Robin and Dan went to Robin’s appointment with Dr. Liserowitz on Monday 12/14 for her Chemo follow-up. Dr. Liserowitz is pleased with the results of the Chemo treatments; however he is recommending that Robin undergo radiation and has referred Robin to Dr. Susan Lee, Radiologist/Oncologist.



Dr. Lee has scheduled a Pelvic MRI this Saturday 12/26 and a consultation on Monday 12/28. Ovarian cancer has a high incidence of recurrence and although Robin is cancer free, there is always the concern that the cancer may return, hence, better safe than sorry.



Robin has not made a final decision regarding the recommended radiation therapy. She will decide what to do after she meets with Dr. Lee.



In summary – We will give you all an update once Robin has all the information necessary to decide on her next course of therapy. Today is a good day. Robin’s cancer is in remission and we are thankful and we are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with our children, grandchildren and great grandchild.



Merry Christmas to all!



Dan & Robin

Robin had her sixth and final chemotherapy treatment this past Friday. Prior to her treatment, which was attended by Nancy Isbill and Karen Scott (of the infamous Bible Chicks), Dan and Robin met with her Hematology/Oncology (cancer blood doctor) physician – Dr. Shihabi.



Dr. Shihabi informed Robin that she came through her chemotherapy with flying colors. Her cancer markers are normal and as of Friday, she is Ovarian Cancer free and her Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) remains under control. Dr. Shihabi said that 80% of all Ovarian Cancer patients respond positively to this treatment; however, he did add that it was unusual to see the almost immediate positive. response that Robin experienced after her first chemotherapy treatment. He went on to say that cancer “re-occurrence”, should there be one, will generally manifest itself in one to three years after this six rounds of chemotherapy. Robin and Dan believe that the Lord has healed her, and we believe there will not be a cancer “re-occurrence.”



In addition, Dr. Shihabi said he will perform another bone marrow biopsy in the future to determine where Robin is with the CML. Once again, Robin and Dan believe the Lord has healed her from the CML as well and we will look forward to the tests from that biopsy.



Robin has sailed through her six rounds of chemotherapy with remarkably very few side effects. Other than the loss of hair (she looks very foxy with her wig) and fatigue, she has experienced little discomfort. Thank you Lord for taking care of our Robin!!!!



Robin will meet with her Gynecologist/Oncologist in four weeks to discuss the potential of radiation treatment. We are praying that radiation will not be necessary; however we will listen to her physicians recommendations and then Robin will make her decision regarding any further treatment.



Thank you everyone for your constant prayers, your meals, cards, letters, phone calls & visits. What would we do without our friends?

Hello all you loyal blog followers!  Here's a note from Dan about the latest chemo ~ almost over!!!

Robin had her fifth chemo treatment this past Friday. She met with her Hematologist/Oncologist and he told her the cancer is responding to the treatments. This is good news and we are so thankful. Robin’s final chemo treatment will be Friday, November 13 - Whoopee!!! Robin is scheduled to meet with her gynecologist/oncologist-surgeon four weeks following her last chemo treatment to discuss his recommendation of radiation therapy – we will keep you posted….

Typically the first two days following her treatment, Robin is energetic and feels completely normal; however toward the end of the second day, fatigue sets in and she will spend the next two to three days in bed. The good news is that she does not experience any nausea, just fatigue. So, today, Robin is resting at home. If all goes as past treatments, she will be up and running toward the end of this week.

Robin believes that the Lord has healed her from both cancers. If you have time, read Psalm 116 – Robin has claimed this Psalm as a confirmation of her healing.


We love you all, your kindness, your cards and letters of encouragement, your fantastic meals (Dan loves them) and most of all your powerful prayers.

Robin alerted me yesterday that the blog hadn't been updated in a while. I knew I had updated earlier this month, but when I logged in I found the post in my "drafts" and not published. So sorry for those of you loyal blog followers that have been wondering about Robin. Dan also said he'd get a note together soon. Also, when I spoke with her she sounded GREAT. Dan was out of town for 5 days last week and she was out and about Christmas shopping. She's constantly thinking of others . . . LOVE HER!

Robin asked me to please convey to all of you how great she feels! She has been feeling great, chemo and all. Marc went with her to this past chemo appointment and here's some pictures he took along with a note from him.




Spending time at chemo with mom is something I look forward to. The hospital is amazing. They've got valet parking & gorgeous waterfalls out in front.
Mom amazes me, she knows all the nurses names & asks them all in passing how they are doing. They all look at her, smile & respond "its great to see you Robin". Sitting in the chemo room, mom makes sure to notice all the other patients & even has 1 other woman who she has seen frequently who she prays with. Mom smiles at everyone & Ive even seen her get up after she was done with her chemo & go pray with a few of the other ladies having treatment. Its amazing to see my mom with such a positive attitude & blessing others while she herself is going through this tough time.

O ya, I even look forward to the lunch she makes. Its usually a turkey sandwich on wheat bread, chips, fruit & a kiss! I love this time with my mom & wouldn't trade doing anything else.

Marc

Robin completed her third Chemotherapy session this past Thursday 9/10 and met with Dr. Shihabi, Hematologist/Oncologist. He informed her that she is responding to the Chemo for her Ovarian Cancer and the Gleevac for her Leukemia.


On Tuesday, 9/15, Robin met with Dr. Leiserowitz, Gynecologist/Oncologist – Surgeon for her mid-term Chemo treatment strategy. Dr. Leiserowitz had preformed the initial surgery and was unable to remove the tumor in the vaginal area. His strategy was to shrink the tumor with three chemo treatments and perform a second surgery to remove the tumor. When Robin met with Dr. Leiserowitz, he conducted an examination and reviewed her blood work and told her that the tumor had retracted from to vagina back to the cervix and had reduced significantly in size. He went on to say that the vaginal area where the tumor had invaded looked healthy and as a result a second surgery would not be necessary…Praise the Lord!!!!


Dr. Leiserowitz told Robin that he is amazed at how well she has responded to the Chemo and he could not have imagined such progress in this short period of time. He told her that this positive response has exceeded any expectation that he might have hoped for with the type of cancer.


His plan is for Robin to continue her three remaining Chemo treatments over the course of 9-weeks and then have Radiation treatment in the pelvic and vaginal areas for “mopping-up.”


Of course, we told the Dr. that we believe this positive news is a direct result of all of the prayers that are being offered up to the Lord on Robin’s behalf, locally and around the world.


Once again, we thank everyone for your prayers, cards and letters of encouragement, plus the delicious meals after each Chemo treatment. What would we be without those who love us?

I spent a bit of time with Robin yesterday, I should have planned for longer but I didn't want to be a burden to her with 4 children, if she was feeling at all not well. As it was, the kids were great and Robin and I had a short but sweet visit. She is doing fabulously. She is busily living life, going into work for short stints, visiting with family, etc. But she also listens to her body and rests when she needs to.

She modeled her short new hairdo and her 2 new wigs that just look amazing on her. I jokingly asked her on the phone the night before if she had gone blond and it turns out she had . . . almost:) one of them is dark with a ton of blond highlights in the front ~ she looks gorgeous in it!

She continues to amaze me, and I feel blessed to have such an amazing woman as part of my life.