A Good 6 Month Checkup for MJ

Mary Jo had a good 6 month check up with her oncologist, Dr Mathew Gall last Friday, November 16th.  Dr. Gall did a physical examination and case review with Mary Jo and I.  The bone density scan results from last weeks scan revealed a very slight decrease in density of Mary Jo's spine, although the reading is still in the average range and a slightly more decrease in density of the right hip placing Mary Jo in Osteopenia, which is a pre Osteoporosis condition.   Dr Gall explains that the bone loss is a common side effect of Mary Jo's prescribed cancer treatment drug Arimidex.  Mary Jo continues to take Arimidex daily for two more years (five years total).  It is encouraging that bone loss is not more significant because the greatest benefit comes from being able to take the drug for five full years post cancer.  If bone loss becomes a greater issue, we are told condition is reversible with the introduction of bone density drugs such as Boniva.  Mary Jo's blood work lab results all showed normal.  Mary Jo's reached another milestone on Friday, 3 years post cancer.  Her next scheduled oncology appointment will be in another six months and continue every 6 months until she reaches the big five year mark.  At that point, oncology follow up visits change to once a year.

Mary Jo and I had a second visit with Dr Gall on Friday, however that consultation was concerning Mary Jo's mother Diane.  Last week Diane underwent a da Vinci Hysterectomy.  This is the same laparoscopic robotic surgical procedure that Mary Jo and her three sisters had done to prevent the possibility of getting ovarian cancer as a result of all siblings testing positive for the cancer gene BRCA2.  Diane had tested negative for BRCA2 but the surgery was expected to be a prophylactic hysterectomy and oophorectomy because of the new presence of some suspicious cells found recently.  After the surgery, Diane's surgeon, Dr Boente visited with the family post op and explained that he believed Diane had a very rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer called UPCS.  (uterine papillary serious carcinoma)

The post op patholgy report confirmed the cancer, UPSC and Diane was refered to the oncologist, Dr Mathew Gall.
Diane's consultation with Dr Gall outlined the post op cancer treatment.  Diane will soon start her 6 cycles of chemo administered over the next 18 weeks.  Diane is a real fighter and already a 7 year survivor of colorectal cancer.  This new cancer development is very disturbing for all of us but it is a blessing that it was discovered at this stage and a blessing the path report from the lymph nodes and washings all tested negative for cancer.  We are looking ahead at 4 months of chemo and kicking this cancer's butt.