One Year

I had chemo yesterday which was also my 1 year anniversary on the same line of treatment. I find that exciting after blowing through 3 lines of treatment before starting this one. Mom went with me so it was the first time I didn’t work from the chemo chair and I realized just how fast it goes when I’m actively doing something. Things seemed really slow yesterday!! Poor mom.

I also met with the PA instead of the doctor and I really like her. I told her I asked the doctor about cutting out or radiating my liver tumor and he said they typically don’t do that for metastatic disease, but he didn’t explain why. She said he is pursuing it for me and has engaged the radiation team, but that they normally wouldn’t do that unless I was in pain, which I am not. She then said it would be like pulling the weeds you can see in your garden. You know there is more you can’t see. Hmmm. Maybe I didn’t know that. But it does make sense although it is really sobering. At least know I understand the why.

My wean off steroids failed so I put myself back on, with the doctors blessing, before landing in the hospital. Now I need to let it build back up as I’m still struggling with breathing with any activity. No fun. At least I’m home. A year ago I wouldn’t have known what to do until it was too late.

There’s nothing much else going on except a bird in the oven and yummy sides. I think I’m hungry!

Long Time

I didn’t realize how long it had been since I updated the blog. I guess that means things have been boring which is good, right?

And things have been good except for a pesky cold that I think I’ve finally kicked with the help of a steroid boost. I’ve started a slow taper back to the daily 10mg dose for my lungs, which are still not behaving. Hopefully I’ll stop needing to eat all the time and my cheeks will start to shrink.

I had scans last week which showed I’m still stable. No reduction in size of the liver lesion, but no growth either. I asked the oncologist if we can radiate or cut the disease out of my liver as it seems to be the only area of concern with disease. He said they don’t normally do that for metastatic disease and there is the risk of bleeding with pain, but he’s going to present the possibility to the radiation department to see if I’m a candidate. I am a pushy patient!

My spine also lite up, but that could mean disease or the bone is healing/creating scar tissue. I choose to believe it is healing as the rest of my bones have healed and I’m not in pain. No other bones show activity. My oncologist thinks that healing is a reasonable assumption.

That leaves my lungs. I am off oxygen during the day which goes well most of the time. I still struggle with any sort of incline if I forget to go slow. I see the pulmonologist next week so we’ll see if he has any new ideas besides waiting for my current treatment to stop working on the disease so we can try something hoping to keep the disease under control AND not have the lung side effects. My oncologist seems to think I need to reset my expectations and see this as the new normal. I’m not ready to accept that just yet. I need to be able to walk and talk at the same time.

Other than that, I’m trying my best to keep life normal. I’m working full time and cooking a lot. I’m looking forward to turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes!! Oh, and the firetruck parade!