Thursday, October 13, 2016
My New Life with Cancer: I can't believe it's October!
My New Life with Cancer: I can't believe it's October!: Dear Friends and Family, Today as many of you know, is the ONE & ONLY day set aside to recognize Metastatic Breast Cancer...the only B...
I can't believe it's October!
Dear Friends and Family,
Today as many of you know, is the ONE & ONLY day set aside to recognize Metastatic Breast Cancer...the only BC the kills. The second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. The very type of cancer that I am living with!
Here are some very real statistics:
A. When you have MBC (also known as being stage IV BC) you will forever be in treatment until you die. There are different treatments, not just chemo, but all are tough in there own way.
B. 30% of early stage BC patients will become stage IV. That number has not changed in over 20 years! That's a fact! No matter what the Komen people say these numbers are FACT!
C. Each day on average 113 men/women die from MBC. Again, this hasn't changed in over 20 years. That's 41,245 lives lost to Breast Cancer! No pink boas, no "Save the Ta Ta" banners, no pink balloons or ribbons...just husbands, children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, friends, etc losing someone they love dearly!
We don't need more pinkwashing! We need a cure. My request is this...if you choose to donate to this fight please give to either: Metavivor (100% money goes to research!) or The American Cancer Society. Thank you!
Now...an update: 😊
We finished out our time at Leech Lake with a very special visit from Michael and Jenny. In my life ANY occasion is made better when their with us! Our neighbors at the lake threw Mom and Dad a huge going away party...and it was so much fun for us to be a part of it. Such a joy to see my adult son reacquainted with people he'd known all his life. It was the hardest thing in the world to say goodbye to both our lake, and Mike and Jen...but we will always have our memories and we're already discussing vacations at the resort.
Health wise it's been a challenging fall. I have battled constant mouth infections due to my chemo, severe nausea and extreme fatigue. Which somewhat explains why I haven't written sooner. However...it's not for nothing ! I had a new PET scan on Monday 10/10 and saw my oncologist yesterday. The new treatment has in fact reduced the size of the tumors so we are most definitely going in the right direction! He also decreased the dosage from 125mg to 100 mg as we hope that will help with side effects (I'm also taking an anti-nausea med that really helps!). I can handle some discomfort if we see positive results...and so far so good!
I am deeply grateful for the love and support of my family and friends! Without you I'm not sure how we'd make it. Don and I both want to give a special shout out to someone who is my right arm and with whom I couldn't do without! This angel has taken me to 98% of my appointments, brings me to my nail appointments for R & R, listens to me when I'm down, brings us food....and soooo much more. God Bless you Jeanie Sprenger for all that you do for the both of us...we do not ever take it for granted!
Thank you all for reading, I'll be back soon. As always, I ask for prayers for my family with special emphasis on Mike & Don as this is very difficult for them!
God bless you all...Kathy 💞💞
Today as many of you know, is the ONE & ONLY day set aside to recognize Metastatic Breast Cancer...the only BC the kills. The second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. The very type of cancer that I am living with!
Here are some very real statistics:
A. When you have MBC (also known as being stage IV BC) you will forever be in treatment until you die. There are different treatments, not just chemo, but all are tough in there own way.
B. 30% of early stage BC patients will become stage IV. That number has not changed in over 20 years! That's a fact! No matter what the Komen people say these numbers are FACT!
C. Each day on average 113 men/women die from MBC. Again, this hasn't changed in over 20 years. That's 41,245 lives lost to Breast Cancer! No pink boas, no "Save the Ta Ta" banners, no pink balloons or ribbons...just husbands, children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, friends, etc losing someone they love dearly!
We don't need more pinkwashing! We need a cure. My request is this...if you choose to donate to this fight please give to either: Metavivor (100% money goes to research!) or The American Cancer Society. Thank you!
Now...an update: 😊
We finished out our time at Leech Lake with a very special visit from Michael and Jenny. In my life ANY occasion is made better when their with us! Our neighbors at the lake threw Mom and Dad a huge going away party...and it was so much fun for us to be a part of it. Such a joy to see my adult son reacquainted with people he'd known all his life. It was the hardest thing in the world to say goodbye to both our lake, and Mike and Jen...but we will always have our memories and we're already discussing vacations at the resort.
Health wise it's been a challenging fall. I have battled constant mouth infections due to my chemo, severe nausea and extreme fatigue. Which somewhat explains why I haven't written sooner. However...it's not for nothing ! I had a new PET scan on Monday 10/10 and saw my oncologist yesterday. The new treatment has in fact reduced the size of the tumors so we are most definitely going in the right direction! He also decreased the dosage from 125mg to 100 mg as we hope that will help with side effects (I'm also taking an anti-nausea med that really helps!). I can handle some discomfort if we see positive results...and so far so good!
I am deeply grateful for the love and support of my family and friends! Without you I'm not sure how we'd make it. Don and I both want to give a special shout out to someone who is my right arm and with whom I couldn't do without! This angel has taken me to 98% of my appointments, brings me to my nail appointments for R & R, listens to me when I'm down, brings us food....and soooo much more. God Bless you Jeanie Sprenger for all that you do for the both of us...we do not ever take it for granted!
Thank you all for reading, I'll be back soon. As always, I ask for prayers for my family with special emphasis on Mike & Don as this is very difficult for them!
God bless you all...Kathy 💞💞
Thursday, July 28, 2016
My New Life with Cancer: The Lost Summer...
My New Life with Cancer: The Lost Summer...: It's so hard to believe that August is just around the corner. I think that in the future I will always look back & refer to this as...
The Lost Summer...
It's so hard to believe that August is just around the corner. I think that in the future I will always look back & refer to this as the "Lost Summer". I say that for many reasons , some due to cancer and some not!
As we know from my last post, my treatments have all changed. Radiation is finished,
hallelujah (!), but the side effects lasted for almost a month, some are still with me. I can almost taste food again, my throat doesn't hurt any more...but my fatigue is worse than it's ever been. Just typing this blog takes me 5x longer than it used to...due to typo's I keep making, seeing double and falling asleep. Not looking for pity here...just explaining!
Since June I've been getting my monthly Faslodex injections...which I'm actually quite used to now. In June I had what they call loading shots...so I had two every two weeks. Since then its monthly. My Onc. has also increased my Zometa infusions from every 6 months to monthly. Zometa is a bone strengthener, he feels that now that my cancer has progressed I need to have it more often.
My Onc also very kindly gave me almost a month off between rads & me starting Ibrance (oral chemo). I started this on July 18. Everyday at 11a.m. I take my pill and make myself eat 1/2 a bagel or slice of toast (it must be taken with food!). Within 24 hours of starting it I had moth sores that went all down my throat. Once again a sore throat and NO appetite. My Onc and I couldn't believe it. Had it not hurt so much I would've laughed. I guess I'm very susceptible to mouth sore. 😒. I was given meds and thankfully they're gone for now.
Months ago when Don and I had planned this summer all of the above crapola was NOT in the plans. Since this is the final summer that my parents will spend at their home on Leech Lake 😢...after 44 years... Don & I had made the decision that I would spend the majority of my summer with them. We've only been there for two weekends, and I stayed separately for 3 days. Damn cancer! We had also wanted to take another road trip, thinking perhaps a visit to Door County would be in order. Sadly, like everything else, I've been too sick! And saddest of all I was too ill last month to attend the funeral a wonderful man...Dan Ness...who's wife I love dearly! I will forever feel terrible for not being there to say my final goodbyes and showing my love and support for DiAnn! 💞
But...you know I can't leave this on a low note right! So here are some VERY positive things I'll take away from this summer:
* New friendships that I've made and the love of old friends!
* The constant support of my family...every one of you! But always extra kudos must go out to Don and Mike. I know that this is all very scary for them, hang in there guys...I've got this!
* we had a fabulous visit from my sister Kim and her kids Matt & Meg.
* I spent wonderful quality time with Aimee & Jack.
* We've spent time with the Hein's as well as my parents
BUT BEST OF ALL...
* We can hardly wait to see Michael and Jenny on the first weekend of August. No one can possibly know how much I miss my incredible son and his wonderful girlfriend Jenny. We are tremendously proud of them and their accomplishments , and we'd never wish for them to change their dreams and move back here (!) But that doesn't mean we can't LOVE when they're with us. To this day, at 28, Michael continues to be my pride & joy! xo
So...that's it my friends. I love you dearly. I pray for you all...this time my prayer request is for Mitch Olson, who is preparing for a liver transplant.
God Bless you all! Kathy 💞💞
As we know from my last post, my treatments have all changed. Radiation is finished,
hallelujah (!), but the side effects lasted for almost a month, some are still with me. I can almost taste food again, my throat doesn't hurt any more...but my fatigue is worse than it's ever been. Just typing this blog takes me 5x longer than it used to...due to typo's I keep making, seeing double and falling asleep. Not looking for pity here...just explaining!
Since June I've been getting my monthly Faslodex injections...which I'm actually quite used to now. In June I had what they call loading shots...so I had two every two weeks. Since then its monthly. My Onc. has also increased my Zometa infusions from every 6 months to monthly. Zometa is a bone strengthener, he feels that now that my cancer has progressed I need to have it more often.
My Onc also very kindly gave me almost a month off between rads & me starting Ibrance (oral chemo). I started this on July 18. Everyday at 11a.m. I take my pill and make myself eat 1/2 a bagel or slice of toast (it must be taken with food!). Within 24 hours of starting it I had moth sores that went all down my throat. Once again a sore throat and NO appetite. My Onc and I couldn't believe it. Had it not hurt so much I would've laughed. I guess I'm very susceptible to mouth sore. 😒. I was given meds and thankfully they're gone for now.
Months ago when Don and I had planned this summer all of the above crapola was NOT in the plans. Since this is the final summer that my parents will spend at their home on Leech Lake 😢...after 44 years... Don & I had made the decision that I would spend the majority of my summer with them. We've only been there for two weekends, and I stayed separately for 3 days. Damn cancer! We had also wanted to take another road trip, thinking perhaps a visit to Door County would be in order. Sadly, like everything else, I've been too sick! And saddest of all I was too ill last month to attend the funeral a wonderful man...Dan Ness...who's wife I love dearly! I will forever feel terrible for not being there to say my final goodbyes and showing my love and support for DiAnn! 💞
But...you know I can't leave this on a low note right! So here are some VERY positive things I'll take away from this summer:
* New friendships that I've made and the love of old friends!
* The constant support of my family...every one of you! But always extra kudos must go out to Don and Mike. I know that this is all very scary for them, hang in there guys...I've got this!
* we had a fabulous visit from my sister Kim and her kids Matt & Meg.
* I spent wonderful quality time with Aimee & Jack.
* We've spent time with the Hein's as well as my parents
BUT BEST OF ALL...
* We can hardly wait to see Michael and Jenny on the first weekend of August. No one can possibly know how much I miss my incredible son and his wonderful girlfriend Jenny. We are tremendously proud of them and their accomplishments , and we'd never wish for them to change their dreams and move back here (!) But that doesn't mean we can't LOVE when they're with us. To this day, at 28, Michael continues to be my pride & joy! xo
So...that's it my friends. I love you dearly. I pray for you all...this time my prayer request is for Mitch Olson, who is preparing for a liver transplant.
God Bless you all! Kathy 💞💞
The Lost Summer...
It's so hard to believe that August is just around the corner. I think that in the future I will always look back & refer to this as the "Lost Summer". I say that for many reasons , some due to cancer and some not!
As we know from my last post, my treatments have all changed. Radiation is finished,
hallelujah (!), but the side effects lasted for almost a month, some are still with me. I can almost taste food again, my throat doesn't hurt any more...but my fatigue is worse than it's ever been. Just typing this blog takes me 5x longer than it used to...due to typo's I keep making, seeing double and falling asleep. Not looking for pity here...just explaining!
Since June I've been getting my monthly Faslodex injections...which I'm actually quite used to now. In June I had what they call loading shots...so I had two every two weeks. Since then its monthly. My Onc. has also increased my Zometa infusions from every 6 months to monthly. Zometa is a bone strengthener, he feels that now that my cancer has progressed I need to have it more often.
My Onc also very kindly gave me almost a month off between rads & me starting Ibrance (oral chemo). I started this on July 18. Everyday at 11a.m. I take my pill and make myself eat 1/2 a bagel or slice of toast (it must be taken with food!). Within 24 hours of starting it I had moth sores that went all down my throat. Once again a sore throat and NO appetite. My Onc and I couldn't believe it. Had it not hurt so much I would've laughed. I guess I'm very susceptible to mouth sore. 😒. I was given meds and thankfully they're gone for now.
Months ago when Don and I had planned this summer all of the above crapola was NOT in the plans. Since this is the final summer that my parents will spend at their home on Leech Lake 😢...after 44 years... Don & I had made the decision that I would spend the majority of my summer with them. We've only been there for two weekends, and I stayed separately for 3 days. Damn cancer! We had also wanted to take another road trip, thinking perhaps a visit to Door County would be in order. Sadly, like everything else, I've been too sick! And saddest of all I was too ill last month to attend the funeral a wonderful man...Dan Ness...who's wife I love dearly! I will forever feel terrible for not being there to say my final goodbyes and showing my love and support for DiAnn! 💞
But...you know I can't leave this on a low note right! So here are some VERY positive things I'll take away from this summer:
* New friendships that I've made and the love of old friends!
* The constant support of my family...every one of you! But always extra kudos must go out to Don and Mike. I know that this is all very scary for them, hang in there guys...I've got this!
* we had a fabulous visit from my sister Kim and her kids Matt & Meg.
* I spent wonderful quality time with Aimee & Jack.
* We've spent time with the Hein's as well as my parents
BUT BEST OF ALL...
* We can hardly wait to see Michael and Jenny on the first weekend of August. No one can possibly know how much I miss my incredible son and his wonderful girlfriend Jenny. We are tremendously proud of them and their accomplishments , and we'd never wish for them to change their dreams and move back here (!) But that doesn't mean we can't LOVE when they're with us. To this day, at 28, Michael continues to be my pride & joy! xo
So...that's it my friends. I love you dearly. I pray for you all...this time my prayer request is for Mitch Olson, who is preparing for a liver transplant.
God Bless you all! Kathy 💞💞
As we know from my last post, my treatments have all changed. Radiation is finished,
hallelujah (!), but the side effects lasted for almost a month, some are still with me. I can almost taste food again, my throat doesn't hurt any more...but my fatigue is worse than it's ever been. Just typing this blog takes me 5x longer than it used to...due to typo's I keep making, seeing double and falling asleep. Not looking for pity here...just explaining!
Since June I've been getting my monthly Faslodex injections...which I'm actually quite used to now. In June I had what they call loading shots...so I had two every two weeks. Since then its monthly. My Onc. has also increased my Zometa infusions from every 6 months to monthly. Zometa is a bone strengthener, he feels that now that my cancer has progressed I need to have it more often.
My Onc also very kindly gave me almost a month off between rads & me starting Ibrance (oral chemo). I started this on July 18. Everyday at 11a.m. I take my pill and make myself eat 1/2 a bagel or slice of toast (it must be taken with food!). Within 24 hours of starting it I had moth sores that went all down my throat. Once again a sore throat and NO appetite. My Onc and I couldn't believe it. Had it not hurt so much I would've laughed. I guess I'm very susceptible to mouth sore. 😒. I was given meds and thankfully they're gone for now.
Months ago when Don and I had planned this summer all of the above crapola was NOT in the plans. Since this is the final summer that my parents will spend at their home on Leech Lake 😢...after 44 years... Don & I had made the decision that I would spend the majority of my summer with them. We've only been there for two weekends, and I stayed separately for 3 days. Damn cancer! We had also wanted to take another road trip, thinking perhaps a visit to Door County would be in order. Sadly, like everything else, I've been too sick! And saddest of all I was too ill last month to attend the funeral a wonderful man...Dan Ness...who's wife I love dearly! I will forever feel terrible for not being there to say my final goodbyes and showing my love and support for DiAnn! 💞
But...you know I can't leave this on a low note right! So here are some VERY positive things I'll take away from this summer:
* New friendships that I've made and the love of old friends!
* The constant support of my family...every one of you! But always extra kudos must go out to Don and Mike. I know that this is all very scary for them, hang in there guys...I've got this!
* we had a fabulous visit from my sister Kim and her kids Matt & Meg.
* I spent wonderful quality time with Aimee & Jack.
* We've spent time with the Hein's as well as my parents
BUT BEST OF ALL...
* We can hardly wait to see Michael and Jenny on the first weekend of August. No one can possibly know how much I miss my incredible son and his wonderful girlfriend Jenny. We are tremendously proud of them and their accomplishments , and we'd never wish for them to change their dreams and move back here (!) But that doesn't mean we can't LOVE when they're with us. To this day, at 28, Michael continues to be my pride & joy! xo
So...that's it my friends. I love you dearly. I pray for you all...this time my prayer request is for Mitch Olson, who is preparing for a liver transplant.
God Bless you all! Kathy 💞💞
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
A quick update/getting started on new treatments!
Hello All...
I wanted to do a fast update as to where things are at since starting an entirely new treatment.
Two weeks ago Don & I met with my Oncologist (Onc) and it was then off to the infusion rooms for my normal Zometa (bone strengthener) and my first two Faslodex injections. I've always been very afraid of these injections as I've heard some pretty nasty stories about them over the years. I must say however, that the nurses at Coborns Cancer were awesome! Pain free...no, but horrid...absolutely not! My backside was a bit sore for the next two days, but honesty NOWHERE near what I thought it would be! Hallelujah! 😊
On Tuesday May 31 I started Radiation. I've been blessed with a terrific Rads Onc, and the same nurse that I've had the previous two times that I've had Rads...the joy of being a repeat customer. LOL. I have 10 sessions, one each day...for eight of those my dear friend Jeanie is taking me. For the other two days my darling sister, Barb, is taking me. Don and I are so grateful!
Because they're radiating the cancer in my neck my throat hurts terribly! It's similar to having strep throat pain. My appetite is very low because it's just too painful to eat...think swallowing over glass shards. Additionally, fatigue accompanies rads...so I'm even more exhausted than usual. I'm really not much fun these days. Upside: only 5 more radiation sessions left! YIPPEE!
After Radiation I will start the oral chemo. I have my first months supply ready and waiting...just need to wait. I'm so glad I don't have to do that along with the rads. A body can only handle so much!
As always, I feel your love and prayers...thank you so much! I have a special prayer request currently, a dear friend and form customer of mine is in the SC Hospital with Lukemia. He's getting IV chemo and we are praying that he goes into remission! Please if you could, add Dan Ness and his wife DiAnn to your prayers. Thank you! I love you all so much...Kathy 💞💞💞💞💞❤️
I wanted to do a fast update as to where things are at since starting an entirely new treatment.
Two weeks ago Don & I met with my Oncologist (Onc) and it was then off to the infusion rooms for my normal Zometa (bone strengthener) and my first two Faslodex injections. I've always been very afraid of these injections as I've heard some pretty nasty stories about them over the years. I must say however, that the nurses at Coborns Cancer were awesome! Pain free...no, but horrid...absolutely not! My backside was a bit sore for the next two days, but honesty NOWHERE near what I thought it would be! Hallelujah! 😊
On Tuesday May 31 I started Radiation. I've been blessed with a terrific Rads Onc, and the same nurse that I've had the previous two times that I've had Rads...the joy of being a repeat customer. LOL. I have 10 sessions, one each day...for eight of those my dear friend Jeanie is taking me. For the other two days my darling sister, Barb, is taking me. Don and I are so grateful!
Because they're radiating the cancer in my neck my throat hurts terribly! It's similar to having strep throat pain. My appetite is very low because it's just too painful to eat...think swallowing over glass shards. Additionally, fatigue accompanies rads...so I'm even more exhausted than usual. I'm really not much fun these days. Upside: only 5 more radiation sessions left! YIPPEE!
After Radiation I will start the oral chemo. I have my first months supply ready and waiting...just need to wait. I'm so glad I don't have to do that along with the rads. A body can only handle so much!
As always, I feel your love and prayers...thank you so much! I have a special prayer request currently, a dear friend and form customer of mine is in the SC Hospital with Lukemia. He's getting IV chemo and we are praying that he goes into remission! Please if you could, add Dan Ness and his wife DiAnn to your prayers. Thank you! I love you all so much...Kathy 💞💞💞💞💞❤️
Friday, May 27, 2016
My Journey continues OR Can I Get off this Roller Coaster?
For some of you, this may your first time ever reading one of my blogs. If that's the case...WELCOME! If you're a returning follower...thank you!
I know it's been a long time since my last entry. Part of the reason for that perhaps is that I was really tired of talking about cancer! I've lost so many friends to this stupid disease, and since I have been stable for 3 years, unlike so many people that I know and love, well I just was tired of the questions. Advanced Breast Cancer is weird, let me try to explain what I mean by that. Once a person's BC has metastasized it will forever be with you. Now, there will be times where your meds will keep it at bay ( or put it to sleep...or hide it so to speak) but eventually that sneaky cancer will become immune to that drug and start attacking again. Then the patient and his/her medical team move on to the next meds that they believe will push the cancer back. This is a very simplified explanation, but I'm hoping that by laying it out like this it will help those that had any confusion understand. It's actually taken me a long time and I learn something new ALL the time! I really credit my online support group Inspire for not making amazing friends worldwide, but for teaching me about my cancer and available treatment options.
Which leads me to the main reason for today's blog. At the end of April we celebrated my 4 year Cancervesary! I like to let it slip by quietly, but on that day it's something that Don and I are very much aware of...and always deeply grateful for! I've actually gotten rather lulled into the fact that since I've been stable for 3 years, and every time I have a scan and my Dr. say "Looks good Kathy, no new cancer" I think of course not! I'm going to defy the odds!
Well friends, NOONE is superwoman! So here's the "Rest of the story" kudos to Mr. Harvey. As most know ever since I was rear-ended by a semi about 7 years ago I have severe neck pain accompanied by horrid headaches. For the past month or more that pain has greatly increased, but never alarmed me. After all, I'd been told I'd forever experience pain. What concerned me was some right chest wall pain I was having, and although I was scheduled to see my onc in June, I decided to call the clinic and speak to a friend of mine who is also an oncology nurse. She suggested I be seen and helped arrange it for the next day. I saw the NP the next day who spoke to my onc who ordered a PET scan for Wednesday. On Thursday I received a call from the NP. She kindly told me that the scan had found nothing in my chest wall and they believed that perhaps that pain was muscular. She then told me they had found something at my C2 vertebrae that was active cancer. We have since found out that there are 4 new spots...the C2 lesion, 2 lymph nodes and a new spot on my 7th rib. Don summed it up very well...you try to prepare yourself to hear the words progression, every single time you receive your scan results. But in truth, there's no way to prepare...it still takes all of the air out of you and scare the shit out of you! As a good friend is known for saying...F...Cancer!
So here's what's next;
I've been taken off of the Femera.
I will begin Radiation to my neck to alleviate pain (hopefully)
Monthly I will receive injections of an anti-hormonal called Faslodex. This is done at the Cancer Center and I've already had my first dose. Kind of painful and given in the butt! So yes...when I say it's a "Pain in the butt" I MEAN IT!
I will also be taking an oral chemo...21 days in a row...7 days off. Many scary side effects, to many to list :-). I'm thinking positive!
Radiation will last 10 days...hallelujah! The other treatments are ongoing until:
A. They no longer work
B. I can no longer tolerate them
Then we find something else!
I promise all of you...I will continue to keep you updated. I want you to know, I AM NOT BRAVE! I am like every other stage IV Cancer patient...I WANT TO LIVE! I want to be with Don for many more years, I want to continue to watch Michael be successful, grow older, continue to enjoy his life, get married (hopefully sooner vs later ;-) enjoy my friends and family, just every damn thing that everybody else wants! I'm nothing special after all...just a woman who loves her family and life and wants the opportunity to continue to do that!
Whew...thank you for reading all of this! As always, I ask for your prayers...but please, I ask that you pray extra hard for my Don and my Mike! This is very hard on them of course and they need the extra support.
With love and appreciation,
Kathy 💞💞💞
I know it's been a long time since my last entry. Part of the reason for that perhaps is that I was really tired of talking about cancer! I've lost so many friends to this stupid disease, and since I have been stable for 3 years, unlike so many people that I know and love, well I just was tired of the questions. Advanced Breast Cancer is weird, let me try to explain what I mean by that. Once a person's BC has metastasized it will forever be with you. Now, there will be times where your meds will keep it at bay ( or put it to sleep...or hide it so to speak) but eventually that sneaky cancer will become immune to that drug and start attacking again. Then the patient and his/her medical team move on to the next meds that they believe will push the cancer back. This is a very simplified explanation, but I'm hoping that by laying it out like this it will help those that had any confusion understand. It's actually taken me a long time and I learn something new ALL the time! I really credit my online support group Inspire for not making amazing friends worldwide, but for teaching me about my cancer and available treatment options.
Which leads me to the main reason for today's blog. At the end of April we celebrated my 4 year Cancervesary! I like to let it slip by quietly, but on that day it's something that Don and I are very much aware of...and always deeply grateful for! I've actually gotten rather lulled into the fact that since I've been stable for 3 years, and every time I have a scan and my Dr. say "Looks good Kathy, no new cancer" I think of course not! I'm going to defy the odds!
Well friends, NOONE is superwoman! So here's the "Rest of the story" kudos to Mr. Harvey. As most know ever since I was rear-ended by a semi about 7 years ago I have severe neck pain accompanied by horrid headaches. For the past month or more that pain has greatly increased, but never alarmed me. After all, I'd been told I'd forever experience pain. What concerned me was some right chest wall pain I was having, and although I was scheduled to see my onc in June, I decided to call the clinic and speak to a friend of mine who is also an oncology nurse. She suggested I be seen and helped arrange it for the next day. I saw the NP the next day who spoke to my onc who ordered a PET scan for Wednesday. On Thursday I received a call from the NP. She kindly told me that the scan had found nothing in my chest wall and they believed that perhaps that pain was muscular. She then told me they had found something at my C2 vertebrae that was active cancer. We have since found out that there are 4 new spots...the C2 lesion, 2 lymph nodes and a new spot on my 7th rib. Don summed it up very well...you try to prepare yourself to hear the words progression, every single time you receive your scan results. But in truth, there's no way to prepare...it still takes all of the air out of you and scare the shit out of you! As a good friend is known for saying...F...Cancer!
So here's what's next;
I've been taken off of the Femera.
I will begin Radiation to my neck to alleviate pain (hopefully)
Monthly I will receive injections of an anti-hormonal called Faslodex. This is done at the Cancer Center and I've already had my first dose. Kind of painful and given in the butt! So yes...when I say it's a "Pain in the butt" I MEAN IT!
I will also be taking an oral chemo...21 days in a row...7 days off. Many scary side effects, to many to list :-). I'm thinking positive!
Radiation will last 10 days...hallelujah! The other treatments are ongoing until:
A. They no longer work
B. I can no longer tolerate them
Then we find something else!
I promise all of you...I will continue to keep you updated. I want you to know, I AM NOT BRAVE! I am like every other stage IV Cancer patient...I WANT TO LIVE! I want to be with Don for many more years, I want to continue to watch Michael be successful, grow older, continue to enjoy his life, get married (hopefully sooner vs later ;-) enjoy my friends and family, just every damn thing that everybody else wants! I'm nothing special after all...just a woman who loves her family and life and wants the opportunity to continue to do that!
Whew...thank you for reading all of this! As always, I ask for your prayers...but please, I ask that you pray extra hard for my Don and my Mike! This is very hard on them of course and they need the extra support.
With love and appreciation,
Kathy 💞💞💞
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