What A Day

WED 01/28/2009

What a day Gina had today! We started out at Dr Sipahi's office where he drew blood to check levels and they seemed better. Dr Sipahi then said:

• Gina will keep getting Herceptin every three weeks along with Zometa (superglue for bones) and her Iron infusion while doing radiation.
• Gina starts radiation (IMRT) to mid-brain area tomorrow to treat the tumor that had the Gamma-knife surgery on 09/2007
• The radiation will be for five weeks, every day with weekends off and done at the Betty Bridgewater Cancer Treatment Center on RT 45.
• There is another Gamma-knife scheduled for the new tumor that they believe is back of brain on THU 02/12/2009 with Dr Schwartz and Dr Jimenez doing procedure
• Dr Sipahi, Sr Schwartz, Dr. Jimenz, are communicating with each other to get this under control

Gina and I also went to University of Chicago Medical Center to see Dr. Nicholas (he is the neuro-oncologist that we started on this whole journey with -Awesome and extremely intelligent individual). We went over the news of tumor growth and he said the following:

• Dr Nicholas does think the new IMRT radiation and upcoming Gamma-knife procedure to the brain is a good plan.
• After a series of simple tests, Dr Nicholas believes Gina is having her problems (runny nose, watery eyes, gaging feeling, double vision, etc) as a result of swelling in mid-brain and should be better after IMRT radiation.
• Dr Nicholas is having a conference at UCMC and will be showing and discussing Gina's scans and notes with them (panel of other doctors and specialists)
• Dr Nicholas is going to meet with Dr Olopade and go over everything, including his suggestion to try a new chemotherapy called Avastin (link on this page)

We see Dr Olopade this coming Monday, so we will keep you posted on the details and her thoughts and plans for Gina's Victory! Love all of you for standing by us through everything and I know GOD is up there watching over us with angels like all of you helping Gina get better. A SPECIAL THANKS to all the doctors and nurses that are treating Gina - GOD BLESS YOU ALL!