to your other post . I just wanted to reply here, too. I am just so sorry. My condolences and sympathy to you and your family. Hugs and Prayers Christine

John So glad to hear you are doing well.. Your account of the young girl has me in tears here. I hate this disease so much, as we all do... I can remember one of 2 times Brad ever cried during his illness and that was one evening after he'd been to chemo and there was a young boy in the infusion centre next to him. That night was honestly the most heart wrenching experience I shared with him during his entire battle. He just sobbed and sobbed, not for himself but for that little boy and the other children who have to go through this hell. Not sure why Brad has been so much in my thoughts the past couple of weeks but your account brought the tears to the forefront that I've been fighting. John. thank you and God Bless... Christine

((((Kerri)))) I am so sorry.. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Hugs, prayers and condolences Christine

No snowmen here yet. The snow is too dry and fluffy. And so much of it!! Well over a foot and still coming down lightly As for snow dogs, the babies are tunneling!!!! It's so deep for them!!!

((((Sue)))) Thinking of you and sending warm and loving hugs Chris xxx

Close to a foot here in western Mass.. I will get out and take pics later for ya. I am kind of wintered out already. Ready for spring!!! Chris

Congrats Becky!!! I am so happy for you! Hugs Chris xoxox

Randy Lots of prayers and postive thoughts for you, Tamara and her Dad. Hugs Christine

((((Lillian)))) I've been thinking of you and am so glad to hear what a wonderful time you are having! Loved your update and am so very glad you shared it with us! I hope you continue to enjoy your visit! Hugs Christine

Hello Doug and welcome to the "family" While I cannot say much about HAVING cancer, I have been a caregiver/family member/friend and can and do understand the anxiety and worry from a different point of view. It's not the same but those of us in my position are here to help and support as much as we can. Please don't hesitate to let us know how we can help you and rest assured we will all do our best to do so! Warmly Christine

Dear Linda... My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you. Warmly Christine

Hello Ann and welcome I cannot add to what the others have said but wanted to welcome you and let you know we will do our best to help you and Mom Warmly Christine

Marci I am so sorry. Please accept my sincere sympathies and condolences on your loss. Christine

((((Alyssa)))) My heart just aches for you right now. I am so saddened to read this update and I am so very, very sorry for your loss. I can understand your apprehension about visiting this site but please know that you are more than welcome here and we will do our best to help you through this horrible pain. My sincerest condolences to you and your family, Christine PS.. please keep in touch. I will send you a PM with my private emial address...

((((Nick)))) I so wish I had "the words" to make this day easier. We both know that is not possible. The best I can do is offer you my understanding and lots of hugs. Happy Birthday dear Sophie!! Love and hugs to you all today Chris

((((Denise)))) I am so sorry to read this. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you and the family at this difficult time. With my sympathy, Christine

Deb Sending tons of positive thoughts and prayers for you!!! Will be watching for your update when you are able to~ Hugs and best wishes Christine

Mrs Krauss I am SO happy to read your latest update! What a relief to hear that you have changed doctors and that Mom is finally getting the care and treatment she so needed and deserved! Please keep us posted on Mom's progress and remember we are here for you! Christine

((((Jeannie)))) I am so very sorry to read of the loss of your wonderful husband. Please know that we will continue to be here for you as you go through this difficult time. With my sincere condolences and many hugs and prayers for you and the children, Christine

Hello Kat and welcome! Thank you for sharing your story with us and congratulations on your survivorship!! We really love good news stories here!! Please keep posting. Your story is an inspiration for many of us Warmly Christine