Enhertu & Scan Results

I met with my oncologist today to review the results from my CT scan last week. Overall, the results were positive as there was no change since my scan in August which means STABLE!!  This was the goal. My next scan is in 3 months and I’m told that no change on that scan would be good news too. I selfishly want to see shrinkage, but that might not be reality yet. Patience is hard. My oncologist is focused on my whole self and is pointing to the lack of oxygen usage as another sign that Enhertu is doing what we want. 

My 3rd infusion was also today and that went smoothly. Side effects continue to be limited to GI unrest.  Lovely, right?  Hopefully I can address that by being more proactive with meds. I have a tendency to take something when it is too late.

The hip is recovering well, but I’m having pain in my knee, ankle and toes that is being attributed to arthritis. Sara thinks the new hip leg might be slightly longer so I’ll need to try an insert in my other leg too. I’m trying out a cream that just moved from prescription to over the counter for the arthritis. If that doesn’t work, I have a script for a non-steroid anti-inflammatory. It can also upset the stomach so I’m trying to avoid that. Overall, I don’t like taking anything. But, I have options which is good. Keep trying until you find what works…I guess I need to be ok with that for chemo too.

I got a strong dose of steroids today with chemo, but want to avoid them as much as possible hoping my moon face will go away. I’ve been off daily steroids for a week now.  I can hide the cheeks if I take the pic from the right angle :) I’m getting used to the wig and feel less self conscious with it, but I’d love to find something short and funky. My eyebrows and eyelashes are back…and my mustache!! Ugh!  I also have fuzz on my head, but it is nowhere near covered. And the areas that were radiated are seriously lacking. Maybe I’ll have enough to ditch the wig and hats in the spring?

I’m getting around more…I’m slow and get tied fast, but I’m there! Akron,  Ithaca, Pittsburgh and I’m about to book my first work trip to Memphis which I think will be ok if I bring the bare minimum, keep the weight of my backpack/luggage light and put myself in a position not to need to run to catch a plane. I also stopped using the scooter at the grocery store a couple weeks ago so I’m back to shopping with a cart. Thank goodness as those scooters are annoying. In the couple of months I used them, I only hit one person :) Oops!

Overall, I’m improving and trying to be ok with slow progress as that’s better than no progress. Reconciling how normal I feel in my head with my physical limitations is hard. My body had better catch up soon because there are adventures to be had. And I plan on enjoying all my minutes.

Grocery Shopping

Slowly, but surely, life is returning to normal.  Over the last week, I’ve been walking without the cane more and I just returned from Wegmans where I grocery shopped with a cart for the first time in months!  This probably seems small, but after ordering groceries online for pickup or using a scooter, this is a huge deal for me. 

Last week we returned to working in the office 3 days each week and I’ll be headed to Pittsburgh for my first work trip in almost a year.

I have my eyes set on normal. Soon.

Enhertu- Round 2

My second round of Enhertu was Tuesday making today day 4. So far so good in terms of side effects. The fatigue seems to be better this time too so maybe what I experienced last time was more related to surgery and hospitalization than treatment? I’m not sure, but I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’ve held true to my reputation as a non-puker too as the GI issues have been minimal.

I have scans at the end of this month to see if this treatment is holding me stable. No change is what we’re hoping for.

What I really want is the next 2 weeks of steroids to be over. I have the round steroid face and I hate it. Soon.

I’m the meantime, I’m enjoying my minutes. Today I got an unexpected visit with mom and my aunts in Rochester which included a tour of the neighborhood that my great grandparents lived in and lunch at an old firehouse on their street. Fun times.

Mom kept telling me there was a lighthouse. We found it inland.

I’m going to have to get her back there to tour it.

Big cheeks!!

Lunch was so good…I’m going to be full for days!

I forgot to take a picture of the house. Next time.

Ugh…so full!

I need to stop eating. I’m so full all the time so starting today, I’m going to start watching my volume. My goal so far has been to stay hydrated and keep a level of full, but I think I’ve found critical mass and my body can hold no more!!

I’ve been waking up uncomfortable. Maybe 4 pieces of cake for my birthday wasn’t such a great idea? But, it was so incredibly yummy. Mom made me my favorite applesauce cake and Dan got the ultimate chocolate from wegmans with black raspberry ice cream. How do you resist both of those?

Overall, my experience with Enhertu hasn’t been horrible. I’m hopeful I will continue to tolerate this well and maybe the week before the next infusion will be normal from a stomach perspective. Overall, I’d say the fatigue is the worse part with slight stomach unrest. I’m so tired after the slightest activity. So unfair!

Dan tells me I still need to cut myself slack after surgery and 11 days in the hospital. I’m not so sure. I think this is chemo related. Maybe the next week will give me more perspective on the situation.

So here I am. Up early and enjoying a cup of tea. We’re going on the boat today with friends. I’m excited. 

Enhertu - 1st Infusion

Today was a really long day!! I left home at 7am for a bone and CT scan which takes forever as the radioactive injection needs to sit for 3 hours. These were scans to establish a baseline to see how I look in 6 weeks.

Then it was off to the infusion center. Things went slowly, but smoothly so I can’t complain. Next time should be a lot faster.

And, now I wait… 

Sleep

I really can’t complain about a solid 6 hours of sleep, correct? But, I am. 

I lay down at 10pm and sleep right away which is great considering I’m still on steroids. I’m able to sleep in 2 positions: on my back with my knees propped it on my right side with a pillow between my knees. And, I’m good for 6 whole hours. And then it is 4am which is way too early to be awake for the day. I’m wide awake!!

What do I do? I lay here picturing the hikes of last fall and before hoping to drift back off, but no. I think about what I’d like my next hike to be… hopefully a short, flat one-miler in October. Leaves crunching under my feet with sun shinning through the trees…

This morning is worse as I’m in a hotel so I really don’t want to disturb Dan and Ryan who are not suffering this same fate. Then I think about Tyler, hopefully sleeping through the night in his dorm for the first time. I’m fairly confident he’s fine. I’ve even checked the camera on Lucy in her luxury kennel and she’s sleeping away. It’s just me here in the dark left to my own thoughts.

So, I remind myself that I’ve slept 6 solid hours. I can lay here a few more thinking about all the blessings in my life as I listen to those I love most slumber around me. 

Home

I’ve been home a full week and am improving daily. Basic things still take a lot out of me, but I love being able to do them. Making dinner on Tuesday felt good. Since then we’ve been making the rounds of Tyler’s favorite spots so no cooking, but I’ll be back at it next week. I actually went down into the basement yesterday to restart the dryer. Woot woot!

The new chemo is scheduled to start on Tuesday and I’m full of hope that this is my key. I only need one thing to work, right? We picked up the nausea meds last night so bring it on!

Ty should be ready to go by the end of the day today. It is going to be so weird. And good for him. I’m so happy he’s going somewhere that he already has a network of friends and support. He’s smiling and ready even if mom isn’t quite there yet. I’m looking forward to hearing about his adventures. Maybe he’ll throw us a pic once in a while…with teeth. I know he’s ready.

Ryan is our social butterfly. Cars are pulling in the driveway daily to take him somewhere fun. Today is golfing. I’m anticipating a more typical high school experience for him with lots of football game attendance, dances and general good times. I’m looking forward to those smiles too. He’ll miss Tyler and I hope we find ways to keep them connected. 

Change is life and we’re rolling with it. Enjoy all those minutes as they are short.