Latest updates from the Gahan household...

Good Afternoon All! Hope you are all doing as well...I love spring....:)

Ally had the first follow-up appointment yesterday with the oncologist who got her into the clinical trial that has proven to be so effective at fighting her cancer. As I said in my most recent post, we knew going in that we were likely headed for 18 more cycles of chemo (what she's done for 6 cycles already before surgery). However, we kind of held on to a glimmer of hope that since all the breast tissue was taken out and the lymph nodes test clean that it would result in her not having to follow-thru with 18 more cycles....NO SUCH LUCK...

Essentially the story is this: While Allyson appears to have beaten breast cancer, the HER-2 protein that she has in her body did not get taken out during surgery. This characteristic is part of her DNA, which means that just as the HER-2 protein fueled the growth of her breast cancer, it will also fuel the growth of any other cancers that rear their ugly heads down the road. So...we would be rather foolish to leave the trial now and decide not to take the remaining treatments (even though that is an option). Why not let the drugs do their work and continue to kill anything else evil that is roaming around inside that body?

It is a hard pill to swallow for sure, but at least now she gets to go through the cycles knowing the effectiveness of the treatment she is receiving. Overall she is in great spirits. She hopes to have the drainage tubes taken out at her appointment with the reconstruction doc on Friday...and the fluid is certainly decreasing in volume that is coming out of those tubes. She really just wants to return to normal and not worry about catching them on anything or the kids grabbing them, or the dog jumping up and catching them, etc.

Next step is Tuesday of next week when she starts with cycle #1 of the 18 remaining. She doesn't want to waste any time and just wants to "get it over with"....so please continue to keep her in your thoughts as she continues down a blessedly downhill road now that surgery is over.

Love you!

Kyle