...About Erin - January 2012 Update

Erin was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in July 2010. Her condition was very serious due to it being in her lungs. She faced 6 tough months of treatment. As of January 2011, her oncologist decided to stop her chemotherapy treatment and place her on maintenance drugs until any symptoms returned. Her scans showed the primary tumor is no longer visible and all other areas were unchanged. She was seeing her oncologist every three weeks for treatment.

At the end of July 2011, Erin had a headache that would not go away. She went to the Doctor and found that the cancer had now spread to her brain. After an intensive round of radiation, she had a scan at the end of September 2011 that showed that the spots on her brain had decreased in size and number.

After letting the radiation and medication work for a month, Erin's brain scan showed less cancer and smaller areas. That meant that the treatments were making a positive difference. Even the large spot which is what is affecting her vision is decreasing in size. The less positive news is that two new bone spots were found on her right leg.

In January 2012, Erin met with her oncologist. From his perspective, nothing has changed in the CT or bone scan, which is good, but the MRI which she had at the end of December 2011 is changing, and not in a good way. Although there are fewer tumors than in July, they have started to grow with the absence of the oral steroid.

Erin will be meeting with a neurosurgeon whose primary goal is to help establish a game plan for attacking the tumors with cyberknife radiation. The cyberknife treatment takes about 1 ? 1 � hours once or twice a week. Treatment will be about 3 weeks. Erin will be going back on steroids, and hopefully will not be as tired as she was with whole-brain radiation. Erin was able to come in and visit her co-workers for the December staff meeting, but at this time is not able to come back to work.

Erin is keeping her spirits high and trying to lighten her situation with humor. She has said, ??the good news is my hair hasn't grown in much yet so there won't be a lot to lose.?

Erin and her family want to thank everyone for your prayers and support. It is good to know we have an extended family that all care about Erin. We keep all of you in our prayers, too!

We walked again in the Komen Southeast WI Race for a Cure@ on September 25th. We encourage others to go to www.komenmilwaukee.org to make a donation towards research, or to please buy something from our Pink Table. All Pink Table proceeds go directly towards Erin's medical expenses.

REMEMBER - THINK PINK!!