Now, I am getting a bit concerned about Kaye

<< Kay,
   I noticed you didn't answer the last Roll Call put out by Tim(I
think) .I was wondering how you are doing? It has been a while since you
postedand just wanted to know you were all right and still fighting the
GOOD Fight!!!. Hope all is as well as can be expected.. >>

Hi Pat, I am guessing you mean me ;-) if not excuse me for being presumptuous.
Things have been rather hectic.  I increaed my work schedule from 3 days/week
to 4 days/week and am even thinking of going back full time.  I know, I am a
glutton for punishment.  It isn't the job--it's the commute which can take 2
hours if traffic is bad.  Some would ask why I don't get a different position.
One reason has been insurance--I get full time medical benefits for the family,
including my kids until age 26, if I work at least 50%.   Need I say more.
Now, how am I doing.  Well, I don't want to bore you all with another book.  I
had private MRI's done about 2 mos. ago.   There are still some areas in
question.  I did have another PET scan.   They are now being done by our HMO.
The report came back negative--good sign--but it wasn't compared with the first
one.  I did contact the physician who read it and she offered to compare it.
Even though they (same facility) had ordered it, they didn't have the films.
So, I brought in my copy.  She, dr, did say she noted what first report said
but didn't change her report.   I haven't given her copies yet of 2
intermittent PET scans--will do that after I get report from private dr. who
read those.   However, he know the dr. at our health care facility so am not
sure whether or not I will get unbiased report.
I had the new Cellsearch Circulating Tumor Cell Test a couple of weeks ago.  
That was approved for monitoring treatment of b.c.  A result of greater than 5
indicates a poor prognosis with current treatment and relatively short
survival, supposedly.
Someone without cancer should have results of "0."  Results of greather than 2
indicate that there are a significant number of circulating tumor cells
present.  My results were "4."  That pretty much confirms many of my
suspicions, but I am still unsure of all the implications.
I am still having on-going worsening of lymphedema unless I have arm wrapped
24/7.  My surgeon and oncologist had mumbled something about chest wall
recurrence last May.  My surgeon said no further surgery  could be done because
it wouldn't heal.  Huh???
We tried to get 2nd opinion re cyberknife for stuff going on in cervical spine.
We were told that they won't consider unless we have diagnosis already.  
It seems to me/us that further evaluation is indicated, but we are not being
given any consistent nor sensible answers to any of the questions we have
asked.   One oncologist had told me when I asked how one differentiated between
arthritic activity and bone metastases that it didn't matter in terms of
overall survival whether one treated metastases for 3 years or waited a year
and treated for 2 years.  He never answered my question.  The 2nd dr. at same
facility mumbled something to the effect that metastases were expensive to
treat.  He also informed me that they don't use radiation for treatment--and to
think I was thinking cyberknife and not even thinking about the older types of
radiation used which they are not even doing.
So, how am I doing?  I have no idea other than I am here.  I was in horrific
pain when I tried to lay down--in my neck--until I had another Zometa infusion
(at osteoporosis prevention dose).  Two dr.'s but not my oncologist reported
that I have a lesion in my cervical spine.  Nothing has been diagnosed, though,
as malignant nor ruled out as such.  An MRI of my thoracic spine done by a tech
was very thorough showed bone marrow mets to all the vertebrae in my thoracic
spine.  The results of that scan have still not been compared with one taken
before that.  Then there is the lumbar spine cyst or mass--still no answer as
to what is going on with that.  
I am dealing with a 10-ring circus where nobody is communicating.  I just hope
I can continue to survive...