Cancer Update

I started this blog mainly so that I could keep my friends and family up-to-date with my health. I haven't gone there ... yet ... because I'm actually doing very well. My last visit to doctor was uneventful. Liver function is our focus now, and the result of my last blood test showed no change. That's good news! I am to have a liver function test done every 2-3 weeks to give us an idea of disease progression. Since my liver continues to do what it is supposed to do, I haven't experienced any physical changes.



Additional chemo is not in my plan and I am perfectly at peace with that decision. I've been on five different chemo drugs as well as several estrogen inhibitors (called aromotase inhibitors). My cancer was initially estrogen receptor positive, meaning that the tumor feeds itself on estrogen. Taking away the estrogen means that the tumors would eventually fade away. That hasn't happened in my case, although I think that treatment has extended my life without the side effects of chemo. Alas, there was one aromotase inhibitor that I had not tried, so I'm giving that a shot. Ladies, you can relate to what the side effects are: hot flashes, interrupted sleep, night sweats. For me, it's no big deal. It's much better than: aversion to certain smells, no appetite, NO sleep the night of treatment (it's the steroids), physical exhaustion, throwing up, taking 3-4 hour naps every afternoon after laying on the couch the hours between getting up in the morning and naptime, daily shots for chronically low white blood cells, borderline anemia because of low red blood cells, staying away from public places, staying away from children....the list goes on.

Yesterday, I actually had the thought that the doctor had made a mistake. How can I be dying while feeling so good? I certainly would not discount my chances for being blessed by one of God's miracles, but I also know that we all are terminal. Whatever, I am trying to use my hours/days/months/years according to His desire and for His glory.