I have been doing a lot of reflecting as I approach the sixth anniversary of my diagnosis. What a six years it has been. The first year was the intense treatment - chemo, then surgery, then radiation. Dessert has been the five years since. I was stable on one drug protocol for four years. My life was normal and I could even question whether the diagnosis was real. It was. I showed progression in my scans January 2024. I was on one drug from then until August, then another from September to now. I dealt with side effects like wicked blisters that got infected. Ouch! (Even the doctor winced) I got a blister on the tip of my finger from knitting. From knitting!!! Of course, fatigue was a factor. Always.
The fall was tough. I had started a new drug protocol, then we moved here. Covid found me, then a month later, bronchitis. So, was I tired from the covid and bronchitis or the new drugs? To top it off, three friends died from MBC. One who wasn't 40 on June 7, the second on September 13 then the next on October 27. The first had struggled and no treatment seemed to work for her. The second was doing well until her disease went sideways. The last had lived with MBC for 12 years. It's a hell of a reality check.
So now I've had a CT scan recently. It showed a mixed result. Some stability and some progression. My oncologist has declared that the drug isn't working. Now I'll be getting a drug by infusion at the chemo clinic. They're wonderful there. I just didn't want to see them again. I have my first two treatments on February 7 and 14 then a week off. That is how it will work, two weekly then a week off. There will be bloodwork before each treatment and an ecg before I even start. I've heard good things about this drug and am hopeful. Of course, my health care leash has been shortened so we won't be going far this summer. I'm hoping we can at least get to Kelowna. I'll ask if I can get my infusions there. The worst they're going to say is no.
I appreciate everyone 's support and prayers. It means a lot. As usual, it's one day at a time and one step at a time. Boy do I have a new appreciation for one day at a time.
I'm thankful to be in this little piece of heaven and am really thankful for the wonderful health teams I've met. Of course I have two pretty cool travelling companions.
The fall was tough. I had started a new drug protocol, then we moved here. Covid found me, then a month later, bronchitis. So, was I tired from the covid and bronchitis or the new drugs? To top it off, three friends died from MBC. One who wasn't 40 on June 7, the second on September 13 then the next on October 27. The first had struggled and no treatment seemed to work for her. The second was doing well until her disease went sideways. The last had lived with MBC for 12 years. It's a hell of a reality check.
So now I've had a CT scan recently. It showed a mixed result. Some stability and some progression. My oncologist has declared that the drug isn't working. Now I'll be getting a drug by infusion at the chemo clinic. They're wonderful there. I just didn't want to see them again. I have my first two treatments on February 7 and 14 then a week off. That is how it will work, two weekly then a week off. There will be bloodwork before each treatment and an ecg before I even start. I've heard good things about this drug and am hopeful. Of course, my health care leash has been shortened so we won't be going far this summer. I'm hoping we can at least get to Kelowna. I'll ask if I can get my infusions there. The worst they're going to say is no.
I appreciate everyone 's support and prayers. It means a lot. As usual, it's one day at a time and one step at a time. Boy do I have a new appreciation for one day at a time.
I'm thankful to be in this little piece of heaven and am really thankful for the wonderful health teams I've met. Of course I have two pretty cool travelling companions.
