Anna's Story
(as told by 3 of her friends)
(as told by 3 of her friends)
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| Anna February 15, 2004 (Before Feb 19, 2004 Gamma knife procedure & March 8, 2004 seizure) |
To Our Friend Anna -
We just don't know how
else to help.
We can't make it go
away.................
We just don't know how
else to help.
We can't make it go
away.................
Dec 11, 2004- Visit with Dr. Patel primary care physician
Dec 8, 2004- Visit with neurosurgeon Dr. Rosseau to discuss MRI results - MRI results - MRI shows NO
TUMOR GROWTH! WOW! Next MRI in 3 months - until today, MRI's were scheduled every two months -
this is a significant accomplishment!
Nov 30, 2004 - MRI at Central DuPage hospital
Nov 18, 2004 - Appointment with Dr. Benton (Psychiatrist)
Nov 15, 2004 - eighth round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for five days
Nov 3, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can continue
with chemotherapy round EIGHT. Anna still working full time (and then some). Has not been released to be
able to drive.
Oct 18, 2004 - seventh round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for five days
(this was deferred one week pending MRI results)
Oct 14-17 2004- GIRLS TRIP! - Covered Bridge Festival - Parke County Indiana - Five friends used to
make this pilgrimage (with thousands of others) on an annual basis. We did this for at least six years straight.
Then about eight years ago, our jobs, families and other obligations got in the way and we haven't gone. So,
back in January 2004, we starting planning this trip with Anna. The date has arrived and we are going! Ten
years ago we all had shopping lists of "places to go and vendors to see" while on the trip - a somewhat shop
till you drop sort of theme. Now, with a deeper meaning of friends, family, life and love in perspective, we are
making this trip with a shopping list containing only "friendship, conversation, laughs, naps, and time together"
Oct 13, 2004- Visit with neurosurgeon Dr. Rosseau to discuss MRI results - comparing July 29th films with
Sept 29 films - MRI shows NO TUMOR GROWTH! Yipee! Hooray!
Oct 11, 2004- Anna was scheduled to begin seventh round of TEMODAR ® but with MRI reading
confusion (see Oct 6, 2004) this has been deferred until October 18, pending MRI results.
Oct 6, 2004- Anna was scheduled to see Dr. Rosseau to discuss her MRI results but her office never got
the MRI reading results. Because all of Anna's previous MRI films were located at CINN downtown, the staff
at Central DuPage Hospital were not able to read this MRI (sounds like all MRI readings are all based on
comparing the previous MRI films to the current one vs. just looking at the current film and saying "looks good
- all clear") Now, Anna has to chase down her films from her July 29 MRI taken downtown at CINN and get
them over to Central DuPage Hospital for the comparison reading to be performed. All appointments have
been rescheduled, along with her next round of chemo.
Sept 29, 2004 - MRI performed at Central DuPage hospital (all other MRI tests had been done downtown at
CINN Dr. Rosseau office); Anna's insurance covers more if MRI performed at Central DuPage Hospital in
Winfield
Sept 13, 2004 - Anna begins sixth round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for
five days.
Sept 8, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can
continue with chemotherapy round SIX
Aug 16, 2004 - Anna begins fifth round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for five
days.
July 30, 2004 - Visit with neurosurgeon Dr. Rosseau for an MRI -(last MRI was taken May 25). The MRI
shows NO TUMOR GROWTH! Yipee. Next MRI is scheduled for Oct 1.
July 19, 2004 - Anna begins fourth round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for
five days. Is working full time (40hrs per week). Still not able to drive due to vision impairment. Very tired
most days, but show me anyone who wouldn't be tired during a FIGHT like this.
July 15, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can
continue with chemotherapy round FOUR - if ok, will start FOURTH round of chemotherapy on Monday July
19th
June 21, 2004 - Anna begins third round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for
five days and then nothing for the following 23 days. Still not able to drive due to vision impairment.
June 16, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can
continue with chemotherapy round three - if ok, will start third round of chemotherapy on Monday June 21st
June 7, 2004 - Blood work to check Dilantin levels - everything good, level is 18. Anna has been working 6
hrs per day - still time left in the day to sneak a nap in.
May 25, 2004 - Visit with neurosurgeon Dr. Rosseau for an MRI -(last MRI was taken April 9). The MRI
shows that the tumor is dissipating. Next MRI is scheduled for July 30.
May 24, 2004 - Anna begins second round of chemotherapy - takes 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per
day for five days and then nothing for the following 23 days. Still not able to drive due to vision impairment.
Anna has been working 4-6 hrs per day, 5 days per week. (Naps fit into her daily routine quite often)
May 20, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can
continue with chemotherapy round two - counts look great - on to round two next Monday!
May 15, 2004 - Three of Anna's friends organized a fundraiser for Anna. Over 215 attended (including
Anna). Everyone laughed, hugged, cried and had fun. It was quite an overwhelming night.
April 26-30, 2004 - No noticeable side effects from TEMODAR ® chemotherapy treatment.
April 26, 2004 - Anna begins first round of chemotherapy - takes 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills for five
days and then nothing for the following 23 days.
April 19, 2004 - Anna increases her work schedule to 4 days a week / 4 hours per day - still not able to drive
due to vision impairment and anti-seizure medication
April 15, 2004 - Anna met with Dr. Newman, an oncology specialist at Northwestern, to discuss her
chemotherapy treatment plan. He recommends that Anna receive six cycles (months) of a chemotherapy
drug named TEMODAR ®. For each treatment cycle, you orally take the prescribed dose of TEMODAR ®
(300mg for Anna) once a day for 5 days. From Day 6 to Day 28 (or the next 23 days) you have a rest
period and not take any TEMODAR ® . To help offset common side effects such as nausea, Anna will be
taking KYTRIL. CBC tests will be given around day 22 of each cycle to monitor her bodies reaction to the
chemotherapy.
April 9, 2004 - MRI taken today shows that the tumor has not grown!
April 6, 2004 - Visit to primary care physician shows blood pressure at 150/100 - change to blood pressure
meds are made today. Come back for a follow-up visit in three weeks.
March 30, 2004 - Due to nausea lasting for the last couple of weeks, a CT is taken; great news, the tumor has
not grown! It has been almost 6 weeks since her last procedure. Still working about 12 hrs per week and
unable to drive.
March 9, 2004 - Because of the seizure, an MRI is administered to take a look at the tumor. It has not grown
since the December 10, 2003 surgery.
March 8, 2004 - Anna suffers a full seizure shortly after arriving at work. She was transported to Loyola
where it was determined that her blood sodium levels were too low. Also, her Dilantin (anti-seizure
medication) dosage was not quite high enough. She is released from Loyola that evening.
February 2004 - Anna tries to work a few hours a day, a couple of days a week; she depends on others for
transportation as her sight has not been normal since her December 10, 2003 surgery.
February 19, 2004 - Anna spends the day receiving her Gamma knife procedure and is able to go home that
night.
February 11, 2004 - Anna receives her last of 5 radiation 'boost' treatments in preparation for her Gamma
knife procedure.
January 15, 2004 - Pathology reports are in from John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. Malignant
neoplasm; difficult to classify; gliosarcoma.
Dec 8, 2004- Visit with neurosurgeon Dr. Rosseau to discuss MRI results - MRI results - MRI shows NO
TUMOR GROWTH! WOW! Next MRI in 3 months - until today, MRI's were scheduled every two months -
this is a significant accomplishment!
Nov 30, 2004 - MRI at Central DuPage hospital
Nov 18, 2004 - Appointment with Dr. Benton (Psychiatrist)
Nov 15, 2004 - eighth round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for five days
Nov 3, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can continue
with chemotherapy round EIGHT. Anna still working full time (and then some). Has not been released to be
able to drive.
Oct 18, 2004 - seventh round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for five days
(this was deferred one week pending MRI results)
Oct 14-17 2004- GIRLS TRIP! - Covered Bridge Festival - Parke County Indiana - Five friends used to
make this pilgrimage (with thousands of others) on an annual basis. We did this for at least six years straight.
Then about eight years ago, our jobs, families and other obligations got in the way and we haven't gone. So,
back in January 2004, we starting planning this trip with Anna. The date has arrived and we are going! Ten
years ago we all had shopping lists of "places to go and vendors to see" while on the trip - a somewhat shop
till you drop sort of theme. Now, with a deeper meaning of friends, family, life and love in perspective, we are
making this trip with a shopping list containing only "friendship, conversation, laughs, naps, and time together"
Oct 13, 2004- Visit with neurosurgeon Dr. Rosseau to discuss MRI results - comparing July 29th films with
Sept 29 films - MRI shows NO TUMOR GROWTH! Yipee! Hooray!
Oct 11, 2004- Anna was scheduled to begin seventh round of TEMODAR ® but with MRI reading
confusion (see Oct 6, 2004) this has been deferred until October 18, pending MRI results.
Oct 6, 2004- Anna was scheduled to see Dr. Rosseau to discuss her MRI results but her office never got
the MRI reading results. Because all of Anna's previous MRI films were located at CINN downtown, the staff
at Central DuPage Hospital were not able to read this MRI (sounds like all MRI readings are all based on
comparing the previous MRI films to the current one vs. just looking at the current film and saying "looks good
- all clear") Now, Anna has to chase down her films from her July 29 MRI taken downtown at CINN and get
them over to Central DuPage Hospital for the comparison reading to be performed. All appointments have
been rescheduled, along with her next round of chemo.
Sept 29, 2004 - MRI performed at Central DuPage hospital (all other MRI tests had been done downtown at
CINN Dr. Rosseau office); Anna's insurance covers more if MRI performed at Central DuPage Hospital in
Winfield
Sept 13, 2004 - Anna begins sixth round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for
five days.
Sept 8, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can
continue with chemotherapy round SIX
Aug 16, 2004 - Anna begins fifth round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for five
days.
July 30, 2004 - Visit with neurosurgeon Dr. Rosseau for an MRI -(last MRI was taken May 25). The MRI
shows NO TUMOR GROWTH! Yipee. Next MRI is scheduled for Oct 1.
July 19, 2004 - Anna begins fourth round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for
five days. Is working full time (40hrs per week). Still not able to drive due to vision impairment. Very tired
most days, but show me anyone who wouldn't be tired during a FIGHT like this.
July 15, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can
continue with chemotherapy round FOUR - if ok, will start FOURTH round of chemotherapy on Monday July
19th
June 21, 2004 - Anna begins third round of chemotherapy - 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per day for
five days and then nothing for the following 23 days. Still not able to drive due to vision impairment.
June 16, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can
continue with chemotherapy round three - if ok, will start third round of chemotherapy on Monday June 21st
June 7, 2004 - Blood work to check Dilantin levels - everything good, level is 18. Anna has been working 6
hrs per day - still time left in the day to sneak a nap in.
May 25, 2004 - Visit with neurosurgeon Dr. Rosseau for an MRI -(last MRI was taken April 9). The MRI
shows that the tumor is dissipating. Next MRI is scheduled for July 30.
May 24, 2004 - Anna begins second round of chemotherapy - takes 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills per
day for five days and then nothing for the following 23 days. Still not able to drive due to vision impairment.
Anna has been working 4-6 hrs per day, 5 days per week. (Naps fit into her daily routine quite often)
May 20, 2004 - Visit with oncology Dr. Newman to check blood counts and make sure that Anna can
continue with chemotherapy round two - counts look great - on to round two next Monday!
May 15, 2004 - Three of Anna's friends organized a fundraiser for Anna. Over 215 attended (including
Anna). Everyone laughed, hugged, cried and had fun. It was quite an overwhelming night.
April 26-30, 2004 - No noticeable side effects from TEMODAR ® chemotherapy treatment.
April 26, 2004 - Anna begins first round of chemotherapy - takes 300mg TEMODAR ® tablets/pills for five
days and then nothing for the following 23 days.
April 19, 2004 - Anna increases her work schedule to 4 days a week / 4 hours per day - still not able to drive
due to vision impairment and anti-seizure medication
April 15, 2004 - Anna met with Dr. Newman, an oncology specialist at Northwestern, to discuss her
chemotherapy treatment plan. He recommends that Anna receive six cycles (months) of a chemotherapy
drug named TEMODAR ®. For each treatment cycle, you orally take the prescribed dose of TEMODAR ®
(300mg for Anna) once a day for 5 days. From Day 6 to Day 28 (or the next 23 days) you have a rest
period and not take any TEMODAR ® . To help offset common side effects such as nausea, Anna will be
taking KYTRIL. CBC tests will be given around day 22 of each cycle to monitor her bodies reaction to the
chemotherapy.
April 9, 2004 - MRI taken today shows that the tumor has not grown!
April 6, 2004 - Visit to primary care physician shows blood pressure at 150/100 - change to blood pressure
meds are made today. Come back for a follow-up visit in three weeks.
March 30, 2004 - Due to nausea lasting for the last couple of weeks, a CT is taken; great news, the tumor has
not grown! It has been almost 6 weeks since her last procedure. Still working about 12 hrs per week and
unable to drive.
March 9, 2004 - Because of the seizure, an MRI is administered to take a look at the tumor. It has not grown
since the December 10, 2003 surgery.
March 8, 2004 - Anna suffers a full seizure shortly after arriving at work. She was transported to Loyola
where it was determined that her blood sodium levels were too low. Also, her Dilantin (anti-seizure
medication) dosage was not quite high enough. She is released from Loyola that evening.
February 2004 - Anna tries to work a few hours a day, a couple of days a week; she depends on others for
transportation as her sight has not been normal since her December 10, 2003 surgery.
February 19, 2004 - Anna spends the day receiving her Gamma knife procedure and is able to go home that
night.
February 11, 2004 - Anna receives her last of 5 radiation 'boost' treatments in preparation for her Gamma
knife procedure.
January 15, 2004 - Pathology reports are in from John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. Malignant
neoplasm; difficult to classify; gliosarcoma.
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| Anna August 30, 2004 (After 5th round of chemo) |
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Brain Cancer Patient, Wife & Mother
Anna Taylor 45-year-old; wife of Scott Taylor; mother of Danielle 22 and Jenn 18; step-mom of Ashley 1
9, Alicia 16 and Tommy 11, is in the midst of the FIGHT for her life. She has been diagnosed with an
extremely uncommon form of Brain Cancer named Gliosarcoma.
We (3 of her friends) struggled with how to help. This website is intended to keep all of Anna's family,
friends and loved ones of others fighting the same cancer, informed as she moves through her FIGHT.
Anna Taylor 45-year-old; wife of Scott Taylor; mother of Danielle 22 and Jenn 18; step-mom of Ashley 1
9, Alicia 16 and Tommy 11, is in the midst of the FIGHT for her life. She has been diagnosed with an
extremely uncommon form of Brain Cancer named Gliosarcoma.
We (3 of her friends) struggled with how to help. This website is intended to keep all of Anna's family,
friends and loved ones of others fighting the same cancer, informed as she moves through her FIGHT.