OASIS OF HOPE - ROUND 3

Lucia, one of our enfermas favoritas!

We arrived at Oasis yesterday morning for a week of "booster" treatment as they called it.  The doctors here recommended a week of treatment to continue the positive momentum Valerie has been showing.  Their reaction to seeing her this time has been so fun to watch.  :)  Her doctors literally just stare at her and smile... then they look at me with their mouths hanging open and point to her as if to say, "can you believe this?!"  And one of the nurses asked "Como estas?" as he rounded the corner into our room.  Valerie responded "Muy bien!" And when he looked up and saw her he said, "Muy bonita!"

It has been such a different trip this time around.

I suppose I should back up a bit... After Valerie's family left at the end of January, we've spent the past few weeks getting used to an empty house, reestablishing routines, and continuing our work on the house.  Then last Friday, Valerie's niece called and said that she and a friend would be at our house for dinner!  They had taken off on a spontaneous road trip, were currently in Las Vegas and headed our way!  :)

After a series of twists and turns in their trip, Melissa ended up being able to come with us to Mexico!  So, the three of us are currently at Oasis of Hope for the week.  And did I mention how different things are?! :)

Valerie & Melissa - walking along the boardwalk - Tuesday.

The first day of treatment was Monday, the day we arrived, because we did lab work last week and brought it with us.  So after getting here promptly at 10am, they brought Valerie's first IV at about 1pm.  :-/  Such is life here at the Oasis.  Even with that late start, Valerie still finished by about 7:00pm (6 treatments).

Tuesday, Valerie began treatment at about 9am and finished (6 treatments) by 1:30pm.  I don't think that has EVER happened.  There are several things that impact how quickly she can finish... how quickly they change the IVs when they are finished, how early they start once we tell them she is ready, and how well she is feeling and how well she is tolerating the treatments.  Obviously, the only ones we have any control over are the latter 2.  So, needless to say, Valerie feels much better this time around and is plowing through the IVs like they are water.  :-)

Our view at dinner - Tuesday.

Tuesday afternoon was a bit of a roller coaster.  Patients here can participate in the doctor's treatment team meeting if they request it - soooooo we requested it.  At 2pm, they called us to the meeting.  Valerie's regular doctors were there - Dr. Cecena, Dr. Carbajal, and El Jefe, Dr. Contreras - as well as 2 other doctors that are part of the team.  From this meeting we learned that they are THRILLED with her progress, and that their recommendations are:  1) for her to continue all current treatment for at least the next 3 months; 2) for her to have a PET scan (because it lights up the areas that are malignant - in her bones and in her breast); and 3) then to decide if she'd like to have surgery (likely a mastectomy).

Melissa and Valerie watching the sunset - Tuesday.

Their current impressions are that with her HUGE improvements in strength, weight gain, tumor markers, and overall general well-being, it's likely that she's pretty close to being in remission.  They would consider her completely in remission if they could see a PET scan with nothing lighting up (which is pretty much what they expect) and if they removed the lump or breast.

This was VERY exciting news.  To think it's been ONE year since Valerie found the tumor and they are now talking about taking steps to validate that she is in remission.  Unbelievable.

So we headed back to the room and I immediately called Valerie's U.S. oncologist.  I left a message asking if he would order the PET scan when we return.  His P.A., Jennifer, who we generally talk to, said that after talking to Dr. Chen, he doesn't see any need for the PET scan.  In their view, Valerie will always have Stage IV Breast Cancer, so there's not really any benefit to imaging.  And for the same reasons, they would likely never do surgery.  WOW.  Talking about taking the wind out of someone's sails!!  I was V.E.R.Y. angry.  I explained more fully to Jennifer why the doctors were requesting the scan and what their long term goals are for surgery.  She agreed to talk to Dr. Chen more about it.

Watching another sunset - Wednesday.

After hanging up and relaying her words to Valerie and Melissa, I could see that my anger was stressful for Valerie, so I went out in the hallway to pace and cry.  So now I'm thinking I've got to find out how much it costs to get a PET scan here and how much surgery will cost here.  This just never ends.  I would have liked to throw something, but hey, they've been really nice to us here.... I'll just have to wait until next Friday when we are in Dr. Chen's office. :) 

Sunset - Wednesday night.

After awhile, Valerie came out to find me and we hugged and talked and agreed that no matter what, she's going to be fine and we are going to figure this out one way or the other.  It's hard to believe how much there is to deal with - over and over and over and over.  Just when we think we've got a handle on one thing, another one pops up.  But Valerie is healthy and strong and we do both believe that things will continue to get better.

Today, Wednesday, treatment began about 9:30am and finished around 3.  Things are going SO smoothly that sometimes it's hard to believe how difficult the first 2 times were.  I told Melissa today that I sometimes look around and see the stress of other people who are here and it all just comes flooding back to me - I feel their stress and worry and remember my own.  But as long as Valerie continues to make huge strides and outdo herself everyday, I'm good.  And I wish the same and more for all of those here now.

Melissa doing a photo shoot at sunset with Jermaine.

Tonight we all 3 walked down to the water to see another sunset and to meet a friend that Melissa had made today - Jermaine.  She had agreed to take some pictures of him... and yes, we wanted to tag along and make sure he wasn't a serial killer. :)

Couple of more days of treatment and then back home to keep on keeping on.  Thank you all for reading and caring!