I saw my oncologist on 11 Jan 2012 and request for oral chemo before I started my radiotherapy on 25 Jan 2012.
My oncologist had wanted to prescribe Vinorelbine (Navelbine) together with Herceptin by intravenous drip.
I rejected Herceptin because the last time I had Herceptin in 2008, I had a mild heart attack from the very first dose. I also requested for oral chemo instead of iv drip as my veins had become very fine and I would have to have a port or central line inserted.
My doctor then recommended Tykerb, which can be taken orally, in place of Herceptin. She would start me on oral chemo after I have completed my radiotherapy as she did not want me to have complications.
I started Tykerb on 16 Jan 2012, 1250mg (5 tablets) of Tykerb a day, either 1 hour before food or 2 hours after.
A few days after I started on Tykerb, I noticed that the skin over one of the biggest lump seemed slightly slack. It was very taut before.
Initially, Tykerb made me nauseous. I threw up several times, like every 5 doses, I threw up one or so. I also had diarrhea and made frequent trips to the toilet.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
MRI Thoracic and Cervical Spine
My medical oncologist referred me to a radiologist regarding my spine.
The radiologist recommended radiotherapy for my spine and an MRI on the thoracic spine was arranged for 11 Jan 2012, to determine the area where radiotherapy was to be administered.
According to comments of the MRI results :
1. Multiple scattered enhancing marrow lesions, suspicious for vertebral metastases, are seen at various level in cervical - neck area - (body of C2-7, spinous process of C6), thoracic (body of T1-T12, spinous process of T2-T12), and in L1, L2 vertebrae.
2. Mild loss of height with posterior cortical bulge of body of C3 and T7 vertebrae, indenting the thecal sac but no significant cord compression. Mild posterior bulge without cord compression is also noted in L1 vertebra.
3. Minimal epidural soft tissue is noted posteriorly in relation to neural arch of T3 vertebra without cord compression.
4. Bilateral pleural effusion is noted.
5. Intervertebral discs are normal.
In short, my spinal column was badly affected and in really bad shape that the radiologist warned me not to exert myself in case I fracture my spine and become unable to walk. And, I have also become shorter.
The radiologist recommended radiotherapy for my spine and an MRI on the thoracic spine was arranged for 11 Jan 2012, to determine the area where radiotherapy was to be administered.
According to comments of the MRI results :
1. Multiple scattered enhancing marrow lesions, suspicious for vertebral metastases, are seen at various level in cervical - neck area - (body of C2-7, spinous process of C6), thoracic (body of T1-T12, spinous process of T2-T12), and in L1, L2 vertebrae.
2. Mild loss of height with posterior cortical bulge of body of C3 and T7 vertebrae, indenting the thecal sac but no significant cord compression. Mild posterior bulge without cord compression is also noted in L1 vertebra.
3. Minimal epidural soft tissue is noted posteriorly in relation to neural arch of T3 vertebra without cord compression.
4. Bilateral pleural effusion is noted.
5. Intervertebral discs are normal.
In short, my spinal column was badly affected and in really bad shape that the radiologist warned me not to exert myself in case I fracture my spine and become unable to walk. And, I have also become shorter.
Friday, 6 January 2012
The Penang Trip
I had an appointment with my oncologist on 5 Jan 2012, which was also the last day of the two-week Penang herbal trial. 2 Jan 2012 was a Monday and also a holiday as New Year's Day fell on a Sunday, so we were unable to contact the Penang herbalist.
We called him on Tuesday, 3 Jan 2012. He had told us to give him two weeks but had not explained what to expect during or after the two weeks. I explained that the last day of my two-week trial and my appointment with the oncologist were on 5 Jan 2012, which was 3 days away. I wanted to know what I was supposed to do next.
He was very aloof and said that if I trusted him, I should see him otherwise I could go to my oncologist and undergo conventional treatment. He also said he needed to see me before deciding the next step. I wanted to explain that I was very weak and probably unfit for travel. He cut me off by saying that he would not discuss my condition over the phone just as my doctor would not do consultation by phone. He also insisted that I should see him before my supply runs out.
I did not like his attitude. I did not know him long and well enough to entrust my life to him, and I am at a stage where I could not afford to go by trial and error. Herbal brews take time to work and I did not know what his herbal brews were supposed to do for me, whether it was supposed to build up my immune system or to kill the cancer cells. Also, would his herbal brews solve the pleural effusion problem for me?
We were pressed for time and as I could not get any further over the phone, I made the decision to fly up to Penang to see him. My son went with me. We booked an early morning flight for the next day on Air Tiger and the return flight by Air Asia in the evening.
I had misgivings about the trip but as we had already paid for the plane tickets, so we went.
During the meeting, I wanted to discuss my condition and what his herbs could do for me, but he was more interested in telling me about the cases that he had success with. In the end, I took another 2 weeks' supply. He also treated me with some sort of electric frequency therapy. I am not sure if it was bioresonance or electroanalgesia, but I think it was to help relieve pain and treat cancer. He had mentioned that it would be good for me if I could stay there for some days and receive daily therapy.
I had taken 1 round of herbal brew before leaving and had brought 2 rounds along. We left his clinic around lunch time. I was not very hungry and also had no appetite. I hardly ate for lunch and I was very tired.
Air Asia flights land in Terminal 1. I managed to make my way across the aerobridge and could go no further. My son borrowed a wheelchair for me, which enabled us to breeze through customs and immigration.
I could hardly walk by the time we reached home. Fortunately my caregiver was able to give me a massage and I felt better after that.
The Penang trip was the worst flight I had ever taken because of my condition. I could not lean back for long as my back hurt, and when I stood up, my hip area and legs hurt. I was totally spent by the time we got home.
We called him on Tuesday, 3 Jan 2012. He had told us to give him two weeks but had not explained what to expect during or after the two weeks. I explained that the last day of my two-week trial and my appointment with the oncologist were on 5 Jan 2012, which was 3 days away. I wanted to know what I was supposed to do next.
He was very aloof and said that if I trusted him, I should see him otherwise I could go to my oncologist and undergo conventional treatment. He also said he needed to see me before deciding the next step. I wanted to explain that I was very weak and probably unfit for travel. He cut me off by saying that he would not discuss my condition over the phone just as my doctor would not do consultation by phone. He also insisted that I should see him before my supply runs out.
I did not like his attitude. I did not know him long and well enough to entrust my life to him, and I am at a stage where I could not afford to go by trial and error. Herbal brews take time to work and I did not know what his herbal brews were supposed to do for me, whether it was supposed to build up my immune system or to kill the cancer cells. Also, would his herbal brews solve the pleural effusion problem for me?
We were pressed for time and as I could not get any further over the phone, I made the decision to fly up to Penang to see him. My son went with me. We booked an early morning flight for the next day on Air Tiger and the return flight by Air Asia in the evening.
I had misgivings about the trip but as we had already paid for the plane tickets, so we went.
During the meeting, I wanted to discuss my condition and what his herbs could do for me, but he was more interested in telling me about the cases that he had success with. In the end, I took another 2 weeks' supply. He also treated me with some sort of electric frequency therapy. I am not sure if it was bioresonance or electroanalgesia, but I think it was to help relieve pain and treat cancer. He had mentioned that it would be good for me if I could stay there for some days and receive daily therapy.
I had taken 1 round of herbal brew before leaving and had brought 2 rounds along. We left his clinic around lunch time. I was not very hungry and also had no appetite. I hardly ate for lunch and I was very tired.
Air Asia flights land in Terminal 1. I managed to make my way across the aerobridge and could go no further. My son borrowed a wheelchair for me, which enabled us to breeze through customs and immigration.
I could hardly walk by the time we reached home. Fortunately my caregiver was able to give me a massage and I felt better after that.
The Penang trip was the worst flight I had ever taken because of my condition. I could not lean back for long as my back hurt, and when I stood up, my hip area and legs hurt. I was totally spent by the time we got home.
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