Hi all--
Well, not exactly the news I was hoping for, but not horrible either. All the spots except for two stayed the same in size. Two of them grew about a half centimeter. The problem was that the cancerous activity had begun to increase again. So only three weeks after taking off my wig, it looks like I'll be going back to it again. I'll be calling Stanford probably tomorrow about getting back on the clinical trial, and then we'll hopefully get started. This drug was supposed to help me get stronger before the trial, and it did. Now it looks like I gear up for the trial and a new wig--maybe not so red this time :) Thank you so much for your love, prayers & support. I'm thankful for all of you at this wonderful time of Thanksgiving. Please keep up the prayers.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Hello everyone--
It's been a busy school year, and if you've tried to get ahold of me recently, our district email has gone down. My new school email is jkoobatian@pleasantonusd.net so please update your contacts. I've lost all the emails in my contacts for the past 15 years of teaching, so if you want to stay in contact, send me your email address.
I had a PET scan this morning. I'm supposed to get the results tomorrow, so I'm praying for good & hopeful news. It would be nice to have good news before Thanksgiving. I've really been feeling good and strong. I'm so thankful for the fun and productive school year I've had so far. I have awesome students & couldn't be happier. Dad also had hand surgery this morning, and is doing very well. We're thankful that the surgery went without a hitch. I'm looking forward to seeing family this week and resting before the next busy three weeks. I thank you all for all your love & continued prayers of support and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'll send an update (hopefully tomorrow) when I hear.
It's been a busy school year, and if you've tried to get ahold of me recently, our district email has gone down. My new school email is jkoobatian@pleasantonusd.net so please update your contacts. I've lost all the emails in my contacts for the past 15 years of teaching, so if you want to stay in contact, send me your email address.
I had a PET scan this morning. I'm supposed to get the results tomorrow, so I'm praying for good & hopeful news. It would be nice to have good news before Thanksgiving. I've really been feeling good and strong. I'm so thankful for the fun and productive school year I've had so far. I have awesome students & couldn't be happier. Dad also had hand surgery this morning, and is doing very well. We're thankful that the surgery went without a hitch. I'm looking forward to seeing family this week and resting before the next busy three weeks. I thank you all for all your love & continued prayers of support and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'll send an update (hopefully tomorrow) when I hear.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Hello everyone--
It's been a crazy week, returning from the fabulous wedding, having the scan Tuesday, my birthday and Back to School Night on Wednesday, so things really have been insane. I can't thank you all enough for all the wonderful birthday wishes and the prayers. The scan results finally came in and the size of the tumors is stable, but again the cancerous activity has decreased throughout, so it's good news! The mouth sores are pretty much gone now, but my feet are still covered in blisters. I see the doc tomorrow and they won't let me start the next round until the blisters are gone, but they are decreasing my chemo dose. I can't thank you enough for all the support you continue to give me. Please do keep it up--you help me so much!
It's been a crazy week, returning from the fabulous wedding, having the scan Tuesday, my birthday and Back to School Night on Wednesday, so things really have been insane. I can't thank you all enough for all the wonderful birthday wishes and the prayers. The scan results finally came in and the size of the tumors is stable, but again the cancerous activity has decreased throughout, so it's good news! The mouth sores are pretty much gone now, but my feet are still covered in blisters. I see the doc tomorrow and they won't let me start the next round until the blisters are gone, but they are decreasing my chemo dose. I can't thank you enough for all the support you continue to give me. Please do keep it up--you help me so much!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Hello everyone,
Well, I almost completed three rounds of Xeloda/Sandostatin. I had to stop it on Friday, because it had given me mouth sores all over my mouth and blisters all over my feet. I'm still dealing with those. This round should have gone until Sunday. Tomorrow morning at 8:30, I will have my PET scan to find out how my cancer has reacted to this last three rounds. Again, I humbly ask for your thoughts and prayers for good news. I have been feeling great, other than being very tired. I've had a great start to the school year and as usual just love all my students. Thanks again for all your love and support. :)
Well, I almost completed three rounds of Xeloda/Sandostatin. I had to stop it on Friday, because it had given me mouth sores all over my mouth and blisters all over my feet. I'm still dealing with those. This round should have gone until Sunday. Tomorrow morning at 8:30, I will have my PET scan to find out how my cancer has reacted to this last three rounds. Again, I humbly ask for your thoughts and prayers for good news. I have been feeling great, other than being very tired. I've had a great start to the school year and as usual just love all my students. Thanks again for all your love and support. :)
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Well I was hoping and praying for the decision to be clear. Stanford called yesterday to say that since the treatment I am on is working, then technically I'm not eligible for the trial right now. I can start the trial if/when the current treatment stops working. Well, I'd say that was clear. So I am going to continue the Xeloda/Sandostatin starting again on Monday, and wait on the trial. I can't thank you enough for all the posts and emails. You are all so supportive, and I really appreciate it! :)
Friday, July 13, 2012
Hello everyone--
Well, I finally got a call from the oncologist's office today. Good news. This chemo that I have been on is working. Everything has decreased in cancerous activity. The size of the tumors remains the same, but they explained that they don't care about the tissue size if the activity is dying down. The spot on my liver that was noted on my last PET was not detectable in this scan! And there was no new growth! Good news all around! The thing is now I am in a difficult situation. This chemo I have been on has been wonderful. I have been tired, but other than that I haven't had most of the other side effects I usually get with chemo, and my hemoglobin and platelets have remained in tact. So my oncologist feels that if it's working after only two low-dose treatments, why abandon it for the clinical trial? They prefer that I stay on this treatment plan for now. I am going to talk with the docs at Stanford to get another opinion and then make the decision on what I will do from here. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I make this decision.
In the meantime, I was very fortunate to have a wonderful performance opportunity for my students on Wednesday night, as they sang back-up for Foreigner at Wente Vineyards, thanks to a radio contest on KKIQ. Here is the link if you're interested:
http://youtu.be/l2czyrG4J_g
Well, I finally got a call from the oncologist's office today. Good news. This chemo that I have been on is working. Everything has decreased in cancerous activity. The size of the tumors remains the same, but they explained that they don't care about the tissue size if the activity is dying down. The spot on my liver that was noted on my last PET was not detectable in this scan! And there was no new growth! Good news all around! The thing is now I am in a difficult situation. This chemo I have been on has been wonderful. I have been tired, but other than that I haven't had most of the other side effects I usually get with chemo, and my hemoglobin and platelets have remained in tact. So my oncologist feels that if it's working after only two low-dose treatments, why abandon it for the clinical trial? They prefer that I stay on this treatment plan for now. I am going to talk with the docs at Stanford to get another opinion and then make the decision on what I will do from here. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I make this decision.
In the meantime, I was very fortunate to have a wonderful performance opportunity for my students on Wednesday night, as they sang back-up for Foreigner at Wente Vineyards, thanks to a radio contest on KKIQ. Here is the link if you're interested:
http://youtu.be/l2czyrG4J_g
Monday, July 9, 2012
Hello everyone--
I have finished the two rounds of Xeloda and need to get a PET scan tomorrow morning at 9:45, so please keep me in your thoughts & prayers for some good results. I am scheduled to start the clinical trial at Stanford next Thursday, the 19th. I'll let you know how things go.... Thanks again for your support!
I have finished the two rounds of Xeloda and need to get a PET scan tomorrow morning at 9:45, so please keep me in your thoughts & prayers for some good results. I am scheduled to start the clinical trial at Stanford next Thursday, the 19th. I'll let you know how things go.... Thanks again for your support!
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