Pinch me! - UPDATE 2-13-13

[Ashlee H.]

I've been gearing up to start FOLFIRI and ZALTRAP at the end of the month to knock out my nodes. I had my PET/CT done this morning - and the results are already in..."NO ABNORMAL PET ACTIVITY TO SUGGEST MALIGNANCY". There is mention of two stable nodes at 1.3/1.4 cm. I've asked my ONC to call me. I so want to believe that we have killed those nodes for good. But, have we? Can this really be true? I do my labs again next week, so I will be interested to see what the cancer markers are showing. On a side note, I did start to take a very low dose of Metformin about a month ago - not because I'm diabetic, but because of the research being done with cancer*. Maybe if you aren't diabetic the drug works differently in the body and takes on the cancer? At this point I have no answers except I see God's hand in this. I am beyond shocked and haven't absorbed the fact that today I got some very wonderful news. Hope the ONC doesn't call and say, "Whoops, they sent you the wrong results".


(Edit)*I am in no way saying taking a month of low dose Metformin is the reason for my clean scan. In 2010 I was on a trial study in which the test drug was similar to the type they give to Type 2 Diabetic patients. I had good results, but also bad side effects - bad enough that I pulled out of the study. My ONC and I have been talking about Metformin for awhile. He has been aware of the on-going research with this drug and cancer. Last month we decided to add it to see how I would do on it. I have been playing the "whack a mole" game for awhile now. Sometimes the nodes light up, sometimes they don't. My ONC and I are just trying to learn how to play the game so I win most of the time. My choices at this point have been based on quality vs quantity of life. Only time will time if Metformin made any difference, but I don't have enough evidence to state that it did.

UPDATE: Received a phone message from my ONC. He said he was "pleasantly surprised" by the scan. Reminded me scans aren't perfect and that my cancer markers have always been a good indicator of what is going on. Last results were CEA 7.3 and CA 19-9 - 56 (they have been climbing over the past few months, but very slowly). He does not feel I have to go back on chemo at this time. Will have blood tests next week, and I'll see him the week after. This is all part of the "Whack a Mole" game. Thanks for all your kind words, encouragement...and the dancing cat - loved it! - Ashlee

Update #2: My CEA has gone from 7.3 to 9.2/CA 19-9 from 56 to 91! So although the Scan is not showing it....the cancer is active somewhere - Oh well, back to "Whack a Mole"

[Cancerislame]

Oh my goodness! I am so excited for you. I know you won't believe it until you hear from the Onc. but what great news. Please, update us and let us know how it all goes. This truly is making my day.

YAYYYYY!

Jennifer

[Ladybug]

Ashlee-

Woo hoo! I know I don't post much, but I have been rooting for you! What great news!

[usopen]

Wow. This is really something. I've been talking to several people at Hope Lodge in nyc where i go for treatment. They are on a trial, and all take Metformin.

Joan

[Laurettas]

Oh, wow, Ashlee, this is absolutely phenomenal news!! It took my breath away when I read it. Please keep us posted as to what the onc says so hopefully we can rejoice some more!

[mlibertone]

Amazing news! So happy for you! What a suprise! Hoping and praying everything continues to go well. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Yay!

[SoConfused]

great news! so very happy for you.

[Maia]

Oh, Ashlee... why not? Do you know that, in part, the cancer cells 'killed' by chemo sometimes (or some of them) act like an immuno-booster? Maybe this break is giving your system the oportunity to fight back on itself, a bit.
You asked time ago about the LDN (low dose naltrexone) --that one wouldn't hurt neither! IMHO
This is GOOD NEWS, Ashlee! So, so happy for you. Made my day!

[ams5796]

Such wonderful, wonderful news!

[stu]

That's worthy of a wee cry! How lovely to be surprised by joy. More power to your elbow as we say here! Long may it continue. Stu

[some]

Yee!!!! This is great news Ashlee. I hope your onc agrees and that they were indeed to the correct results.

I'm always thinking good thoughts for you and good news like this is a real pick me up over here.

Hooray!

Serena

[so-scared]

WOW, WOW, FREAKIN' WOW!!!! I am sooooo happy for you, Ashlee!! I love reading news like this!!

[Hapa]

Incredibly Great News!

[Phuong]

My jaw just dropped to the floor. That is such FABULOUS news!!!!!!!

[BrendaB]

Yay!! So happy for you!!