Second Treatment Today

Just a quick update:

Erica traveled to Baltimore today for her second treatment of the anti-CTLA4. She will be back home resting this evening.

Janna

Hope, Faith and Courage

Hello to my ever-wonderful friends and family and also to those of you whom I don't know personally, but continue to keep up with me and my story on this blog.
I want to say thank you to everyone, because I feel so much positive energy and love all around me.

This past month has been quite a challenge for me both physically and emotionally. I am concentrating on overcoming these challenges in many ways, and am really drawing from the knowledge, expertise and compassion of my medical/oncological team. We have been working really hard over the past couple of weeks to manage my pain, which in turn has helped to ease my stress. Pain is a burden...it is a horrible, nasty thing that needs to be addressed and taken care of.

It was a little hard for me at first to let go of my stereotypes and preconceptions about pain management in order for me to find the right balance of medications. This week, I am much more comfortable overall and am now able to draw on my inner strength to help me cope and to redirect all of my energy into my renewed fight against this crazy cancer.
I am learning new things about myself everyday and I know that I have the hope, faith and courage to enter this battle head on.
I will enlist each and everyone of you to join me as I begin to make this long, arduous journey back to health, fighting each and every fight as it comes my way.

Thank you and please keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming.
Love,
Erica

First Treatment Finished

Erica went up to Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore last Thursday for her 1st clinical trial treatment. All went well, although it was a long day. So far, all seems good, a few side effects and still a lot of fatigue.

Erica was able to get out a little this weekend and has been enjoying time with her brother Cory and her uncle David. They played a mean game of pinochle on Friday!

Erica will continue resting a recovering until the 4th week, when she is scheduled to return to the hospital for her next day of treatment.

The Lipman/Lopez gang

Starting Clinical Trial Thursday

Erica went through a battery of tests on Tuesday and is now ready to start the clinical trial on Thursday. She will be in the hospital as an outpatient for the day and then home in the evening to rest, recouperate and let the drugs do their job. There may be a few side effects from the anti-CTLA-4 also known as MDX-010, but hopefully they will be minimal. One thing we did find out is she should not lose her hair...she loves her short cut!

After the treatment tomorrow, Erica will then have 3 weeks off and head back for a day again. She will have treatment the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th weeks and then a CT scan to see what is happening.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers...keep them coming!

The Lipman/Lopez Gang