Dr Sipahi Visit for Chemo Round #2

Updates as of 08/15/2009

• Gina saw Dr Sipahi for second round of chemotherapy (Ixempra) this last Thursday.
• Dr Sipahi also gave her Zometa for the bones and said will schedule scans in September to see how the new chemo is doing
• The new chemo is VERY STRONG and seems to wipe all energy from Gina's body 8(
• After her visit to Dr Sipahi, Dr Nicholas from UCMC called and said he had been out of office but just talked to Dr Sipahi and came up with a game plan
• They had talked and decided that Avastin would be an excellent chemo to give to Gina as it also helps with swelling in the brain and I believe breaks the blood-brain barrier.
• However, since Gina is still having some bleeding problems suspected to be from the tumor in the kidney, they are going to keep going with the Ixempra to see if it works on kidney.
• Dr Nicholas also said him and Dr Sipahi discussed radiation to kidney. Gina is against any more radiation since she has already had it done numerous times to: both lungs, brain, upper back, and leg.
• More later after this coming Thursday, when Gina goes to Dr Sipahi again for Herceptin treatment (been three weeks already?)
• The steroid (decadron) was reduced to 1/2 mg (YAY!) but we are hoping to get completely off so we can try that trial in Indy (or wherever else they have it)