Posts

The ride continues

-
Image
I had a pet scan on Monday and saw Dr. D on Tuesday.  I had read the results in the morning but it was hard to decipher the conclusion.  I knew it wasn't good.  In February, I had a biopsy to see if my cancer had changed mutations.   Dr. D was so excited that it did.  As she explained, it's now more aggressive but another whole group of meds that specifically  targets the cancer were available.  She actually called me with the news so I stopped Doxil (even though it seemed to have brought my cancer antigen level down) and started on a combo drug. This pet scan was to check whether 3 treatments of the combo drug worked.  Some of her patients have been on it for years. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.   Before I started Doxil, I had a pet scan in Dec which showed progression in my liver.  The picture showed a huge mass and smaller tumors in my lymph nodes.  This pet scan showed that it got even bigger.  She hesitate...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fun Distractions

-
Image
Last week started out to be fantastic.  The distraction I needed.  My cousin, Andrea, came to visit me from Florida.  The weather was beautiful so we walked around Berlin, went to the casino and took long walks with Xander, my new pup.  It was so great having her here since I don't know if I will ever get back to Florida again.  Later that week, Greg and I flew to Charleston, SC for 4 days.  What a wonderful city chock full of history and ghosts.  I walked a lot when I was able and took it easy when I couldn't.  One of the many frustrations is that I tire easily and pain when I walk.   We enjoyed carriage rides around the city and many delicious meals.  Unfortunately, another thing that cancer has robbed me of is enjoying food.  The saying that you don't know how much you miss something until it's gone is so true.  I have not had covid but my daughter, Emily,  had it over 1 year ago and her taste buds are still messed...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pet Scan

-
 Waiting is one of the hardest parts.  The unknown and the thought that tomorrow at this time my life changes, again, whether it's good news or bad. I don't even know how many times I've been in this room waiting for a scan.  Must be 20+.  This one is different.  Unfortunately, I'm quickly running out of options. 5 years ago, I was about to celebrate my 10 year remission from breast cancer when I found a lump.  A scan quickly showed that it was, indeed, cancer again.  The first cancer in 2009 was easy peasy, contained and a simple mastectomy took the problem away.  No chemo or radiation (whew).   Not to minimalize any cancer diagnosis but in the grand scheme of my life it was the easiest part.   Life went back to normal. Except that cancer loomed and was always in the back of my mind.  I really dislike the word, "normal".  Even worse, is "new normal".  So many commercials, particularly, for cancer drugs, use that...
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Welcome to my blog/life.  I have been wanting to start this for a long time but I feel this is a good time to invite my friends and family to  a place where they can read updates about what is going on. People are always asking me to update them.  I always have good intentions but it can be very overwhelming.  O nce upon a time  The C word...no one ever wants to hear that word especially if it's you or a loved one.  I never thought that I would ever have to deal with this since no one in my immediate family ever had it.  After my mother in law was diagnosed I made a long overdue appointment for a mammogram.  It showed a lump that the doc wanted to biopsy just to be safe but he assured me that it was nothing. In fact, he was to be on vacation for my follow up appt and said that he was so convinced that it was fine or he definately would be there.   Thankfully, Greg came with me.  While we were waiting for the doc, we overheard him sa...
1 comment
Read more