Happy Holidays!

I hope you are all enjoying this holiday season...with lots of happiness, love, peace, calmness, and great health!

Quick update...my numbers were up for my last tx (12/10). I am due for my scans and am just waiting until Jan. (after the holidays).

We went to meet with a new oncologist at Dana Farber. Her name is Erica Mayer. We really liked her and will plan on continuing with her in Boston. Still keeping Dr. Shea in NH.

Bones and joints hurt sometimes but doing my best to remain positive, upbeat, and highly functional.

Still participating in reiki, acupuncture, massage, yoga, cancer well fit, regular exercise, and diet/suppliments.

Will keep you all posted. Next tx scheduled for 1/7/10. Will also have scans then.

Peace,

Lisa

Hello All,

I have great news from treatment yesterday. My CA 27-29 went back down and is now 42!!!! That means 4 more points and it will be in the "normal" range. I did a dance in the bathroom after hearing the news!

Now, we are trying to keep sickness and flu out of the house. Alayna is under the weather right now. She was sent home yesterday with a temp. She has not had one since being home but the doctor's office recommended she stay home today to rest so that is what we are doing.

We hope that all is well, happy, and healthy with all you readers.

Take care and until next time,

Lisa

Hello All,

I hope you are well, happy, healthy, and adjusting to the time change and the early dark evenings.

First order of business is to clear up a misunderstanding...While I am working really hard at becoming cancer free-I am not yet! My Breast MRI came back showing no cancer in my left breast but the PET Scan and Lumbar MRI still shows cancer. In fact, the cancer in the L4 continues to get bigger. We are hoping that the treatment will kick in and it will begin to shrink but as of my last scans-it grew.

Hopefully a fluke, but my tumor marker went up at my last tx. Not "scientifically significant" (47-51) but psychologically significant. I want the numbers to go down-not up. I am hoping that the numbers are back down for my next tx.

I will continue to have monthly tumor marker labs and will repeat the MRI and PET in January.

Alayna, Darrell, Khaya, Mor and myself walked in the Annual Making Strides walk. Was a rainy and cold day but we did it and had fun. Thank you to those of you who donated to the American Cancer Society and supported us.

I have also decided to try a new oncologist down at Dana Farber. The initial oncologist down there was not the "right" fit and will embark on finding one who is. My local oncologist is in full support.

I have also been blessed with meeting and making friends with 5 other young upbeat women who have been dx with breast cancer. While I wish none of us have to go through this, it has been great to meet others, share stories, ask advice, get feedback, and experience similar fears/concerns/joys/etc.

Well, this is all for today. I hope you all have a great, happy, healthy, and fun week.

Take Care,

Lisa

Hello All,

Not sure if friends/family are still keeping up with the post as there have been no comments on my last couple of posts but will continue to try to keep you all updated on the medical progress.

I received great news yesterday from my oncologist in regards to the breast MRI. It came back "clean" for both breasts. No cancer!!!!

Tomorrow, I have the PET Scan and next week the lumbar and pelvic MRI's. Will keep you all posted as I get these results...which I know will be great news...showing NO CANCER!!!!

Also, would like to take this opportunity to share with you all that we (Mor, Darrell, possibly the girls and my dad, and me) will be participating in our 3rd annual "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk on October 18th. I am looking and hoping for donations for this walk. Any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated and is all tax deductible. If willing or interested in donating, please make checks out to the American Cancer Society and mail to me. If you need my address, please e-mail me at my private e-mail address or post a comment and I will e-mail you my address. As you know, this support is extremely dear to my heart as I have hope that with the money raised, a cure will be found, and I will be blessed with the ability to live a long and happy life with my family and friends.

Thanks again for all your love, support, prayers, and postive thoughts. Please keep them coming.

Lisa

Hello All,

Great news! My CA 27-29 is down to 47!!!! Woo Hoo! 9 more points and clean scans and I am in REMISSION!

I have my Breast MRI in Boston on Thursday (9/3). I have my PET Scan on Thursday (9/10). I am in the process of scheduling my Lumbar and Pelvic MRI for next week also.

Will keep you all posted on the results!

Please continue to send the prayers, positive thoughts/energy, and e-mails my way. They are surely making a world of difference!

Take care,

Lisa

So, it's pretty bad when Darrell posts that I am a "slacker."

Some updates...

CA 27-29 was 55 for May and June's tx. CA 27-29 was 52 last week. Normal is less than 38. Great news is the trend. We want stability and for it to continue to drop.

MRI and PET were both the same in June. PET does not show any additional spots and much blessings that it has not spread to other places. MRI shows same spots but stability with them. They are not getting bigger after 3 months of MRI's. This means 1 of 2 things. Either the tx is keeping them at bay or they are dead tissues that just show an abnormality on the MRI.

I hope you are all well, happy, healthy, and enjoying life. We are trying to enjoy the very humid and rainy summer.

Lisa

Seems like I always say it's been awhile and yet I never seem to be any more consistent with updating this blog.

So, here's a brief update.

PET Scan came back the same as March 2009. Thankfully, no new growths seen on PET. MRI machine was broke x 2 so we have rescheduled it for this Sunday at 7 a.m. Once my doctors get the results from this MRI, my case will be presented at the Tumor rounds on Wed. and the powers that be will "pow-wow" about their recommendations.

I will have bld. work this week for my CA 27-29. I also have treatment on Friday.

Will keep you all posted and will blog once I get some great results this week.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there reading this blog.

xoxoxoxo

Lisa

Hi,

Hope everything is well with you all.

Great news! My CA 27-29 is down to 55 as of today.

Treatment went well today but I am pretty tired and have a headache tonight.

Plan is for PET Scan and MRI in 2nd or 3rd week of June. If spot in L4 is still present or bigger the plan is for Stereotactic Radio Surgery (radiation). If the other spots are still present but the same size-we will continue to hope the hormonal therapy is effective and continue to monitor the spots for changes.

This is all for tonight. I will try to update additional news over the w/e. Life has been busy with the adjustment in the new house.

Love, peace, happiness, and great health to you all.

oxoxoxo

Lisa

Hello All,

I know that it has been awhile since I last posted. Life has been extremely busy, hectic, crazy, exhausting, and packed.

First off, we are all well and happy (for the most part).

We bought a home and moved within this past month. We have a new address-more than willing to share but not via blog-will share via private e-mail. Our # is the same.

Update on me...

CA 27-29 was down to 65 as of last week.

MRI (5/1/09) showed that spot in L4 is bigger than last MRI done in March 09. MRI also showed 2 spots in S1, Lf. Femur, and Rt. Illiac. Case presented at tumor rounds this past Wednesday (5/6). Plan is to wait another 6 weeks to see if spots get bigger or stay the same. Doctors are still hoping the hormone treatment will take care of all spots and prevent additional spots from developing. We will repeat MRI in June in addition to a PET Scan. We will continue to test CA 27-29 on a monthly basis.

Appt. at Dana Farber went fine. Dr. Lin feels that we are on the "right" track for now in terms of treatment and assessment (labs/scans).

Will share more this w/e (in btw. unpacking and getting organized in the new house).

I hope you are all well, happy, and healthy.

Have a great day!

Lisa

Hi All,

Some great news! My mammogram (left side) came back completely fine last week and my CA 27-29 is down to 79 as of today.

Darrell and I are going down to Dana Farber tomorrow to meet with the Breast Oncology Specialist (Dr. Lin).

Friday I have tx.

Well, this is all for today. I hope that you are all well, happy, and healthy!

I welcome e-mails.

Lisa

Hi,

A quick update for you all.

My latest MRI results were presented at the Tumor Board (radiation oncologist/neurosurgeons) meeting last Wednesday. The outcome is that there is some uncertainty about the MRI results. It does not appear to be as "clear cut" as we had hoped. Bottom line....no consensus was found.

The plan...we will wait for 6 weeks and repeat the MRI. It is my hope and belief that there will be nothing there on this repeat MRI. I will keep you all posted.

I will be having my blood work done next week to see how my CA 27-29 is doing. We will also have a complete blood count done next week.

I also go down to Dana Farber on Thursday (4/2) to check in with the breast oncologist (Dr. Lin).

I also began massage and reiki this week. I will have appointments weekly initially and then transition to every other week.

My parents are leaving in less than a week. While I know they have to return to Michigan, I have mixed emotions about them leaving. They have been such a tremendous help and I have really enjoyed their company. It will be another adjustment. I think that we will all go through withdrawl (Khaya and me especially as we are used to spending the most time with them). Darrell's mom will continue to come over to help out on Fridays and once her schedule opens up some, she will add additional days. This will be a huge help for us and will hopefully ease the transition of Mor and Dad leaving.

Well, this is all for tonight. I hope all is well, happy, healthy, and peaceful for you all.

Until next time,

xoxoxxoxo

Lisa

Please send prayers and positive thoughts our way!

We received news on Thursday (3/12) that it appears that there might be a lesion in my L4 now. There has been some discussion btw. doctors and radiologists about the results. My radiation oncologist (Dr. Nixon) is presenting my case at the tumor boards on Wednesday (3/18) to see what other radiation oncologist and neurosurgeons think. We will go from there. If it appears by consensus that it is cancer-we will need to do the stereotactic radio surgery and a kyphoplasty to the L4. We would not change any other tx at this point (I would not need to begin chemo.-yeah!).

If the team decides that they are unsure, we will wait for 2 months and repeat the MRI. At this point, we will see if it is still there or if it has increased in size. If it is not there, it either means that it was nothing or the tx that I am on now is working to kill the cancer. If it is there or bigger, we will tx with radiation and kyphoplasty then.

You may be wondering how the PET Scan was "clean" but this showed up on the MRI. Well, it is so small that it was not big enough to show up on the PET.

I hope that you all have a wonderful, happy, and fun w/e. It looks like the weather is going to be nicer and mild (40-50's) this w/e so we will try to fit in a walk and bike ride for Alayna.

Take Care,

Lisa

A little bit more positive news....my CA 27-29 is down to 98 as of last Friday! We are aiming for 38 or less but the great news is it is down from a high of 208!

Hope you are all well, happy, and healthy.

Until the next post

xoxoxoxxooxo

Lisa

Hello All,

Been a little while since my last post so here is an update for you all.

First off, I have realized that I have not acknowledged what a loving, caring, supportive, and amazing husband I have. I am so lucky and blessed to have Darrell as my husband and best friend. He has been amazing through thick and thin and good and bad. I know that this has been as much of an emotional/mental roller coaster for Darrell as it has been for me. He has been an amazing pillar of strength for me individually as well as for us as a family. He works very hard at his "paying" job and then works very hard at being such an amazing husband and father. While I often feel and think this way, I have not expressed it enough to him or others how great he truly is (don't want it to go to his head). But in honesty, I don't think I could imagine a better partner to experience this with (but wish we did not need this challenge to acknowledge our love and commitment to one another). Darrell adjusts his work schedule as much as possible to attend important doctor appointments, specialized tests, surgeries, and taking care of us after surgeries. Not a lot of 30 (age at 1st dx) and 33-year-old (age at 2nd dx) men would embrace a challenge with such grace as he has. For this, I am truly grateful.

O.K. now about medical stuff....

I am healing well after my surgery and feeling really well with a little fatigue. I have my post-op doctor's appointment tomorrow. Will find out the pathology tomorrow but am thinking that no news is good news. The exploratory portion of the surgery went well and we were told that everything looked really good with the exception of endometriosis. I am experiencing frequent hot flashes and night sweats...they are miserable but tolerable. Hopefully they will someday go away (have been told it may take years or they may never go away...here's hoping they go away and sooner than later).

So, you guys are never going to believe this but we finally received the HERMARK results. Here's the BUT...the results unfortunately have not provided any more clarity for us. The results came back EQUIVOCAL. Yep, I am equally HER2 (+) and HER2 (-). This puts both us and my health care professionals in a uncertain position on how to appropriately treat me. We are connecting with Dana Farber and my original doctor in N. VA to see what their opinion is. This is not common unfortunately. I would have really appreciated the results to be more cut and dry.

Last Thursday, I had a PET Scan. We received the results during treatment last Friday. The PET Scan looked really good. My oncologist believes that the PET Scan no longer shows the 4 additional lesions and the uptake that shows up in the L5 could be dead tissue. This is really positive because it looks like a pretty "clean" PET Scan, which leaves us extremely hopeful and optimistic that we are on the "right" track for treatment and complete healing.

I also had an MRI (for the L5) on Friday before tx. Unfortunately, the MRI was done incorrectly and I have to have it re-done tomorrow. Will keep you all posted.

This past w/e was beautiful here. Weather was in 50-60's. Today was snowy and I realized how ready I really am for spring.

Well this is all for today. I will work on filling you all in on my new acupuncturist and Dr. Emonds (orthomolecular medicine) and anything else I remember to share.

Hope all is well, happy, and healthy with you all.

Take Care,

xoxoxoxo
Lisa

Happy Friday!

While I know this might sound unbelievable...it is completely true, frustrating and on-going. Still no HERMARK results and therefore still no accurate HER2 status and herceptin.

I received an e-mail from my oncologist over 2 weeks ago which informed me that the block specimen they sent to CA was not a big enough sample to obtain accurate pathology on. They (CA) requested a bigger sample. My oncologist informed me that she requested a bigger sample from VA. After waiting for it for over 2 weeks, they (my oncologist) called VA to check the status as they hadn't received the block. Apparently, VA sent the block to Dana Farber in Boston, where it has sat for the past couple of weeks. My oncologist requested that Dana Farber send it up to NH. NH received it on Tuesday. They have sent it out to CA for the HERMARK testing. I have been told that it takes between 7-10 days for processing. Hopefully, we will have an accurate evaluation of the block by my next treatment (3/6). Again, will keep you all posted.

I also have a PET Scan scheduled for next week 3/5. This scan will evaluate the 5 lesions that were indicated on the 12/3/08 PET Scan. It will show whether the treatment has been successful in killing the previous noted cancer cells as well as evaluate if there are additional ones. Will keep you posted on the results. I will also go down to Dana Farber to see Dr. Nancy Lin after this scan. The plan will be to see her after each PET.

The Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries) was successful yesterday. The surgery itself went well. I have 4 incisions about an inch long as a result (belly button, about 2-3 inches lower than belly button, and one on both the rt./lf. side of my abdomen). The doctor said it will take about 6-8 weeks for complete healing but I should feel better after about 2 weeks. The surgery was scheduled for 8 a.m. and it took about an hour. We did experience a scare after the surgery. I had rested and recovered for several hours after the surgery (I was pretty knocked out from the meds.). Prior to getting ready to leave, I requested to use the restroom. In the bathroom, I felt very dizzy and nauseated. Upon returning to my room, the nurse (Susan-great nurse), took my blood pressure. It unfortunately was extremely low (70/41). As a result, the room became packed with about 5 additional nurses, doctor, and assistants. They had to re-access my port and begin additional fluids. This was a little anxiety provoking for us but luckily it came up (90's/40's) and they finally let me leave the hospital. We got home around 7 p.m. I was extremely nauseated again after the car ride home and went right to bed. My throat also hurts some as a result of being intubated. I am trying to take it easy and rest, while also being attentive to Alayna and Khaya.

This is going to be all for tonight. I am tired and losing my steam for typing. I will work more on updating this weekend.

I hope that you are all well, healthy, happy, and looking forward to a great w/e.

Until the next posting...take care!

Lisa

Happy Valentine's Day!

No HERMARK results as of yesterday and therefore no herceptin. Good news on my CA 27-29 (breast cancer tumor marker). It is down to 146. Normal is between 1 and 38. It was 188 when we first tested it. It was 208 the second time we tested it. It appears that the cancer is responding to the tx as indicated by the lower number. We will continue to monitor it at least every other month if not monthly. The goal will be to get it within normal range. It will need to be within the normal range for several months along with a clean PET scan before I will be considered in remission.

Went for my physical therapy evaluation. Have some lymphedema and cording so will receive physical therapy 2 x week for a while.

Had my second acupuncture treatment yesterday. We worked on dairy. Nothing with dairy for 25 hours after tx.

I will work on sharing my experience with Dr. Emonds-the orthomolecular medicine doctor in my next post. After I share about this appointment, I will be caught up to date and will work really hard on keeping it caught up in a timely manner.

I know that many of you are wondering how I am able to go to all of my appointments, take care of the girls, and take care of myself. It is simple...I have an incredible family, a great bunch of friends, and an amazing group of neighbors. My parents (Mor and Dad) sacrificed their 4 month vacation in Florida to come to NH to take care of us. They rented a studio condo in Hampton Beach, NH to stay while here. They come over M-Th and often on Fridays to take care of us. They take care of both girls while I am at appointments. Mor does the laundry (we are wicked spoiled by this), puts away the dishes and loads the dishwasher, helps with meal preparations, and does pretty much anything I ask her to do. Dad fixes things that need to be fixed-this past week was our mailbox as the door fell off, fills the humidifier, fills the cat's water tank, and goes with me to medical appointments. He is quite the handyman and enjoys projects I think. My dad also goes to the gym with me. I enjoy the company and seeing him exercise. Darrell's mother is also helping out. She comes over to help on Fridays. She takes care of the girls when I am at appointments also. She also does pretty much what I ask her to do. Our neighbors have been a great help when we have been in a pinch. They have also offered an open invitation for providing help whenever we need it. With all this said, I don't know how we would be making it without the help. Darrell is busy with work and I am busy with medical treatments and appointments. Mor and Dad plan to stay until the end of March and will then return to MI. It will be quite the adjustment when they leave.

Well this is all for tonight. I hope that you are all happy, healthy, and having a great w/e.

xoxoxoxo

Lisa

Happy Wednesday!

Hope you all are having a great week so far. Today the sun was out and it was warm for winter weather. I think in the 50's. Beautiful.

My ob/gyn appt. went well yesterday. Lab work and ultrasound came out o.k. I won't need to have my cervix out. Just ovaries. Great news. For those of you who know me, I loved being pregnant with Alayna, loved the delivery process, and the newborn moments. Was a little sad leaving, knowing that I would never experience those feelings again...with that said...I want to live to watch Alayna and Khaya grow to be amazing women and hopefully mothers themselves...so I will deal with this aspect of the "big plan."

Picking up where I left off...still no HER2 news. Hopefully Friday.

Uncle Frank and Aunt Pat-Thank you for the book. I received it the other day and have already begun reading it. Looks good.

More about what life looks like to me. I am beginning physical therapy tomorrow for lymphedema. Lymphedema, also spelled lymphoedema, also known as lymphatic obstruction, is a condition of localized fluid retention caused by a compromised lymphatic system. The lymphatic system (often referred to as the body's "second" circulatory system) collects and filters the interstitial fluid of the body. Lymphedema has been barely recognized as being a serious health problem; however, this is slowly changing due to education and awareness. The danger with lymphedema comes from the constant risk of developing an uncontrolled infection in the affected limb-my right arm. This is due to the metastasis to the axilla on my right side. I had 9 lymph nodes removed during my mastectomy in 2006. I also have what is known as "cording." Trying to figure out how to explain "cording" but having a challenging time. I know what it is but having a hard time putting it into words. I will ask the physical therapist tomorrow and share after my appointment. Not sure how often I will need to go but hopefully it will help.

Today I began acupuncture as an alternative treatment. My practitioner's name is Fern. She has been practicing acupuncture since 1972. She is in her 70's. She is a native of Taipei, Taiwan but has lived in the US for many years. She was very sweet, calm, and gentle. General information about acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a technique for improving the function of various parts of the body and relieving pain by inserting thin needles at certain points discovered empirically by the ancient Chinese over 5000 years ago. Acupuncture works through the energy pathways, hormones, and enzymes of the body. Fine, sterilized, disposable stainless steel needles are inserted into the skin and muscle to various depths. It is usually not painful. The needles are left in place for 15-30 minutes. According to traditional Chinese medical theory, acupuncture points are situated on meridians along which qi, the vital energy, flows.

Initially during the appointment, Fern tested my body for an energy reaction to protein, dairy, sugars, and carbohydrates. It appears that my energy did not test well for any of these categories. The concept behind the acupuncture is to "reset" or "desensitize" my body/system of the allergens from the various foods I eat. Fern shared that we can also desensitize or rid my body of the cancer cells. After "resetting or desensitizing my body, these foods/food groups should not cause inflammatory/allergic responses-therefore, not compromising my immune system. In theory, this should allow my immune system to fight the cancer and not be inundated by allergens. Today we began to work on "resetting/desensitizing" protein as well as cancer cells. With this treatment, I am not able to eat or touch eggs, chicken, or feathers for at least the next 25 hours.

I will need to receive treatments 2 x week for at least the next 3 weeks. After we successfully "reset/desensitize" my entire system, I will need treatments weekly initially, then gradually taper down to every other week, and when I am cancer free-monthly.

My first treatment consisted of 8 needles. One in the back of my skull, neck, right upper and lower arm, rt./lf. lower leg and feet. I could feel them being inserted and taken out. The needle in the back of my head was uncomfortable but the rest seemed o.k. I felt very relaxed and practiced deep breathing during the 20 minute treatment.

An interesting fact, I was in pain prior to my appointment, however have not been in pain since my appointment. We will see if this is a coincidence. Will keep you posted on the treatments.

Another form of alternative medicine I am receiving is orthomolecular medicine. Last month (Jan. 6th) I also had my first appointment with Dr. Emonds. He is an orthomolecular medicine doctor who trained with Linus Pauling. I did not know who Linus Pauling was as many of you probably have never heard of him. I was informed of his reputation and have since read some about him. Very interesting and impressive so I am going to share my findings with you all. Dr. Emonds has 2 PH.D's. One from Yale and one from Stanford. While he appears brilliant, he also appears down to earth, friendly, informative and approachable. My first appointment was 4 hours long. I will share more about him, my first appointment, and the outcome of my first appointment tomorrow night. I am pretty tired after a busy day and am going to call it a night. Hopefully you are able to read about Linus Pauling as it is really interesting.

When Linus Pauling died on Aug. 19, 1994, the world lost one of its greatest scientists and humanitarians and a much respected and beloved defender of civil liberties and health issues.
Because of his dynamic personality and his many accomplishments in widely diverse fields, it is hard to define Linus Pauling adequately. A remarkable man who insistently addressed certain crucial human problems while pursuing an amazing array of scientific interests, Dr. Pauling was almost as well known to the American public as he was to the world's scientific community. He is the only person ever to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes — for Chemistry (1954) and for Peace (1962).

In addition to the general recognition as one of the two greatest scientists of the 20th century, he was usually acknowledged by his colleagues as the most influential chemist since Lavoisier, the 18th-century founder of the modern science of chemistry. His introductory textbook General Chemistry, revised three times since its first printing in 1947 and translated into 13 languages, has been used by generations of undergraduates. After Pauling entered the field of chemistry as a professional in the mid-1920s, his work, grounded in physics, has affected the work of every chemist. He is also often considered the founding father of molecular biology, which has transformed the biological sciences and medicine and provided the base for biotechnology.
A multifaceted genius with a zest for communication, Linus Pauling for years was probably the most visible, vocal, and accessible American scientist. A black beret worn over a shock of curly white hair became his trademark, along with a pair of lively blue eyes that conveyed his intense interest in challenging topics. He was a master at explaining difficult, even abstruse, medical and scientific information in terms understandable to intelligent lay persons. He wrote numerous articles and books for the general public — on science, peace, and health. Popular books in which Linus Pauling detailed his nutritional recommendations are Vitamin C and the Common Cold, Cancer and Vitamin C (with Ewan Cameron, M.D.), and How to Live Longer and Feel Better. He was perennially sought as a speaker for conferences, political rallies, commencements, and media programs.

At the same time, Linus Pauling produced a multitude of scholarly scientific papers on an astounding variety of subjects in numerous research fields. Of the over 1,000 articles and books he published as sole or joint author, about two-thirds are on scientific subjects. His landmark book The Nature of the Chemical Bond is frequently cited as the most influential scientific book of the 20th century.

Linus Pauling was never reluctant to inspire or enter into controversy by expressing unorthodox scientific ideas, taking a strong moral position, or rousing the public to some worthy cause. He often provoked the scientific, medical, and political communities with his imaginative scientific hypotheses and strong social activism. He took professional and personal risks that most of his colleagues avoided. Steadfast and stubborn, yet rarely losing his cheerful equilibrium, he continued on his chosen and sometimes solitary path as a visionary of science and a prophet of humanity.

To give one example of his committed yet free-spirited nature: In 1962, during the Kennedy administration, the Paulings were invited to a special party at the White House honoring Nobel laureates. Dr. Pauling spent the day outside the gates carrying a placard that protested atmospheric nuclear testing. Then that evening, he and his wife sat down to an elegant dinner with the Kennedys. And when some lively music was played, the couple felt inspired to get up and dance — to the delight of onlookers.

Important discoveries over the seven decades of his scientific career, Pauling's research interests were amazingly wide-ranging and eclectic. He made important discoveries in many different fields of chemistry — physical, structural, analytical, inorganic, and organic chemistry, as well as biochemistry. He used theoretical physics, notably quantum theory and quantum mechanics, in his investigations of atomic and molecular structure and chemical bonding. He ventured into metallurgy and mineralogy through the study of atomic structures and bonding of metals and minerals and, with his colleagues, published the structures of hundreds of inorganic substances, including topaz and mica. In both theoretical and applied medicine he made important discoveries in genetic diseases, hematology, immunology, brain function and psychiatry, molecular evolution, nutritional therapy, diagnostic technology, statistical epidemiology, and biomedicine.

Much of Pauling's lifework combined the dedication and knowledge of the scientist with a deep commitment to humanitarianism that espoused his own operating ethical principle of the "minimization of suffering."

The early years: Linus Carl Pauling was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 28, 1901. He received his early education in Oregon, finishing in 1922 with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Oregon Agricultural College in Corvallis — now Oregon State University. Already he was drawn to the challenge of how and why particular atoms form bonds with each other to create molecules with unique structures.

For postgraduate study Pauling went to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which provided a stipend for research and teaching. In 1925 he received a Ph.D. in chemistry and mathematical physics. Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, in 1926-27 he studied in Europe with physicists who were exploring the implications of quantum mechanics for atomic structure. In this revolutionary new field Pauling found a physical and mathematical framework for his own future theories regarding molecular structure and its correlation with chemical properties and function.

“Pauling's Rules”: After Linus Pauling joined the Caltech faculty in the autumn of 1927, he continued his intensive research on the formation of chemical bonds between atoms in molecules and crystals. To chart bond angles and distances characteristic of particular atoms in relation to other atoms, he used x-ray diffraction (learned earlier as a graduate student) — supplemented after 1930 by electron diffraction, an even newer technique that he brought to the U.S. from Europe. Quantum mechanics enabled Pauling to explain the bonding phenomenon theoretically in a far more satisfactory way than before. He began to formulate generalizations regarding the atomic arrangements in crystals with ionic bonding, in which negatively charged electrons, orbiting around the positively charged nucleus, are transferred from one atom to another. “Pauling's Rules” proved of great value in deciphering and interpreting ionic structures, particularly the complex ones of many silicate minerals.

Electronegativity, hybridization, and resonance: Pauling discovered that in many cases the type of bonding — whether ionic or covalent (formed by a sharing of electrons between bonded atoms) — could be determined from a substance's magnetic properties. He also established an electronegativity scale of the elements for use in bonds of an intermediate character (having both ionic and covalent bonding); the smaller the difference in electronegativity between two atoms, the more the bond between them approaches a purely covalent bond. To explain covalent bonding, Pauling introduced two major new concepts, based on quantum mechanics: bond-orbital hybridization and bond resonance.

Hybridization reorganizes an atom's electron cloud so that some electrons assume positions favorable for bonding. Since the carbon atom can form four bonds, tetrahedrally arranged — a central structural feature of organic chemistry — Pauling's explanation of it and of many related features of covalent bonding attracted attention from chemists around the world. Resonance is a rapid jumping of electrons back and forth between two or more possible positions in a bond network. Resonance makes a major contribution to the structural geometry and stability of many substances, such as benzene or graphite, for which a static, non-resonating bond system would be inadequate. Pauling later extended his bond resonance concept to a theory of bonding in metals and intermetalic compounds.

Pauling's innovative concepts, published beginning in the late 1920s, together with numerous examples of their application to particular chemical compounds or compound groups gave chemists fundamental principles to apply to the growing body of chemical knowledge. They could also accurately predict new compounds and chemical reactions on a theoretical basis that was far more satisfactory than the straight empiricism of pre-Pauling chemistry.

The definitive book: In 1939 Pauling brought together his work on these subjects in his definitive book The Nature of the Chemical Bond and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals, which became a classic and was translated into many languages. Its third edition appeared in 1960 and has remained in print to this day. The original handwritten manuscript was given by a former student of Pauling's to the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine and is now part of the Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers in the Valley Library at Oregon State University.

Pauling's interest in molecular structure continued throughout his long career, and the theoretical calculations involved meant utter happiness to him. He used what he called the "stochastic method," which drew upon his own encyclopedic knowledge and formidable memory and allowed him to postulate a likely molecular structure, based on reasoning and theoretical calculation. Detailed laboratory verifications would often be carried out by associates — as with most of his research projects. Many of his discoveries and inventions were then expanded upon and utilized profitably in industry by others. And though in later years he was primarily involved in biomedical research, his curiosity often impelled him to identify the intricate structures of many clay minerals, transition metals, intermetallic compounds, and other substances. In 1992 he was awarded one of his last patents for a novel technique of fabricating superconductive materials.

Teaching freshman chemistry: In the early 1930s Pauling took over the teaching of freshman chemistry at Caltech. His modern theoretical approach to chemistry, charismatic lecturing style, and energetic showmanship (the laboratory demonstrations occasionally become pyrotechnical displays) made him a very popular professor. He also told students about his current research, giving them insight into the professional chemist's work. In 1947 he put his new approach to chemical education into General Chemistry, a textbook that greatly influenced the teaching of chemistry worldwide by redirecting it from its traditional, purely empirical basis into the new "chemical bond approach."

Physiology and health: Pauling's involvement with human physiology and health, which dominated the last three decades of his research career, had long precedents. During the mid-1930s a significant part of his research, generously funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, moved into biochemistry — a field he had previously avoided — as he became increasingly interested in the highly complex molecules within living organisms. Applying techniques used in earlier diffraction studies to biological compounds, he now sought to understand the structure of proteins.

In 1934 he investigated the magnetic properties of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells. He then studied the roles of antigens and antibodies in the immune response, one aspect of the important phenomenon of specificity in biochemical interactions.
In 1940 he made the novel proposal that this specificity is achieved through molecular complementariness, which he regarded as the secret of life. The concept — involving a "hand-in-glove" fit of one molecule against or into another molecule that has a shape complementary to the first — was tested in his laboratory over the next 10 years by means of numerous serological experiments, yielding results published in no less than 34 scientific papers. In 1946 Pauling postulated that the gene might consist of two mutually complementary strands — a concept anticipating Watson and Crick's discovery of DNA structure seven years later.

Molecular disease: Pauling originated the concept of molecular disease. In 1945, while hearing a physician describe sickle cell anemia, he instantly surmised that it might be caused by a defect in the red blood cell's hemoglobin. After three years of painstaking research, he and his associate Dr. Harvey Itano identified this prevalent disease as molecular in origin — caused by a genetically transmitted abnormality in the hemoglobin molecule. In susceptible patients, hemoglobin molecules in venous blood, lacking oxygen, become self-complementary; distorted and sticking together, they form long rods that interfere with blood circulation.
Pauling's description of this first molecular disease (as he called it) initiated a search for many more such disorders. The new idea quickly became immensely important in medicine and is now the main focus of human genome research. Thus the medical specialties of hematology, serology, immunology, applied genetics, and pathology owe much to Pauling's contributions, which were made long before his intense interest in the promise of nutritional therapy became widely known.

World War II: When World War II began, Dr. Pauling offered the U.S. government the use of his laboratory and of his services as a research consultant. He devised some impressive explosives (one called "linusite"!) and missile propellants for the Navy. He invented a meter that monitored oxygen levels in submarines and airplanes; the device later provided invaluable in ensuring safe levels of that life-sustaining gas for premature infants in incubators and for surgery patients under anesthesia.

With an associate, Dr. Pauling originated a synthetic form of blood plasma for use in emergency transfusions in battlefield clinics. He also took part in a wartime presidential commission formed to recommend future directions of government-funded scientific and medical research programs. Two major outcomes were the postwar expansion of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), allowing for extramural research funding, and the creation of the National Science Foundation. Acknowledging Pauling's patriotic wartime activities, President Harry Truman in 1948 presented the Presidential Medal for Merit to him "for outstanding services to the United States from October 1940 to June 1946."

Speaking out: With the war ended, Pauling again focused on his protein-structure studies at Caltech. But he had new distractions, brought on by the dawning Atomic Age. Along with other eminent scientists (such as Einstein) who felt a moral imperative to voice concerns about where the post-Hiroshima human society was heading, he began to speak out against further development, testing, abuse of nuclear arms, as well as against new state-imposed "loyalty oaths."

During the infamous McCarthy era in the early 1950s, he was treated almost as a traitor. Despite his past patriotism, for several years he was denied a passport to travel abroad to scientific conferences. The State Department's reason: "Not in the best interests of the United States." Only in 1954, when Pauling received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was an unrestricted passport reinstated.

The alpha helix: While a visiting lecturer at Oxford University in 1948, Pauling had a sudden insight regarding the fundamental structure of proteins, an insight that had eluded him for more than a decade. Working with a sheet of paper that he folded over at sites where he knew from theoretical considerations that the chain could bend, he found that the polypeptide chain, formed from sequences of amino acids, would coil into a particular helical structure, which he named the alpha helix. He based this theoretical configuration on chemical-bonding considerations plus x-ray diffraction evidence from certain fibrous proteins. This proposal, as well as a companion concept of a related "pleated sheet" structure, proved correct. Subsequent x-ray diffraction studies have found that the alpha helix is a major component of both globular and fibrous proteins and extensively controls their structure and function.

A few years later, in 1953, Watson and Crick proposed that the structure for DNA, the genetic substance of living things, is a two-stranded double helix, with one strand of the helix complementary to the other. Pauling's proposals of helical structure and molecular complementariness underlay their theory. (Possibly Pauling, who also pursued DNA's structure, would have discovered the double helix himself had he attended a 1952 London conference and seen, as did Watson and Crick, crucial new DNA x-ray diffraction data, but this trip was prevented by the denial of a passport.) Confirmation and knowledge of the DNA structure immediately launched the new field of molecular genetics, which has revolutionized virtually all of biology.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry: In 1954 Linus Pauling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences cited his seminal work on the nature of the chemical bond and the structure of molecules and crystals and also acknowledged his application of the resulting concepts to the elucidation of the structure proteins, specifically the alpha helix.

Nobel Peace Prize: Pauling put his elevated new position as a Nobel laureate to good effect in his growing social activism. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he evolved into a fully heroic figure to hundreds of thousands of Americans who admired the chemist's courageous protest against atmospheric nuclear testing. He maintained, using scientific data and statistics to make his points, that radioactive fallout would increase the incidence of cancer and genetic disorders, including birth defects. As international tension and competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union accelerated, he also riveted public attention on the buildup and proliferation of nuclear weaponry — preparations for thermonuclear warfare that he believed would destroy most of the planet's living creatures. He addressed both issues in his popular book No More War! (1958). He maintained that patient, reasoned negotiation and diplomacy, using the objectivity and procedures of the scientific method, would settle disputes in a more lasting, rational, and far more humane way than war. He asked scientists to become peacemakers.

In this most intense phase of the Cold War, Linus Pauling's name was often in the news — as when he circulated a petition against atmospheric nuclear testing and the excessive buildup of nuclear arsenals. The petition was presented in early 1958 to the United Nations after being signed by some 9,000 — eventually more that 11,000-scientists worldwide. The U.S. government's opposing position was defended— sometimes vituperatively — by most of the press and by various scientists, such as physicist Edward Teller, many of whom were federal employees.

Pauling's six-year unrelenting antitesting campaign was finally vindicated when a treaty was signed by the then-three nuclear powers — the U.S., Great Britain, and the U.S.S.R.
On October 10, 1963, the day on which the limited test ban went into effect, it was announced that Linus Pauling would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1962. A key member of the selection committee in Norway commented later that the treaty would probably not have been effected without Dr. Pauling's galvanizing impetus. Its timely inception has spared innumerable people from suffering from cancer and genetic damage. Linus Pauling was greatly admired and is still much appreciated for his courageous public stand by many people who lived through those years. Today, of course, preventing nuclear warfare and fallout from above-ground weapons testing, as well as curbing the proliferation of nuclear arms, is the position accepted by most people worldwide.

Peace activist: Pauling believed that the creation of nuclear weapons meant that war must be abolished and the reign of world law instituted. Seeking the means to achieve durable, equitable peace in the nuclear age through rational dialogue, he originated and participated with other renowned scientists in a series of international Pugwash Conferences, which included Soviet representatives. For almost a decade, in the role of an elder statesman for peace, he protested adamantly against U.S. military action in Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. He also criticized the U.S. for interfering in Latin American nations, as in Cuba and Nicaragua, and or waging war with Iraq in the Persian Gulf instead of using economic sanctions and negotiation. Decrying the strife within the former Yugoslavia, in 1991 he wrote "An Appeal for Peace in Croatia" and signed other international petitions that cited gross human-rights violations.
Pauling often urged scientists to get involved in politics and society: "It is sometimes said that science has nothing to do with morality. This is wrong. Science is the search for truth, the effort to understand the world; it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation, but not the rejection of morality... One way in which scientists work is by observing the world, making note of phenomena, and analyzing them."

In 1964 Linus Pauling left his tenured professorship at Caltech because of pressure from administrators and conservative trustees who disapproved of his prominent, persistent antinuclear and international peace-promoting activities. Pauling had been at the Institute for 42 years — first as a graduate student, then as a faculty member. (In 1937 he was appointed Chairman of its Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Director of the Gates and Crellin Laboratories — positions that he had abdicated in 1958 under administrative pressure.)

Pursuing humanitarian issues: Leaving Pasadena for Santa Barbara, Pauling became a founding fellow of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, which enabled him to pursue humanitarian issues, particularly the use of scientific thinking in solving problems in modern society. Later he held professorships in chemistry at the University of California, San Diego (1967-69), and at Stanford University (1969-73).

In the mid-1950s Pauling extended his earlier interest in human physiology into studying the mental and somatic health of groups and individuals. Health statistics, which he had begun to use with his nuclear-hazard studies and antinuclear proselytizing, now became an epidemiological tool. For instance, he demonstrated statistically that smoking was a major threat to health, decreasing the average life span by eight years, well before the medical establishment began issuing strong warnings. He also studied other factors involved in longevity.

Orthomolecular medicine: Pauling had spoken about the importance of vitamins in the late 1930s. In the mid-1960s he became intrigued with the biochemistry of nutrition. Its roots were in the research he had done at Caltech on the mechanism of action of anesthetic agents in the brain and in exploring the possibility that mental retardation and mental illness (especially schizophrenia) were caused by various biochemical and genetic disorders. This work in brain-fluid chemistry — studying the molecular environment of the mind — later led to collaborative clinical research with Dr. Abram Hoffer on the therapeutic efficacy of vitamins in cancer. In founding the new field of orthomolecular psychiatry ("Orthomolecular Psychiatry" Science 160:265-271, 1968), Pauling proposed that mental abnormalities might be successfully treated by correcting imbalances or deficiencies among naturally occurring biochemical constituents of the brain, notably vitamins and other micronutrients, as an alternative to the administration of potent synthetic psychoactive drugs.

Pauling later broadened this concept into orthomolecular medicine. The concept and term (meaning "right molecules in the right concentration") characterized an approach to the prevention and treatment of disease and attainment of optimum health that was based on the physiological and enzymatic actions of specific nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids present in the body.

Vitamin C: Fascinated with the multifaceted role of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in maintaining health, he began combing the scientific and medical literature for experimental and clinical evidence as to its importance. From published studies, from physiological and evolutionary reasoning, and from his and his wife's own experiences, he became convinced of the value of vitamin C in large doses as a prophylactic or palliative for the common cold. In 1970 he wrote the book Vitamin C and the Common Cold, which became a bestseller and brought wide public attention while creating a huge and continuously increasing demand for this micronutrient.
Later he became convinced of ascorbate's value in combating the flu, cancer, cardiovascular disease, infections, and degenerative problems in the aging process. He added other micronutrients, such as vitamin E and the B vitamins, to his list of helpful supplements and published two other popular books and a number of papers, both scientific and popular, on nutritional therapy. As happened during his earlier efforts in awakening the public to the dangers of nuclear weapons, Pauling's pronouncements on the subject of nutritional medicine were often assailed by physicians and physicians' organizations that ignored his long and insightful involvement with the biochemistry of human health and much of the published studies. They often dismissed his ideas as quackery.

The LPI: After retiring to the status of Professor Emeritus at Stanford in 1973, Pauling co-founded the nonprofit biomedical research organization that now bears his name. The Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine was established primarily to conduct research and education in orthomolecular medicine, following his belief that nutrition could prevent, ameliorate or cure many diseases, slow the aging process, and alleviate suffering.
At LPI Pauling and his staff worked on developing diagnostic tests and tools for analyzing a multitude of compounds found in bodily fluids. In his view, biochemical individuality — involving unique dietary needs specific to individuals — determines how optimum health can be achieved through the judicious use of natural substances. He maintained that biochemical individuality, molecular disease, or environmental stress may increase the need for certain micronutrients, such as vitamin C, considerably above the RDA. He also warned against overuse of such substances as sugar and chemical sweeteners. Unlike many advocates in the field of nutritional medicine, he considered orthomolecular medicine a crucial adjunct to standard medical practice and therefore did not rule out conventional treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, when considered appropriate.

As a prominent, knowledgeable, and articulate spokesman for the use of nutrients as means to achieve health, prolong life, and provide inexpensive, readily available, and nontoxic alternatives to drugs, Pauling gained a large number of ardent admirers among the public. There were also doubters and detractors. To the attacks from physicians and other authorities in medicine who through the years dismissed or ridiculed his assertions, Pauling responded with cogent research data and logical reasoning. As happened earlier with his outspoken antinuclear and peace activism, and even to some extent with his original work on the nature of the chemical bond, assaults from critics did not stop Pauling from maintaining his position, and he was often regarded as a besieged hero. He utilized the media's ongoing interest in him to good effect in promoting his "regimen for better health," with vitamin C as its keystone. Doubtless the public today knows Dr. Linus Pauling more for his advocacy of vitamin C and orthomolecular medicine than for his work on the chemical bond or for world peace.

The final years: In the last few years of his life, Pauling cut down on his previously frequent worldwide lecturing and associated travel. He largely divided his time between his coastal ranch, where he did theoretical work and wrote for publication, and his apartment at Stanford close to the Linus Pauling Institute, where he served as Director of Research after resigning from the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees in 1992.

Pauling continued to publish articles about health as well as reminiscences of his career in science and his peace work. He wrote many scientific papers on orthomolecular medicine and on structural chemistry. The latter included detailing his unorthodox close-packed polysheron theory of the structure of atomic nuclei and nuclear fission from a structural chemist's point of view, and an explanation (based on the twinning phenomenon in crystals) of the baffling "quasicrystal" diffraction patterns from certain alloys, which seem to show a five-fold symmetry contrary to the laws of classical crystallography. He pursued these subjects nearly to the time of this death.

In retrospect, the breadth of Pauling's interests and research was enormous and his published work prodigious — more than 1,065 publications, from scientific and popular books and articles to book forewords and reviews to letters to editors and printed speeches.

Numerous honors: To Linus Pauling came many honors. In 1933, at the remarkably young age of 32, he was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, and in 1936 to the equally prestigious American Philosophical Society. In 1948 he became a foreign member of The Royal Society of London, the premier honorary scientific society of Great Britain. Many other scientific societies and associations throughout the world made him a member or honorary member. In chemistry, in addition to the Nobel Prize (1954), Pauling was given numerous awards, including the Davy, Pasteur, Willard Gibbs, T.W. Richards, G.N. Lewis, Priestley, Avogadro, and Lomonosov medals. He was the first recipient of the National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemical Sciences, in 1979. The National Library of Medicine gave him its Sesquicentennial Commemorative Award in 1986; he was given other notable medical awards, such as the Addis, Phillips, Virchow, Lattimer, and the French Academy of Medicine medals. He received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medical Achievement Award for his pioneering work in determining the cause of sickle cell anemia — the molecular disease prevalent among African-Americans.
President Ford awarded him the National Medal of Science in 1975, and in 1989 the National Science Board presented him with the Vannevar Bush Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science, technology, and society. He also received prominent medals and awards in mineralogy, international law, philosophy, and the social sciences. Among the humanitarian awards Pauling won, the most notable, of course, was the Nobel Peace Prize for 1962; he was also given the Gandhi and Lenin peace prizes and the Albert Schweitzer Peace medal. Pauling was named Humanist of the Year in 1961. Pauling also received the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Social Sciences. In addition, Pauling was awarded honorary degrees by some 50 universities and colleges throughout the world. Several universities have created their own Linus Pauling Lectureship or Medal, to honor other scientists or humanitarians in his name.
Nine biographies and three anthologies of his writings and speeches have been published thus far, and a two-volume collection of many of his most important scientific publications was published in 2002.

Personal life: Linus Pauling always emphasized the importance of having a full and happy personal life. In 1923 he married Ava Helen Miller, who had been a student in a chemistry course he taught while still an undergraduate at Oregon Agricultural College. Dr. Pauling frequently credited his wife with influencing the development of his social consciousness. She was greatly involved in peace activities, both with her husband and on her own. Pauling said that his Nobel Peace Prize should really have gone to her, or at least been shared between them. In his talks and informal writings he often spoke both tenderly and humorously of their complementary partnership. She died in 1981. In tribute to her dedication to world peace, the Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Lectureship in World Peace has been established by the Paulings' alma mater, Oregon State University in Corvallis, where the Paulings' papers, medals, and other memorabilia are housed in Special Collections at the Valley Library. Additionally, the Linus Pauling Institute established the endowed Ava Helen Pauling Chair in 2001 to honor Ava Helen Pauling's memory.

The Paulings had four children. Linus Pauling, Jr., M.D., a psychiatrist, lives in Honolulu. Peter Pauling, Ph.D., a crystallographer and retired lecturer in chemistry, resided in Wales until his death in 2003. Linda Pauling Kamb lives with her husband, a Caltech professor of geology, in the home originally built by her parents in the foothills above Pasadena. Crellin Pauling, Ph.D., was a professor of biology at San Francisco State University until his death in 1997. There are 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Following Pauling's death at the age of 93 at his ranch near Big Sur on the California coast, a memorial service was held at Stanford Memorial Church in Palo Alto on Aug. 29

LPI moves to OSU: The assets of the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine were used to establish the Linus Pauling Institute as a research institute at OSU in 1996 to investigate the function and role of micronutrients, phytochemicals and microconstituents of food in maintaining human health and preventing and treating disease; and to advance the knowledge in areas which were of interest to Linus Pauling through research and education. LPI continues to function as a working tribute to a great scientist, Linus Pauling.

I hope you all have a great day tomorrow.

Take Care and I look forward to hearing from you all!

More tomorrow.

Lisa

Well, I had hoped to provide an update by last night so am a little late but am ready to share a little more tonight. Won't get it all done but will work a little more on catching you all up to date.

Tomorrow I have an appt. with the OB/GYN to discuss the oopherectomy operation and possible removal of my cervix-depending on lab results-risk for cervical cancer. The operation is scheduled for 2/26.

So, you may be wondering what I do with my time these days...

First, I work really hard on being a good mother. Usually my first priority. I spend a lot of time taking care of Alayna and Khaya. I volunteer at least 1 time and often 2 times a week in Alayna's classroom. I practice "Math Facts" with her and her classmates. It is a lot of fun. The children are so funny and I find myself really enjoying my time working with them. I also offer my energy for any assistance the teacher needs.

I also take Alayna to gymnastics and Irish step dance class (although Alayna wants to take a "break" from Irish Step right now to play in the snow). Swimming lessons begin next week.

I spend a lot of time interacting with Khaya. She is at such a fun age. I enjoy making her laugh and smile. She's a sweet baby. Very calm and laid back. I welcome this after 4 months of colic.

I try to go to the gym M-F and need to work on getting there over the w/e. On Mondays and Wednesdays I attend a cancer yoga class. I also do 1/2 hour of cardio. On Tuesday and Thursdays I do 1/2 hour of cardio and then weights/strength training. On Friday I do 45-60 minutes of cardio. I enjoy exercising and know that it can only help me. My dad goes with me to the gym and I will miss him when he goes home.

I am also seeing a counselor on an on-going basis. Darrell and I saw her together when I was first re-diagnosed. This was back in December. We waited until after the holidays to re-connect with her. I went to see her individually last week and Darrell will see her individually this week. We will then see her again together some time this month. We saw her initially when we were in crisis and spiraling with all of the information and decisions we needed to process. Life has settled down significantly and I think we will take advantage of her services as we feel the need.

Darrell needs the computer to do some work (yep..at 10:17 p.m.). So, I will say good night for today.

I hope you all have a great day today!

I will share some more tomorrow.

Peace, joy, happiness, love, laughter, and great health to you all!

Lisa

Hello All,

A quick update. Tx went well yesterday. I only received Zometa. My original "block" was just returned to NH yesterday. It has to be sent back out to CA to the HERMARK lab to be tested using their technologies. Dr. Shea (oncologist) is hopeful that this testing will shed some light on my true HER2 status. She has held the Herceptin until we determine and decide upon my status. Therefore, instead of presuming I am HER2(+) she is treating me as if I were HER2(-) and holding off on the Herceptin and Tykerb until we definitively know the pathology. Dr. Shea is also going to the annual National Oncology Conference (May) and is going to see if any top name pathologists are interested in taking a look at my "blocks" for research purposes as well as for further information gathering about my "complex" status. Again, will continue to keep you all updated as I receive information.

PET Scan scheduled for 3/5.

CA 27-29 testing will be done this week.

I guess this is all for this post. More to come by tomorrow night.

Hope you all are well, healthy, happy and having a good w/e.

Take Care,

Lisa

O.K. already....so I have gotten the hint...I am not doing a very good job at keeping this blog up to date...for those of you who know me...if something seems daunting...I tend to put things off until I really need to tackle it...Mor and Dad remind me often-pretty much daily that I should update it...friends have mentioned that maybe I should update it...Darrell jokes that maybe he should send me a comment requesting an update...and Alayna's teacher jokingly mentioned to me today that it has not been updated in quite a while so....for all of you supporters, well wishers, family and friends, I suppose I will attempt an update. I will begin part of it tonight and finish the rest by the end of the w/e.

So, here goes. I am alive, living well, and happy. Have been busy lately it seems.

Alayna is doing great! She is now 7 years old. I can't believe that she is 7 already. Time sure zooms by when you have children. She is having a blast in 1st grade. She has an amazing teacher-not just saying this b/c her teacher reads the blog. Alayna is truly blessed with Mrs. York as her teacher. Alayna also has a great class of classmates. She loves library time, gym class and her gym teacher, art class, recess, and lunch in the cafeteria. Alayna also enjoys riding the bus. Alayna is quite the singer and performer these days. She got a karaoke machine with a microphone from Santa and often belts out songs from High School Musical-which she loves the soundtrack. She also enjoys playing Wii as we bought one for Christmas.

Khaya is also doing great! She is now 7-months-old. She weighed 18.5 pounds at her 6-month check-up. She has 2 teeth. Smiles a lot. Giggles and laughs adorably. She is now eating cereal, fruits, and veggies. She pretty much sleeps through the night with an occasional hiccup. She is almost sitting up. The adoption was final on January 12th, 2009. An interesting fact...Alayna's b-day is January 12th. Therefore, we became official parents on the same day-7 years apart. Pretty cool we think.

Darrell is also doing well. He is working hard on losing weight and getting in shape. He has been going to the gym in the morning (around 6 a.m.) before work. I think he is enjoying it and feels good. He is also getting lots of exercise with his Wii playing. Darrell is also enjoying and busy at work these days. He is working with a mentor (partner) that he really enjoys working with and is learning a lot.

Now about ME! I am so ready for winter and cold weather to be over and for sunny and warmer days to be here. Don't get me wrong...I am not looking for hot, hot, hot but for warmer weather. I do feel blessed that at least the sun has been out and shining despite the cold.

Still very frustrated about the uncertainty of my biomarkers (HER2) status. We still do not have any definitive answers (about 3 months later). My local oncologist/cancer center found my original block and sent it out to CA for FISH testing-only 1 lab in the country conducts this test. The conclusion from this testing is: the DCIS-Ductual Carcinoma In Situ (original dx prior to mastectomy) was HER2(+) (have been informed that about 75% of all DCIS is HER2+) and the invasiveness outside the DCIS was HER2(-). Statistically, only about 25% of all breast cancers are HER2(+). My original block was returned to NH and sent back out to CA-to another lab-for HERMARK testing-again-only one lab conducts this test. We are hoping that this test sheds some light as to my true HER2 status. The HERMARK test is suppose to be more reliable than the FISH. We are hoping to have some answers tomorrow as I have tx. My oncologist shared that my case is "complex" and I might be on an individual medical journey. If pathology and testing is unable to definitively conclude my HER2 status, we will error on the side of caution and treat as if I were HER2(+). This treatment will not harm me if I am truly HER2(-) and will only help me if I am truly HER2(+). I have been and still remain concerned about the validity of the pathology testing and results. I do not want to be ruled out HER2(+) and not receive additional tx if there is a possibility that I might be, despite the pathology testing being inconclusive. If this is not clear, what I am trying to say is, I don't want to be considered
HER2(-) when I might truly be HER2(+) but not receive the tx for HER2 (+). Little anxious about all of this. Will keep you all posted on this status as I receive additional information.

My oncologist waffles about whether she favors my status as HER2(+) vs. HER2(-). Herceptin has leveled the playing field for HER2(+) vs. HER2(-). HER2(+) tends to be more aggressive and tends to spread to other major organs (brain, lungs, and liver). HER2(-) tends to be less aggressive and tends to have a "homing" signal to spread to the bones and stays in the bone (research is not able to identify why this is yet). It appears that HER2(-) might overall be a better prognosis-with a longer life expectancy-statistically that is-I am going to beat all of the statistics (HER2 +/-) though so am not paying attention to them.

Treatment update...

I am still receiving monthly Lupron shots to maintain the chemical menopause.

I am still receiving monthly Zometa infusions.

I am still receiving monthly Herceptin infusions until we determine my HER2 status.

I am still taking daily Arimidex pills.

I am scheduled for an oopherectomy (ovary removal surgery) on 2/26/09. There is also a possibility that I will have to have my cervix taken out as well. We will know the answer to this next week.

I will have my next PET Scan the 1st week of March. This will measure the status of my bone lesions.

I will have my CA 27-29 done in the beginning of March. This will measure my tumor markers to see if the current treatment is working and killing the active cancer/cancer cells.

I will have my 6 month mammogram in March.

I will have CT SCANS of my organs and an MRI of my brain in March.

March will be busy I guess.

This is all for tonight....in my next blog (which will be posted by Sunday night when I go to bed), I will share about: my exercise program (cancer well fit program including yoga), my alternative treatments (acupuncture/orthomolecular medicine/integrative medicine-very interesting), what I have been doing with my time. I know that I have a lot to share as I have not been updating on a weekly basis. Hopefully I will do a better job and not have to share so much in a single entry.

I hope that you are all well, healthy, and happy. I look forward to hearing from you all and welcome comments.

Abby, of course I remember you. You were one of my favorite nurses. How are you? How is your husband and step-children? I hope you are well. My e-mail is dlchichester@yahoo.com if you want to send me a private e-mail.

Please continue to send positive thoughts/energy and prayers. We need all the support we can get!

Take Care,

Lisa

I understand that some people have had problems posting messages unless they have a Google account. The posting settings have now been revised so that anyone can post. This my test for the settings. The easiest way to do this is to use the Name/URL (you only need to type in your name, leave URL blank) or anonymous profile.

Darrell

Hello All,

Hope this new blog finds you all well, happy, healthy, and enjoying each and every moment of life.

Again, thank you all for taking the time to read the blog and respond.

So, the next chapter to this saga. Today's blog will share a challenge we have been experiencing.
For those of you who already know this type of information, I am sorry to repeat it. For those who do not...you might find this interesting and learn a little more about the process.

When someone is dx with cancer and all or part of a tumor is removed, it is biopsied. This is done to evaluate the cells involved. It is much more detailed but for the purposes of my entry, this is the most you need to know. When pathologists look at Breast Cancer Cells, they are primarily looking at 3 types of receptors-biomarkers.
1. Her2-An oncogene that, when overexpressed, leads to more cell growth.
2. ER (estrogen)-female sex hormone produced by ovaries, adrenal glands, placenta, and fat.
3. PR (progesterone)-hormone produced by the ovary involved in the normal menstrual
cycle.

When I was initially dx, the pathology on my cancer came back as HER2+ (sort of), ER+, and PR+. Prior to 1995, it was extremely detrimental to be HER2+. In 1995, a breakthrough drug called Herceptin was approved by the FDA and found to be highly effective in treating Her2+ patients. It pretty much leveled if not improved the playing field for those with HER2+ vs. HER2- breast cancer.

When the initial breast cancer was biopsied in 2006 (ICH-stands for Immunohistochemistry), the first initial test came back HER2-, ER/PR+. My oncologist at the time (Dr. Robert) who was originally a pathologist questioned this and sent my specimen for additional evaluations. This was called a FISH. The standard for determining Her2 status based on the fish is, anything less than 1.8 is considered Her2-. Anything over 2.2 is considered Her2+. Anything in between is a "gray/complex" area. Mine came back as 2.0. To be on the safe side (getting Herceptin doesn't hurt me if I am truly HER2- but could drastically help me if Her2+) Dr. Robert considered this Her2+ and treated me as such. ER/PR was not in question.

So, when the cancer came back in the bone, they again performed a biopsy and evaluated the cells/abnormal growth. Apparently biopsy of bone is extremely challenging as the chemicals they use to stain also destroys the bone, making it hard to accurately biopsy. Again, they performed the biopsy using the ICH method. Findings-HER2-, ER-, and PR+. Dr. Shea (local oncologist) questioned the validity of these results and requested a second opinion at Dana Farber. So, we had to request the original "block" of cancer from Virginia as well as send the new bone "block." Unfortunately, Dana Farber was not clear as to what they were being asked to assess. They simply repeated the ICH that was done in both VA & NH. Their findings were Her2-, ER/PR+ (this was consistent with the initial cancer markers). The hope and request was to redo the FISH on the VA-original specimen to check the validity of the Her2 status. Apparently the FISH is a highly specialized test and in most cases is sent to a special lab. I spoke with Dr. Nancy Lin of Dana Farber yesterday to discuss this pathology. She now understands that we were wanting the original specimen to be FISH assessed. She informed me that she would attempt to make arrangements to either send the initial "block" from VA to the special lab or if the "block" has been returned to VA ("tumor" blocks are kept where removed and originally biopsied) request that it be sent out for special FISH testing. Dr. Lin informed me that this process would take about 2 weeks. We were hoping for these results prior to this Thursday (1/8) as I am scheduled for tx. No such luck. They will give me Herceptin but really want to make sure that it is indicated for the next tx. Dr. Lin assured me that this does not change my current course of treatment with the exception that if I am truly Her2-, I would no longer be a candidate for Herceptin or Tykerb (new HER2 drug that passes bld. brain barrier-just approved by FDA in March 2007). Apparently these medications would not contribute to my cancer positively or negatively. I will keep you all posted on what we find out.

The second marker we are assessing, is what as known as CA 27-29. We never evaluated this marker the first time around, and from what I have learned from other individuals in my position, theirs were not tested either. So, CA 27-29 is a specific breast cancer marker. We will be evaluating this marker monthly to evaluate whether the current course of treatment is working. We will evaluate this marker on a monthly basis for the next 3 months. Normal is 38. My initial reading was 188. When I had lab work on 12/26, it rose a little to 208. I discussed this with Dr. Lin. Dr. Lin informed me that it was normal for these numbers to rise before they fall. She also informed me that it usually takes hormonal therapy 2-3 months to begin working. So we will just need to give it some time.

Well, I guess this is all for today. Believe it or not, I still have a little more to share with you all to "catch" you up to date. My hope is by this w/e we will be caught up and able to share during the current time frame.

Take care and I look forward to your responses.

Lisa

Happy Sunday!

First of all...thank you all for taking the time to read my blogs and to respond. I check the blog daily and enjoy reading your comments and getting your questions. My goal is to catch you all up to date and then update the blog 2 x week if I have news to share and 1 x a week if it is a slow week.

Have a favor to ask one of you who have posted a comment. Could someone please provide instructions on how to post a comment for other readers. We have received feedback that people are able to read it but unable or are unsure as to how to post a comment. Instructions would be appreciated for those who would like to post but need directions. Thank you in advance.

Yesterday was a nice dose of normalacy for us. Alayna had a playdate with her two good twin friends (Lily and Abby). Fun day/evening of playing in the snow, eating, watching a movie, and singing and dancing around. Lily and Abby's parents (Patty and Marty) are our friends and offered for this playdate. Was great for Alayna and for us as well. Darrell and I went out to dinner with our neighbor friends (Rebecca and Dan) and had a really nice time. We ate at a local restaurant-11 Water Street. Rebecca's mother-Lois (our friend too) watched their child (Benjamin) and Khaya. Felt really nice to do normal everyday things.

To answer your questions Uncle Frank and Aunt Pat...

1. I do have the Bernie Seigel book-have not read it yet. I do not have the China Study Book.

2. I am participating in the Cancer Well Fit program here at the local hospital which has a really nice gym connected to it. I am able to participate in this program free of charge as long as I am in active tx. I will participate in yoga (2 times a week). I will swim at least 1 x week. I will do strength training 3 x week. I will also do cardiovascular exercises at least 3-4 times a week. Research shows that exercise helps with fatigue and overall well being while in tx so I will begin this exercising this week. I will take Dad with me so that he can exercise also.

3. There is a metastatic breast cancer support group in Manchester, NH. About 45 min.-1 hour away. There are also support groups down in Boston. I think they meet about 1 x a month. Attending one is on my list. Darrell and I are going to a therapist together. We began prior to the holiday season and will resume once life settles back down. I think we will probably go every 2-3 weeks.

4. Hysterectomy. I am hoping to have it done vaginally also. The recovery period is said to be less intense. I am calling my OB/GYN this week to discuss the procedure with her as well as to schedule it. Will keep you posted on what she shares.

5. Meditating. I am awful at visualizations. Terrible. I try hard but am so a Type A personality that I find it challenging. I am working really hard at it with Mor. I try not to fall asleep while she is talking. I need to find something tangible to imagine and maybe it will work better for me. It is a "work in progress." We were doing it everyday. Holidays challenged our schedule but we will get back to it this week.

6. I am also going to begin taking piano lessons this week from Mor. Have wanted to take lessons for several years and now going to. We were given a free piano but need to get it tuned. Will also work on that this week.

Well, I think that I have answered your questions for this post.

I will work on continuing my update of the treatment and issues going on right now. I will update some more either tonight or tomorrow.

I hope you all have a great day!

Lisa

Happy New Year!

Hope this blog finds you all well, happy, rested, and looking forward to a great year-full of possibilities!

Darrell, Alayna, Khaya, Alayna's friend-Ann, and myself all celebrated together. We had a nice evening at home. We played games, ate fun foods, and watched the ball drop. Finally got the girls to sleep around 1 a.m. Made for a long evening...but fun!

Picking up where I left off. Darrell and I went to see the orthopedic surgeon-Dr. Peter Dirksmeier on Friday, October 31st. We reviewed the Lumbar MRI with Dr. Dirksmeier, who informed us that he was pretty convinced that the abnormality he saw was cancer. During our appt., we discussed the biopsy procedure and a Kyphoplasty.

Kyphoplasty is a procedure where the original height and angle of a fractured vertebra are restored, followed by its stabilization using injected bone filler material-cement for me.
Kyphoplasty is designed to stop the pain caused by the bone fracture, to stabilize the bone, and to restore some or all of the lost vertebral body height due to the compression fracture.
Balloon kyphoplasty has been shown to benefit patients with osteoporotic or cancer-induced VCF.

On November 12th I underwent the biopsy and Kyphoplasty. Both were a success and after one night in the hospital, I was able to return home. I can't really say that the Kyphoplasty has improved the pain and discomfort I have felt as I still experience both. As predicted, the biopsy came back as breast cancer metastases.

When tumor cells metastasize, the new tumor is called a secondary or metastatic tumor, and its cells are like those in the original tumor. This means, for example, that, if breast cancer metastasizes to the bone, the secondary tumor is made up of abnormal breast cells, not of abnormal bone cells. The tumor in the bone is then called metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.

Once the biopsy was completed and confirmed, we met with Dr. Shea (oncologist) and Dr. Nixon (radiation oncologist). We also decided to seek additional opinions/recommendations from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC)-Norris Cotton Cancer Center-Dr. Kaufman (11/22), and Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston-Dr. Nancy Lin (12/1-would NEVER, NEVER recommend going to a national cancer institute on your birthday by the way-appt. was scheduled for me-I would not have done this to myself). Both of course offered differing treatment recommendations. DHMC offered a blind/random trial and Dana Farber offered a standard treatment that has shown to be primarily successful in the past. At this time, we don't feel comfortable with a blind/random trial as we are not guaranteed that I would receive the drug being trialed. I also contacted Dr. Robert (amazing oncolgist and person) who was my first oncologist down in Virginia when I was originally diagnosed. He is a leading breast cancer oncologist nationally. He agreed with Dana Farber's course of tx.

Unknown to us as well as all of the medical providers included at this point, the metastases were also found in four additional locations. The locations are: left femur, right scapula, right pelvis, and right first rib. These additional metastases were found via a PET scan, which was done on 12/3.

So, are you wondering what the course of initial treatment is? I won't leave you wondering. Several steps in this first initial round of tx.

In case you are wondering...I picked up several shortcuts for charting when working in the hospital system and tend to use them out of habit. Here they are for those of you who are wondering what I am trying to say:

TX=treatment
DX=diagnosis
W/E= weekend
Appt.= appointment

If I post others and you don't know what they mean, feel free to ask.

So, treatment:

1. Chemical menopause to see if my body can handle it. This is done with a shot once a month called Lupron. If this is successful, I will have a complete hysterectomy in Feb. or March of 2009. Lab tests on 12/26 indicate that I am not in menopause yet but I have been experiencing hot flashes. Pretty similar to the hot flashes I experienced with the first round of chemo and tamoxifen.

2. Once in menopause, I will transition from Tamoxifen-drug I have been taking since March 2007 to a new drug for post menopausal women called ARIMIDEX. Daily pill. ARIMIDEX works by lowering the amount of the hormone estrogen in the body. Estrogen is a very very bad hormone in my body! Hence...cancer.

3. Zometa. Monthly infusion. ZOMETA works by: Slowing the bone–destroying activity that occurs with bone metastases. Fighting the abnormal cells that cause bone to wear away (osteolytic lesion). Bone metastases wear away portions of bone‚ leaving small holes called osteolytic bone lesions. This wearing away process causes eroded bone to appear as circular‚ punched out areas. It leaves bones weak and fragile. Slowing the abnormal buildup of unstable bone (osteoblastic lesion) Bone metastases can also cause abnormal bone formation. Areas of new bone form‚ but they are weak and unstable and can break easily or collapse. These areas are called osteoblastic bone lesions ZOMETA helps protect your bones ZOMETA reduces the risk of bone complications such as bone fracture‚ hypercalcemia of malignancy‚ and spinal cord compression. ZOMETA helps restore the normal process of bone remodeling‚ thus reducing the chance of bone complications. Even patients who have already had complications‚ such as bone fracture‚ radiation‚ or bone surgery‚ can be helped by treatment with ZOMETA. In these cases‚ ZOMETA may reduce the risk of additional complications.

4. Herceptin. Infusion every 3 weeks. Also known as Trastuzumab is a cancer medication. It interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in your body.
Trastuzumab is used to treat breast cancer that has progressed after treatment with other chemotherapy.

5. Tykerb. Oral. Take a number of pills per day. TYKERB is indicated in combination with Xeloda® (capecitabine) for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpress HER2 and who have received prior therapy including an anthracycline, a taxane, and Herceptin® (trastuzumab). TYKERB is an advance in one of the most exciting areas of breast cancer treatment research—targeted therapies. TYKERB targets breast cancer cells that have too many HER2 receptors. HER2 receptors are one of many receptors in a cell. HER2 receptors join together, causing enzymes called tyrosine kinases to become active. This signals cancer cells to divide and grow.3 Between 20% and 25% of breast cancers produce too much HER2 and are classified as HER2+ (HER2 positive). HER2+ tumors grow more quickly than tumors with lesser amounts of HER2.4 HER2 receptors appear on both the outside and inside of the cell.3 TYKERB is a small-molecule medicine; its small size allows TYKERB to go inside the cell and help block the HER2 signal pathway. This is a different way to stop or slow cancer cell growth. Blocking the HER2 signal pathway may prevent cancer cells from growing, dividing and surviving.1Tykerb was just FDA approved in 2007. It differs from Herceptin in that in passes the blood brain barrier and Herceptin does not.

6. Stereotactic Radio Surgery. Highly specialized radiation treatment. Equivalent to 30 daily treatments in one single treatment. Had this radiation procedure on 12/11/08. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a radiation therapy technique for treating brain tumors and bone lesions without surgery. A full body frame is used to help aim high-dose radiation beams directly at the tumors and not at normal brain tissue. One stereotactic radiosurgery technique is called a gamma knife.
Gamma knife surgery, a form of medical technology used to treat people with neurological disorders, was developed in Sweden in 1967. It has gradually gained acceptance and become more widely available in the past 20 years, and has been used to treat 70,000 to 80,000 individuals to date. The gamma knife is not actually a "knife," in the sense of a surgical blade. It is a method of administering high-dose radiation with surgical precision to a very specific area of tissue within the cranial region while affecting an extremely small volume of surrounding healthy tissue. Gamma knife surgery delivers a beam of gamma radiation (photon particles) from 201 distinct Cobalt 60 sources . The individual beams do not harm healthy tissue as they travel through, but as they arrive at the abnormal target tissue, the concentration of all 201 beams has the capacity to destroy that tissue's ability to survive. I will have a MRI in Feb. 2009 to see if this procedure was successful.

Well, this is all for today! There are more chapters to this saga...I can only share so much at one time.

Please feel fee to respond!

Thinking of you all and wishing you a great beginning to 2009!

Lisa