Following Up

Sorry it has taken awhile for me to post again. It's been a bit of a whirlwind.

Let's start with the good news first: the brain MRI showed that my brain is doing great! So, that was a giant relief!

On the other hand, the PET/CT did not have such good news. Again, there was some progression and some new little spots. Argh! My family and I were so disappointed. At first, my doctor was talking about switching me back to another chemo I'd had in the beginning. However, after talking with her, she also recommended I switch to hormone therapy and a biologic. This would be the oral drugs Aromasin and Afinitor. I'd taken these early this year for less than a week when all that craziness happened with spots in my lungs that turned out to be related to my having the flu. Anyway, I've been happily taking Aromasin and Afinitor for about a week now and each day am gaining some strength back and feeling more human again.

That last chemo really took a lot out of me. I was pretty much in bed full time and was struggling to even eat. It was pretty brutal for me, though I hear that some people just sail through. Everyone is different and so treatment experiences really vary. It was really, really hard and I am SO happy to be on a treatment that is not debilitating anymore. My family and friends have been tremendous support during this really difficult time and there are no words to express how grateful I am and how much I appreciate them.

In the last week or so, I also met with a doctor of Chinese Herbal Medicine. I'll report more on that once I get going on my herbs, which I am expecting to be delivered today.

I'm also getting my tumor tissue analyzed by a company that will look at the cells and be able to recommend biological therapies that are consistent with the receptors of those cells. Let's hope there is a big list of possibilities.

Again, I am so thankful for everyone's thoughts and prayers.
I hope that when you think of me, you imagine me completely healthy, active and happy. That's what I pray for in my future. I can't say thank you enough for all of your support. The cards, texts, email, voicemails and phone calls are always a bright part of my day. I am so grateful for my incredible support system and feel so very blessed to be here every day!!!

Scanxiety

Tomorrow is a double day. On the one hand it is Marchus' and my wedding anniversary. I feel so blessed to be married to such an loving and supportive husband, and that is definitely worth celebrating. O. The other hard, tomorrow morning, I will have a brain MRI, as well as a PET/CT scan. After the last one, I can't help but have some fear and anxiety going on. At the same time, I have been praying and praying for my health and future. I hope that you will pray for me too - for scan results that show my health and well being. I will post again when we have results. But for now, prayers for perfect health are welcome and appreciated.
Thank you so very much.