This is part of a series that is
following the progress of Carol Mohrbacher, who began treatment for
breast cancer in January. The most recent installment was on June 6.
* * *
Since her appointment May 31 with oncologist Dr. Dean Peng, Carol Mohrbacher
has taken a chemical drug Femara (Letrozole)—one pill a day.
Normally it is given for early breast cancer in women who have gone
through menopause and have taken Tamoxifen for five years. It has been
shown helpful in reducing or eliminating the natural hormone production
after menopause. The Breast Cancer “Invader” that attacked
Mrs. Mohrbacher is a hormone receptor. The purpose is to eliminate its
food source.
She writes: “I have begun to notice some increase in ‘hot
flashes,’ bone ache and some skin dryness … I began this
‘by mouth’ chemical therapy reluctantly. Dr. Peng recommended
it to me immediately, in February, when it was found that I was not
a candidate for the traditional Breast Cancer Chemo Therapy Protocol,
due to the unidentifiable ‘lesions.’ ”
In May she and Dr. Peng reviewed and compared her latest MRI to one
taken in February.
The good news was, to quote the report: “There is no significant
interval change in the presence of scattered tiny osteolytic metastatic
lesions at multiple sites…”
Metastatic lesions are cancer. The report also noted that her degenerative
disk disease was unchanged. So far, so good.
At that visit Dr. Peng urged her to have a monthly “infusion”
of a chemical Pamidronate (Aredia), along with the pill form of chemical
therapy Femara.
She reluctantly agreed to try it. She had the two-hour treatment on
June 14. An infusion involves a nurse hooking the patient to an IV leading
to a bag “of chemicals.”
The rest of the day was uneventful. But something much worse was coming.
She writes: “I was feeling rather achy when I went to bed at 11
pm…fell off to sleep and was awaken at 4 a.m. in excruciating
pain…virtually breathing hurt so bad that I didn’t want
to breathe. I laid there for an hour, praying and trying to work through
this ‘new adversary’…pain like none I have ever experienced.”
She was too busy resisting the pain to be frightened. “…
It was as if the ligaments and tendons were pulling out of my joints…”
Her husband Don helped her to the family room and fixed a bed on the
sectional with lots of pillows and cool air.
“I found myself crying out whenever I moved…Remember when
I had surgery to remove the tumor in my left breast and an axillary
bisection removing all the lymph nodes under my left arm that the surgeon
could find …I took no pain medication…”
Don called Kaiser as soon as the desk was manned to find out if her
symptoms were worrisome…and if it was OK to take the Vicodin Dr.
Peng had prescribed.
“Because of the breathing tightness, I was concerned that taking
a painkiller might only exacerbate my miserable situation.”
This was a wake up call. Months ago she decided, after learning that
she was not eligible for the Breast Cancer Chemo Therapy Protocol, not
to take any other chemo.
She writes: “Well, words are words…in the midst of trying
to sort out everything, sometimes, when the doctor says take this pill
and have this infusion of this ‘medicine’ which may lengthen
your quality of life…it sounds different than, ‘Take this
Chemo Therapy Pill and the Chemo Therapy IV.’ I had my first go
at what for me was a bad reaction.”
Vicodin helped. She could breathe, but not move without extreme pain.
Even her organs hurt.
About 9 p.m. nausea set in and she threw up for several hours.
She finally made it to bed and awoke the next morning, much better,
although the pain continued to pulse through her body.
She writes: “My mouth is dry as a bone and I am sipping water
constantly…I have survived, I think. My bones and internals feel
like I imagine a boxer would feel after ten rounds.”
She does not plan to take any more chemical therapies. “My decision
is based on the quality of life I have right now…or should I say
in a few days when my body returns…I won’t, again, give
one of the days that God has given me over to do these horrible (for
me) treatments. Today I look at everyone who has endured this barbaric
treatment to be martyrs to life…in my case, I will take what God
gives me and am ready to turn over the reins and move on when it is
time.”
She will continue to advocate the Patrons of Special Care for Special
Seniors Foundation “Patrons” (www.pscssf.org)
for seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
She will also do the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk for the Cure
in San Diego, Nov. 9–11. She invites others who want to join her
on this 60 miles in three days to visit www.the3day.org/sandiego07/carolmohrbacher
“Carol’s Crew” and support her walk.
She will also take part in The Roadrunner—sponsored Queen
of Hearts Breast Cancer Benefit Motorcycle Ride Sept. 22. Her group
is also called Carol’s Crew.
She writes: “Life is for living. Some of us can give, some of
us can offer a hand, some of us can do the walk, run or ride, but do
it to make a difference to help people. That is what life is all about.”
June 24, at 7 am, she will be on the Fox 6 XETV Weekend Show talking
about Patrons and its vision and goals. She will introduce new President
and CEO Michael Alessio. In July, she will be on The Boomer Show
with Brian Christie, again sharing about the devastation of Alzheimer’s
to the person and family, and what Patrons can do to help.
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