I have my own "McDreamy"

You may not know but I am a huge fan of the TV show, "Grey's Anatomy." For those of you who are not familiar with the show, there is a very handsome doctor on it (Patrick Dempsey) who was called "McDreamy" in one of the episodes which has stuck with him. I am happy to say that I now have my own McDreamy.

Last week, my radiation oncologist sent me to see a medical oncologist at MGH that specializes in breast cancer and hormone (endocrine) therapy. My tumor tested was found to be "weakly positive" for progesterone receptors so I questioned whether or not I should undergo endocrine therapy.

So I was waiting in the exam room after speaking with McDreamy's Nurse Practitioner when in walks this dreamboat with a stunning English accent. He spent about an hour with me going over my history (which he already knew before he came in), explaining what he thought and possible treatment options.

McDreamy (he actually has a real name, Dr. Goss) told me that he strongly believes there is a genetic component to my story. He is having the Genetics Department at MGH review my genetic testing to be sure the long version of the test was done. He rattled off some technical link that he feels may be the culprit because to him it is too suspicious that my grandmother had breast cancer and my mother's type of brain cancer may have some link to this genetic mutation. He explained that I may not have tested positive for a mutation in the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 genes (the ones they test for and know of the direct link) but I may have a mutation in an undiscovered genetic link. He went on to explain to me what having a genetic mutation of that type really means. Think of your body like a car manufacturing plant. Every cell in your body is a car. Somewhere during the assembly process, the breast cells in your body had something left off. Some may be missing the horn which isn't that big of a deal but some may be missing the engine which is. Every cell isn't quite right which is why it is so important to know for sure if this is genetically linked somehow. In random cancer, it's like a car accident. You go in and clean it up and that's that. In a genetic cancer, there is something faulty everywhere.

After we finished that discussion, we started to talk about the hormone therapy. He offered me a clinical trial but we decided to take what the clinical trial was doing and tailor it ourselves. So I will be taking Tamoxifen for 2 years and then switch to an Aromitase Inhibitor with ovarian suppression for 5 more years with the possibility of extending that length of time. He was so thorough with his explanation of how this all worked.

A woman's body produces estrogen (I know we were talking about progesterone but progesterone doesn't work without estrogen) from two sources - the ovaries and fat. Tamoxifen blocks the door to the cancer cell so that no hormones can enter. His analogy for this one was to think of the ovaries and fat as the "kitchen" and the cancer cells as the "dining hall." The kitchen will still be cooking but the door to the dining hall will be blocked so no one can eat. When I switch to the Aromitase Inhibitor with ovarian suppression, the kitchen will be closed and the dining hall will be blocked. Make sense?

Dr. Goss' business card is filled to capacity with his titles which are really impressive. When I made my follow up appointment with him (in October) his secretary asked where I was coming from. She said that she always tells people who are travelling from far away to see him to buy the travel insurance because he travels all over the world and might need to cancel - he's that good!

Update on Jeff's Dad

Bucky is doing better. He came home last Thursday and is improving slowly each day. He had the defibulator put in and continues with his dialysis treatments three times a week. His memory is getting better but it is still foggy at times. It will be a slow road ahead but at least he is moving forward.

One More Week Left!

After today's treatment, I will only have next week to get through. My skin has held up great - it only looks like I have a tan in the treatment field. A lot of people have a hard time and suffer some burns from the radiation. Fatigue has set in though. I am ready to call it a night by 8pm and sleep very soundly. It should improve within a month or two after I finish up.

Jeffrey loves coming with me to MGH. There is a ton of construction going on around the building we go to which I think we could spend all day watching if it were up to him. He loves driving past Fenway (Wally is on a billboard there) and the Garden and through the "big huge" tunnel.

Another Family Crisis

Last week we had a pretty bad scare with Jeff's father. Most of you know that he has kidney failure and has been on dialysis now for a few of months. Last Monday Jeff stopped by his parents' house after a job and his father collapsed and went into what they think was a seizure. Jeff called 911 and the EMTs, who arrived in minutes, had to actually shock his heart and jump start him again. They are estiamting he was out for four minutes.

He was rushed to Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick and spent Monday and Tuesday there in the ICU. No answers to what had happened. We decided that he had to move to a Boston hospital and put forth the motions to get him transfered to Mass General (that's where his kidney transplant team is too). Tuesday night around 9:30pm, he headed in to MGH via transport ambulance.

To make a long story short, he was admitted to the Cardiac Step Down Care Unit and was diagnosed with ventricular tachacardia (VT) - a very serious arythmia. Most patients who go into cardiac arrest with VT do not survive. Bucky (Jeff's dad) is like a cat - he has 9 lives. He is very lucky and we thank God Jeff was there when it happened.

He is still at MGH and is getting better. His strength is coming back but he is suffering from some short term memory issues. That too has improved dramtically from where he started off last week but he has more recovering to do.

Sometime today, he will have a defibulator inserted that will essentially shock his heart back into a normal rythm if it detects any sign of the VT. After that, we are unsure how much longer he will be in the hospital or what the follow up care will be.

3 Down, 3 More to Go

I have officially finished my third week of radiation as of last Friday. I am now halfway done. It really isn't bad. For the most part I am enjoying my quiet ride into Boston. Traffic has been a hassel only a couple of times and most often I get there in about 40 minutes. The treatment itself is quick. More times than not, they take me in early and I am done within a few minutes. It is so quick - the machine is on for about 17 seconds from the front and then another 17 seconds from the back. Mondays they take a couple of X-rays to make sure I am lined up correctly. Every Tuesday I see the doctor so that day does take longer.

All in all, not too bad.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

In my continuing efforts to make the most of this experience, I have decided to head up a team (Team Meisner - not very original, I know) to walk in...

The American Cancer Society's
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
October 14th, 2007 - Boston

"ODE TO THE WALK"
an original poem by Anne Meisner

Lace up your shoes;
Put on your hat;
We will walk for a cure
And that will be that.

Make a donation,
Or join our team,
One dollar
Is not as small as it seems.
Any amount
Will help out a lot,
What do you say?
Give it a shot!

(Can you tell I have been reading too many Dr. Suess books to Jeffrey???)

This October, many of my friends and family members will walk on "Team Meisner" in the Making Strides Walk in Boston. Please click on this link to make a donation in support of Team Meisner or to find out more information about this event.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/anne.meisner - OR -http://main.acsevents.org/goto/team.meisner


Consider joining Team Meisner on the walk! We are looking for as many members as we can. The more people on the team, the more money we can potentially raise!

Again, no amount is too small to make a difference.

Thanks!!!

Lyndon Byers

So again I am amazed at the continuing out pouring of support. Jeff and Steve were at Pepperocini's last Sunday and hung out with LB - Lyndon Byers, former Bruins hockey player and current 107.3 WAAF DJ. They got to talking (nothing new for Jeff) and Jeff gave him the scoop on our situation. He immediately,, without any hesitation, set to work to hold a fundraiser to help us with the costs we have accumulated from all of the medical treatments I have had. We have pretty good health insurance but cancer is expensive.

We don't have many details...it is only in the planning stages. What LB suggested was to hold a golf tournament with a dinner and raffle afterwards - sometime in October. He has already called Sandy Burr without us even asking him to. He is going to announce whatever we decide to do on the radio and get some of his celebrity friends to join in the festivities. What the?!?!?!

I am yet again overwhelmed. The support of my family and friends have been outstanding. Now the support of strangers can be added to the list.

Stay tuned for more information......