Good morning everyone!
Melanie has her 1st treatment yesterday. This 1st treatment was administering "herceptin" which is what specifically targets the HER2 positive type of breast cancer. This is 1 of the 2 drugs in the clinical trial (Melanie will only be getting the herceptin in the clinical trial). As we learned during the treatment in the Dr Ashouri's office chemo center, the herceptin treatments are milder than normal chemo treatments. The common side effects of herceptin are generally flu-like symptoms, which is what Melanie started experiencing later in the day and through the evening. She wasn't feeling too good when we went sleep last night, and she's still sleeping this morning as I write this. Hopefully she'll be feeling better today, we'll see. (post edit note - Melanie is awake now and feeling better - yay)
Beginning in about 3 1/2 weeks (Thurs 8/18/11), Melanie will start the chemo treatments, which will then be administered once every 3 weeks for 18 weeks (6 chemo treatments). These chemo treatments will be tougher than yesterday's herceptin. Chemo will be the next big challenge and "unknown" since this is obviously something she/we have never been through before. Pray that God will give her peace and overcome any fears or anxiety prior to the chemo treatment.
Then, after the chemo treatments, Melanie will have the surgery to remove the tumors. And after the surgery, she will then have a full year of herceptin treatments - once every 3 weeks.
We'll continue to keep you all posted. Thank you again for all your prayers and love. God bless you.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Treatment begins on Monday 7-25-11
Hi everyone. We found out yesterday that Melanie's treatment will begin this Monday (7-25-11). The appointment is at 10:00am and will last several hours. We will find out after the treatment how she responds, which will help us to know better what challenges and needs we'll be facing over the next few weeks. We know from the documentation provided preparing us for what's ahead that the side effects are severe (and it's a pretty long list of side effects too). We're not sure how long the side effects will last after treatment.
We will be posting needs (on the "Lotsa" site) soon covering meals, childcare, and the need for someone to come to our home to help Melanie through those times that I won't be able to stay home and take care of her due to work.
Please pray that Melanie responds well to the treatment, that the treatments are effective in destroying the cancer, and that the side effects are as minimul/gentle as possible. Please pray for strength for both of us. Please pray for our kids also.
Thank you. We love you.
Lotsa Helping Hands site: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/644312/
We will be posting needs (on the "Lotsa" site) soon covering meals, childcare, and the need for someone to come to our home to help Melanie through those times that I won't be able to stay home and take care of her due to work.
Please pray that Melanie responds well to the treatment, that the treatments are effective in destroying the cancer, and that the side effects are as minimul/gentle as possible. Please pray for strength for both of us. Please pray for our kids also.
Thank you. We love you.
Lotsa Helping Hands site: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/644312/
Thursday, July 21, 2011
7-21-11 Update
Hi everyone. Well, we got good news today. Melanie had a physical exam with her oncologist, Dr. Ashouri, today. He shared with her that her PET scan came back clear, along with the other additional exams & scans! So the only concerns are the original 2 lumps in her right breast. Praise the LORD for answers to prayers! And thank you ALL for your prayers, support and love. Melanie and I are blown away by all the love and support from friends, family, church, and community. I pray that all of you and your families will be blessed as well.
So, there are a couple more things to update on as well. Melanie's treatments will begin on this coming Monday. And we should find out tomorrow which of the 2 "arms" of the clinical trial Melanie will be placed on for the upcoming 3 week period. The clinical trial placement will determine what treatments are administered for this 3 week period. After that will begin the "standard" chemo treatments. (Disclaimer - Melanie had a headache and has gone to bed early, as such I am posting these details without her "oversight & correction", so I am not claiming perfect accuracy here...just doing the best I can by memory.)
I believe we will be updating the "Lotsa" site tomorrow after we have the specific treatment schedule & times for next week. So Monday will begin the year long treatment with a surgery around 18 weeks from now. We know we have a long road ahead that will bring its own challenges, but we have our faith to fuel us through, and we KNOW the LORD will provide and our peace and strength lie in Him.
I am planning on posting another update hopefully tomorrow afternoon/early evening when we know more about next week's treatment schedule. Thank you ALL again. We love you!
So, there are a couple more things to update on as well. Melanie's treatments will begin on this coming Monday. And we should find out tomorrow which of the 2 "arms" of the clinical trial Melanie will be placed on for the upcoming 3 week period. The clinical trial placement will determine what treatments are administered for this 3 week period. After that will begin the "standard" chemo treatments. (Disclaimer - Melanie had a headache and has gone to bed early, as such I am posting these details without her "oversight & correction", so I am not claiming perfect accuracy here...just doing the best I can by memory.)
I believe we will be updating the "Lotsa" site tomorrow after we have the specific treatment schedule & times for next week. So Monday will begin the year long treatment with a surgery around 18 weeks from now. We know we have a long road ahead that will bring its own challenges, but we have our faith to fuel us through, and we KNOW the LORD will provide and our peace and strength lie in Him.
I am planning on posting another update hopefully tomorrow afternoon/early evening when we know more about next week's treatment schedule. Thank you ALL again. We love you!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Lotsa Helping Hands site up and running
Melanie's "Lotsa" community is up and running. Click on the link below to sign up and follow the instructions below and on the site. This community site is for our family, friends, and loved ones who are supporting Melanie and our family through this journey of curing Melanie's breast cancer. We will be using this community for coordination as well as updating with information. Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. God bless you.
https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/644312/
Fill out the right-hand side of the form which is a Request to Join the Community. Once you've done this, Coordinators can "approve" the pending members from the pending members page on their Administration tab. Once approved, members will be automatically added to the community and sent instructions for setting a password and signing-in.
About “Lotsa Helping Hands” - a web service that’s designed to make coordinating volunteers easy and efficient.
A Lotsa Helping Hands web site is about providing support for a person or family in need. Volunteers see a calendar of activities that are requested (usually rides and meals, but other types of activities can be listed) and can sign up with a few mouse clicks. Appropriate notification and reminders occur via email.
https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/644312/
Fill out the right-hand side of the form which is a Request to Join the Community. Once you've done this, Coordinators can "approve" the pending members from the pending members page on their Administration tab. Once approved, members will be automatically added to the community and sent instructions for setting a password and signing-in.
About “Lotsa Helping Hands” - a web service that’s designed to make coordinating volunteers easy and efficient.
A Lotsa Helping Hands web site is about providing support for a person or family in need. Volunteers see a calendar of activities that are requested (usually rides and meals, but other types of activities can be listed) and can sign up with a few mouse clicks. Appropriate notification and reminders occur via email.
About “Faith, Hope & Love - Melanie's Community”
Welcome to our Lotsa Helping Hands web site. This site can be used to allow a community to coordinate tasks and to stay connected. This is where Melanie and Mike will be posting our needs to help our family through Melanie's journey towards victory in being cured of breast cancer. Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. And above all, thank the LORD for all that HE provides - it is on HIS strength, love, promises, and provision that we will survive and thrive on this journey. Philippians 4:4-13
Monday, July 18, 2011
7/18/11 Appointments and an Update
Hi Everyone!
Well, today began the 3 days worth of tests. Melanie had the bone scan today and the ultrasound on her right lymph nodes. I'm not sure when we'll get the results of the bone scan...BUT (get ready for some preliminary good news) the ultrasound doctor said Melanie's lymph nodes "looked good"!! The doctor said that nothing showed up that looked like cancer. YAY!!
It was an uneasy day leading up to this bit of good news, as we were both concerned about what this ultrasound may have led to. I'm guardedly optimistic as we have a long road ahead. That said, we will take ANY and ALL big and little victories that come our way.
Tomorrow's appointments are Melanie's PET scan @ 1:30pm and an EKG @ 3:00pm. Here is a LINK with more details on what a PET scan is for anyone who wants more info.
Meanwhile Elizabeth had a great fun-filled day hanging out with her friend Bella...Bella's mom picked up Elizabeth and took the two up to Santa Barbara for the day. And Matthew and Luke got to spend much of the day hanging out at the Reynolds house - what a fun day! Thanks to the Shahidi family and Reynolds family for your help with the kids today.
Well, today began the 3 days worth of tests. Melanie had the bone scan today and the ultrasound on her right lymph nodes. I'm not sure when we'll get the results of the bone scan...BUT (get ready for some preliminary good news) the ultrasound doctor said Melanie's lymph nodes "looked good"!! The doctor said that nothing showed up that looked like cancer. YAY!!
It was an uneasy day leading up to this bit of good news, as we were both concerned about what this ultrasound may have led to. I'm guardedly optimistic as we have a long road ahead. That said, we will take ANY and ALL big and little victories that come our way.
Tomorrow's appointments are Melanie's PET scan @ 1:30pm and an EKG @ 3:00pm. Here is a LINK with more details on what a PET scan is for anyone who wants more info.
Meanwhile Elizabeth had a great fun-filled day hanging out with her friend Bella...Bella's mom picked up Elizabeth and took the two up to Santa Barbara for the day. And Matthew and Luke got to spend much of the day hanging out at the Reynolds house - what a fun day! Thanks to the Shahidi family and Reynolds family for your help with the kids today.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Welcome!
Hello everyone. Well, if you're here, I'm assuming you've been invited and told about the blog and you know about the circumstances that led to the creation of this blog. In the rare chance you don't know, here's a brief recap:
On Tuesday July 12, 2011, my wonderful wife (and love of my life) was diagnosed with breast cancer. This diagnosis came about after a few appointments that were set after Melanie felt a lump in her right breast during a self exam in the shower. After the 7/12/11 confirmation that it is indeed cancer, there have been many additional revelations, including the type of cancer and the treatment plan. There are a handful of additional tests scheduled this upcoming week to provide more information to her doctors and answers for us, including what stage of cancer Melanie has and if it has spread.
What we know so far is that Melanie has "invasive ductal carcinoma". The type of cancer is HER2, and knowing this is what has helped her oncologist know how to treat it. While it is very aggressive, it is also treatable/curable...YAY - some good news, right? I'm a HUGE fan of the "curable"!
Treatment begins the week of July 25th, although we do not know exact appointment times/dates yet.
We have created a community page on the "Lotsa Helping Hands" website, conveniently created with this web address: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com. This is an invite only site, so if you're HERE but haven't been invited to the "Lotsa" site and would like to be a part of it, please send me an message with your email address for an invite. We will be posting a lot of specific information, especially to coordinate the many needs that will be coming soon - meals, watching the kids, helping Melanie while I'm at work, etc.
Here are a couple of links to websites with more info on breast cancer (there are also iPhone apps for these that we both have on our phones):
http://beyondtheshock.com/
http://www.breastcancer.org/
Here is a good article about HER2 positive breast cancer:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer/AN00495
ALL prayers are greatly appreciated. We love all of you too!
Mike & Melanie Rosenthal
On Tuesday July 12, 2011, my wonderful wife (and love of my life) was diagnosed with breast cancer. This diagnosis came about after a few appointments that were set after Melanie felt a lump in her right breast during a self exam in the shower. After the 7/12/11 confirmation that it is indeed cancer, there have been many additional revelations, including the type of cancer and the treatment plan. There are a handful of additional tests scheduled this upcoming week to provide more information to her doctors and answers for us, including what stage of cancer Melanie has and if it has spread.
What we know so far is that Melanie has "invasive ductal carcinoma". The type of cancer is HER2, and knowing this is what has helped her oncologist know how to treat it. While it is very aggressive, it is also treatable/curable...YAY - some good news, right? I'm a HUGE fan of the "curable"!
Treatment begins the week of July 25th, although we do not know exact appointment times/dates yet.
We have created a community page on the "Lotsa Helping Hands" website, conveniently created with this web address: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com. This is an invite only site, so if you're HERE but haven't been invited to the "Lotsa" site and would like to be a part of it, please send me an message with your email address for an invite. We will be posting a lot of specific information, especially to coordinate the many needs that will be coming soon - meals, watching the kids, helping Melanie while I'm at work, etc.
Here are a couple of links to websites with more info on breast cancer (there are also iPhone apps for these that we both have on our phones):
http://beyondtheshock.com/
http://www.breastcancer.org/
Here is a good article about HER2 positive breast cancer:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer/AN00495
ALL prayers are greatly appreciated. We love all of you too!
Mike & Melanie Rosenthal
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