A Long-awaited Update

We apologize for not sending out an update sooner. This most recent 12-week series of chemo treatments has been rather exhausting, but it comes to an end next Tuesday, December 29. The treatments have been weekly, with a “harder” treatment every third week. Allison has been very tired throughout this whole series; the hard treatment every third week really knocked her out for about a week to 10 days each time. One of the drugs that she has been given during this round makes it so toenails and fingernails can “die,” so she is feeling very lucky to have lost only one during this time. She is also very excited to be at the end of this series of treatments!!

Allison will find out her radiation schedule on December 29. She will be on chemotherapy every three weeks from January until October, with a 6-week round of radiation thrown in, beginning probably the end of January or first part of February. The chemotherapy will be of the “lighter” variety, so she will not have to worry about the extra shots to boost the white blood count but the doctor said the energy level will be down for several more months. The radiation will be daily during the weekdays, with the weekends off, for 6 weeks. She’s told that compared to chemotherapy, radiation will seem like a “first-class upgrade,” so she is looking forward to that.

During this past 12-week series of treatments, Kirk has been taking on a lot of the cooking. They have kept meals coming in to the home at a minimum during the busy holiday season, but Kirk has been especially grateful for the meals on the days that they have been brought. The girls have also been learning how to cook. Once Allison has her radiation and chemo schedule for the next 10 months, we will plan meals and have dates available on the calendar.

On Sunday, Allison had to say goodbye to Sister Karen Fife, who, along with her husband, has completed her year of missionary service, and returned to California. Karen has literally been Allison’s right hand through all of this, driving her to chemo appointments, teaching the girls to cook, and generally being of service in every possible way. Karen’s service was greatly appreciated, and she will be sorely missed.

Allison is so very, very grateful for all who have taken on the responsibilities of shutting the kids back and forth to their various activities and commitments. Driving doesn’t seem like such a big endeavor until you try to do it when your bones ache from chemo, and you need a nap after going from the house to the car. Allison literally could not have made it through these 12 weeks without the many kind drivers, and she will continue to gratefully rely on the drivers through the coming months of treatments.

In addition to driving the kids, now that Karen is gone, Allison will need rides to her various chemo/radiation appointments. We will be setting up a schedule on the Care Calendar as soon as she knows all the dates and times. Her immediate need is for a ride to Evergreen Hospital on Tuesday, December 29. She will need to be picked up at 9 a.m., to arrive for a 9:30 a.m. appointment. The appointment will be a long one; 2.5 or 3 hours in duration, after which she will need a ride home. Please call Allison directly or leave a comment here on the blog if you can be her escort and her companion that day.

Thank you to all of you for whatever role you have played in supporting Allison and the Davis family in the months since she was diagnosed. The blessings have been marvelous and great and they are so very grateful for every act of service they have received.

November 3

This past week was a really tough week. The taxotere, which she receives every third week, really made Allison's bones ache. She had gastrointestinal distress and general flulike symptoms (minus the fever) and was in a lot of pain. Her medical team is working on finding some fillers and buffers to add to the taxotere next time to help alleviate the worst of the symptoms.

Today's treatment included only herceptin, her weekly drug for this 12-week cycle and also all next year. The treatment went much easier today. As of today, she is 1/4 of the way through this second round.

Thanks to all who drive Allison (and the kids) places that they need to go. She really appreciates the company during her chemotherapy. The meals have been wonderful; I hope you are all finding the Care Calendar easy to use (http:\\www.carecalendar.org; login is 23871, security code is 8103). I will be adding dinner on November 24 to the calendar today, then dates after Thanksgiving week will be added later.

Update, October 21

Yesterday, Allison had her first of twelve weekly chemotherapy treatments. This round of treatment includes a couple of new drugs. The first drug was administered with no problems. The second drug, which was supposed to slowly drip for an hour, caused an allergic reaction of sorts. One minute she was laughing and playing games with Maggie Bentley, and the next she felt like she couldn't remember what she was doing. This was after only about 20 minutes of receiving the drug. Allison's throat closed up with tightening in the chest that it became very difficult to breathe, lost her voice and could hardly speak to communicate. Always a good thing for hand signals at this time. They were able to quickly reverse the reaction with about 4 or 5 other injections. It took about 30 minutes for her to recover. During that time she even received oxygen. Once she was recovered, she had to have an EKG to be sure there was no damage to the heart. What should have been only a few hours turned into an all-day ordeal, though in talking to Allison last night, I would have never guessed at what she had been through during the day. She was peppy and upbeat and sounded great.

Allison is still scheduled for treatment #2 next Tuesday, though at this point her doctors are unsure what drugs she will receive. Based on her allergic reaction, they need to choose another drug, and hope that her insurance company will pay for what they want to use. Allison said this is one of the most frustrating parts of the process. Being at the mercy of some pencil-pusher at a desk at an insurance company is unreal--it is her doctors who know what the best treatment options are. They should be allowed to treat the patient without fear of the insurance claim being denied.

Allison said it is frustrating hearing that her reactions from the beginning of cancer, surgery and into chemo is "an exception, highly unusual, rare, seldom occurs, not the norm." Is there really a "norm" when it comes to treating cancer? This is definitely a process--a puzzle--to find what will kill the cancer without causing too much harm to the patient! No two cancer patients are alike.

In other news, the new website for signing up for bringing meals is working very well. (In case you haven't seen the website, it is http://www.carecalendar.org. The Calendar ID is 23876 and the security code is 8103.) As ever, thanks for all your concern and support.

Update, September 30

Four months ago, on May 27, Allison received her diagnosis of breast cancer. How far she has come, how much she has learned, and how much her life has changed in those 4 months!

Allison had her last chemo treatment of Round 1 on Tuesday. She is glad that this stage is over, as the last 3 weeks have been very rough. Her blood count got so low that she was very close to needing to be admitted to the hospital. She has learned--the hard way--that even running children here and there is enough to knock her completely off her feet. Thank you so much to those of you who have taken on driving the kids where they need to be. That is such a help to all the family.

Allison's plan for the coming three weeks is to lay really low, rest as much as possible, and steer clear of anyone who might be carrying germs (that, she says, is a losing battle with 5 kids in the house...she may have to lock herself in her bedroom). She's definitely in "taking care of Allison" mode, as she should be. Today, she will be receiving a shot to help maintain her blood count. Because of her low count the last couple of weeks, this shot will be 7 times the usual strength.

In the coming 3 weeks she will have another echocardiogram and a series of other appointments to get ready for Round 2 of chemo, which will begin October 20 and continue for 12 weeks. This round will have two new drugs, and she will receive one treatment per week. She's told that this round of chemo does not include the "highs and lows" as far as how good or bad she will feel. But, of course, she won't know how she will react until it happens.

The meal plan for the next phase of chemo will be to have meals provided for 3 to 4 days (Tues-Thurs or Tues-Fri) each week. Email will go out in the next week or so to start lining up meals. As she progresses into the 12-week cycle and knows what her needs will be, this plan may be adjusted. Thank you to everyone who so willingly provides meals! We had enough volunteers for the last round that we could have provided two meals each night. You are all wonderful!

Every time I talk to Allison, she expresses her utmost appreciation and gratitude for all the support that she and her family have received. It is truly a blessing to all of them to have their needs taken care of during this time. Thank you!

Settling In

Allison is "settling" (if that's the right word) into her chemo schedule of every three weeks. As usual, the day after her chemo she went back to the doctor for a shot to help maintain her white blood count. She was "bumped up" to a stronger drug this time, one which will last longer and provide more white blood count protection. When she asked why she didn't start off on this drug, she was told it was because the stronger drug is much more expensive, so they try to use the cheaper drug when possible. She continues to take antibiotics as a preventive measure. She says that it is wonderful to be so carefully watched and even "micromanaged" through this whole process.

As expected, with each subsequent chemo treatment, she finds herself more and more tired in the days immediately following treatment. So far, her experience has been that Day 2 after treatment (Thursday, in this case) is the day that she is most tired.

The family is also settling back into the school-year routine. Back-to-school can be hectic enough without cancer treatment going on! Many thanks to all the children's friends and teammates who have helped with rides and the like.

Thank you also for all the meals provided and the rides. Allison's "usual" drivers have been out of town this week, but she was able to find the transportation she needed for her doctor visits. It's truly wonderful to have such a great team assembled. Allison's next chemo is scheduled for September 29. A sign up for meals will go out closer to that time.

Update, August 26

Just a little mini-update tonight. Allison said her white blood count was low at her normal checkup today and she got antibiotics in addition to a shot, and she gets another shot tomorrow. These shots help regulate her white blood count. This is normal with chemotherapy, killing white blood cells along with cancer cells is par for the course, which is why her blood count is so often checked. Aside from that, Allison reports feeling OK, all things considered. She is tired a lot, and definitely has her better times of day. She finds she does better if she has small meals and snacks throughout the day. Keeping her energy up helps in fighting the fatigue.

The kids are all enjoying their last week of summer vacation, with Kirk taking time off this week to share in some family activities. Starting with her next chemotherapy treatment on September 8, her chemo treatments will be moving to Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays (which is a short day in the Bellevue School District).

Thank you for all the phone calls, messages, and service. It is such a blessing to Allison and the entire Davis family.

Update, August 21

Allison had her second chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday of this week, and returned on Thursday and again today to have a shot that helps her maintain her white blood count (as those get attacked by the chemo along with the cancer cells). She now totally "gets" what the doctors were telling her about each subsequent chemo treatment being a little more difficult, as more and more cells are killed. This time, she has felt a lot more wiped out. "Wasted" is the word she used. So far, though, she has not been very nauseated, which is good. Hopefully the no-nausea trend will continue.

All is going well, though. Thanks for all your kind words, prayers, and the many acts of service that have already been performed.

Update, August 8

Allison has had a quiet week, continuing to recover from her first dose of chemotherapy. She had her blood tested again this week and "all the numbers" came back above average, which is good. She said they tested for a bunch of things, but one of the things tested for was her white blood count. She got another shot this week to help keep her white blood count up. Chemo tends to wipe out white blood cells as it attacks the cancer.

Allison says that some days are good and others she is really tired. Thursday was one of those "really tired" days, she says, but today is better. It just comes and goes. It may be this way through the entire course of treatment.

She is grateful for all the friends who have taken the kids for play dates and other adventures. Keeping them entertained has been a great help. And, she is also grateful for all the wonderful meals that have been brought in.

The First Weekend After Chemo

I talked with Allison this afternoon and she sounds really good. Aside from not wanting much to eat yesterday and feeling tired, she's been feeling pretty good after this first chemo treatment, and her appetite came back today and she enjoyed a good lunch. Let's hope that this will be her usual reaction to the chemo!

Correction

A little misinformation in the last post:

Allison went back for a shot yesterday to keep her white blood count from going down too far. She said she got it in the stomach, which was new to her. She goes in on August 5 to get her white blood count checked, chemo treatment #2 is scheduled on August 19.

One Treatment Down, 27 To Go!!

Just a quick update to let you know that Allison began chemotherapy on July 29. It was a very long day, starting with surgery to put in the port through which her chemo will be administered, and ending with her first dose of chemotherapy. She said it was very surreal to see everyone don their Hazmat suits and gloves to administer the drugs. The only upside to this is that she got to spend 12 hours in airconditioning at Evergreen Hospital on Wednesday, instead of at home in our record-setting heat! She went back yesterday to have her white blood count checked, and will be back for treatment #2 on Wednesday, August 5.

Right now, she still doesn't know how she will react to chemotherapy. In most patients, days 3 and 4 are the roughest, so by Monday she will likely have a good idea on how she will fare. Right now, she seems mostly to be tired, from the long day and the treatment as well as the hot weather. She is taking it easy and has her mom here to help her until tomorrow.

Because the chemotherapy affects her white blood count and her immune system, she will be laying pretty low, and it is even more important that she not be exposed to anyone who is ill. Thank goodness germs don't travel via the phone, email, or regular mail.

Thank you to all who have offered to bring meals or help in other ways. One of the blessings of a trial like this is to feel the love of friends and family through their service.

The Calm

Now's a rather calm time, Allison is continuing to recover from the surgery and is getting ready for chemotherapy to begin on July 29. So, she will get to enjoy her nephew's wedding this Saturday!

The blog has not been very busy, either, as there has not been much news to report, but expect that to change once chemo begins.

Allison is so appreciative of all the support she's received!

Update From Allison, July 9, 2009

This post is written by Allison.

Concerning the lymph nodes, the first node came back with a 0.4 reading with cancer and all the other 8 were clear. But the 0.4 is dangerous enough so I am scheduled for both chemo and radiation. Radiation will begin after the chemo treatments.

The results found the left breast had pre-cancer cells in the ducts. They only did a biopsy on the left breast in the tissue 2 weeks before surgery in a spot that the MRI caught. So now after the fact, it is a good thing to just have gone bilateral and taken both.

The 2nd mass behind the first aggressive cancer mass that was found on the right breast came back pre-cancer cells, but some of the areas were larger than they thought. Not too much larger but with the size difference and a lymph node with cancer I am now listed as a Stage 2. One of my doctors predicted that the aggressive mass would have been very large 6 months down the road. It was a 2X rapid aggressive growth cancer.

The treatments will be a marathon run and no wind sprint. I will go in and get a port placed in my chest on July 22nd, have a bone scan on July 24th, and start chemo on July 27th. I am glad they are letting me wait just a few more days to start chemo since my nephew is getting married on Saturday July 25th and this will give me the opportunity to be a part of it.

I will start chemotherapy on the 27th with two drugs, adriamycin and cytoxan, which will be very hard on me. I will have the recipe every 3 weeks, repeated 4 times for a total of 12 weeks. I will then switch to taxol and herceptin and have them weekly for 12 weeks. Then, I will be on herceptin 1 time every 3 weeks for one year. These will all be given through the port and at Evergreen Hospital. I will be bald before I receive the second injection. Bald and breastless. Is that part of the new “B's?” Let’s add beautiful to it just for fun. So if you have a 2-hour window at the beginning of the treatments, or a 3-hour window later on down the road, and would be willing to go with me, just let me know. Company is always welcome.

Yesterday was the hardest day since surgery. I may have caught a cold from Madison and then one of my JP drains became clogged. By yesterday morning I was really hurting. I went to the doctor and they were unsuccessful in getting the clog out so they just removed the drain. I understand it is supposed to hurt to have the drain removed, but releasing the pressure and getting it out felt so much better than the pain. I had no idea that the part that was in my body was about 12 inches long. It was very fascinating. A long flat tube about 1/4-3/8" wide with little holes to collect the fluid that would channel it down to the clear tube outside my body to a grenade-type suction bulb.

Wow, what amazing things medicine does. It just got clogged outside my body right at my skin and started to cause problems. They then took some syringes and drained 3 big tubes from by chest. Good thing I am still numb because I didn’t feel it.

So after being so up and cheery and with energy I took a deep slide. I am taking a precautionary antibiotic and dealing with the most pain so far. I could hardly lift my arms up well and really struggled to open the medicine bottle. Tonight I am feeling a little better.

Thank you so very much for the food, cards, visits, phone calls, and taking the kids. (always, always, welcome) We truly have felt the many prayers that have been offered up for us. The Lord has blessed us greatly to have such a wonderful group of friends through community, church, school, sports, relatives and all.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives, He comforts when in pain; He has been there for me to silence my fears; He lives my kind wise Heavenly friend. I KNOW THIS.

We love each and every one of you. It would be unbearable to go through this trial without you. Stay close and contact us OFTEN.

Love,
Allison and the Davis Family

Update, June 30

Allison had her bandages changed and will be bandaged for another week, as things continue to drain. She hopes to be drain-tube-free at her next doctor visit. She had her "On-Q" pack removed today--it was a very smart device that sensed her body's pain response, and delivered pain medication accordingly. Isn't 21st-century medicine something??

The pathology reports are slowly trickling in. They are being very meticulous about testing all the different tissues and lymph nodes. Once the full pathology report has been delivered, her doctors will decide on the course of treatment to be pursued, and we will send an update.

Email Should Be Working Now

Comcast determined the source of my troubles, and fixed it over the weekend. Look for emails from allisonupdate(at)comcast.net to return this week. If not, check your spam folder and be sure to mark the address as "not spam."

I spoke briefly with Allison on Friday and she sounded awesome. Really perky and upbeat, having to take it easy to be sure, but she reported very little pain. Pathology on the lymph nodes on her right side should be in early this week, at which point I will update the blog and send out the news.

Technical Difficulties with the Email Address

Hi folks,

Sorry to report that Comcast is having trouble with the allisonupdate@comcast.net address. I will post updates to the blog but it could be 72 hours before Comcast has it fixed. I was just on the phone with a very nice technician for about 30 minutes and he could not figure out why it was not sending messages out.

Please stand by. This is not a good time to be without email communications, and I apologize. Please spread the word to people you know who may be interested in finding out about Allison's condition to have them check this blog for the time being.

Or, email me at my personal email, marie (at) 4cummings.net.

Surgery Report

I talked with Kirk, Allison's husband this evening at about 6:30 p.m. and he reports that everything went well, Allison is alert and resting comfortably, and will be staying overnight in the hospital. If all goes well overnight, she will be discharged sometime tomorrow. Her mom and sister are going to be here to help the first few days.

Because of a number of risk factors, Allison opted to have a bilateral mastectomy, or a removal of both breasts, even though cancer was only in the right breast. They expect to have the biopsy results Monday of next week.

We are currently setting up meals for June 29-July 10 and still have openings on July 8, 9, and 10. If you are in the area and able to help with this, please let me know.

On behalf of the Davis family, thank you for your support and prayers.

Thank You!!

It's been wonderful to hear from so many of you as we are getting the lines of communication established for Allison. It's truly heartwarming to know how many devoted friends and family members are ready to come to the Davis family's aid.

Bless you all!

Change in Email Address!

I've had trouble setting up a Gmail account for Allison's updates, so we will now be using allisonupdates(at)comcast.net instead.

Background

In early June 2009, Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer in her right breast. After a battery of tests, she was told she has both kinds of breast cancer, ductal carcinoma and carcinoma in situ. Hers is considered multifocal because there are 4 focal points, or areas of cancer in the breast. It is less-common to have both kinds of breast cancer. Right now, the cancer is at Stage 1. Allison found one of the lumps herself. One of the many doctors that she has seen in this whole process actually called it "divine intervention" that she found the cancer herself.

Allison will be having surgery on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Evergreen Hospital. We are beginning to build a list of those who are interested in helping out with the many things she will need during her recovery and subsequent treatment. If you would like to help out with anything, leave a comment and if there are certain things you wish to do, please specify that as well (i.e., driving Allison to appointments, driving children to activities, laundry, bringing in meals, cleaning, etc.).

Updates will be sent out via email and also posted here on this blog. Please remember Allison and her family in your prayers. Thank you for your concern and your help.

The First Post

Just getting the blog set up! Check back later for more info.