I just want to share some issues I am having with my health once again. I had a scan last February which came out clear. I had another one done about two weeks ago and it is not very good news. Dave and I saw Dr. Bhoola last Tuesday. I had seen the results of the scan and new that it was not good. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good news. The cancer has returned. It is interesting in that endometrial cancer goes to other organs but is still endometrial cancer. Because it was in the lymph nodes to begin with, this has always been a possibility. The lungs are usually one of the first places it goes. That is what has happened to me along with some in the liver. I have in the past responded very well to the different kinds of treatment. The last one I had I did well in terms of the cancer part, but unfortunately I got every bad side effect that can happen. We stopped it and I won’t take it again as it is not a quality of life.
Dr. Bhoola went over several different options of things that can be tried and we talked about quality of life—not quantity. The first is to do nothing other than what is needed to be comfortable. And for Dave and I and my family and friends to enjoy life. I actually feel fine. However, doing nothing will just mean it continues to progress.
He gave me several other options. Although I was prepared for this, it was a lot of information so I honestly don’t remember what they all are. I trust him implicitly and don’t feel I could have found any other doctor or facility that I would get the care I have gotten and importantly to me, the way that I am treated by the entire staff every time I go in there.
So I asked him what his recommendation would be. What I also admire about him is that he is into you as a “whole” person and is not trying to push all kinds of treatments to keep you alive because he is a doctor. He is realistic which I agree with.
His suggestion is that I get a biopsy done so they can determine the molecular make up of it. He then wants me to go to the Virginia Piper cancer center here in the valley. They apparently are doing some really great research on endometrial cancer. It is the least researched of any other kind of cancer and is the largest cancer diagnosis for women over 60. (I guess us old ladies are expendable!). They have several trials going on right now that hopefully I can qualify for. As with anything, it is a trial which means there are no guarantees and they are gathering information on the research they are doing. He also knows that I am not willing to go through something that greatly reduces the quality of life. I should be scheduled for the biopsy in the next week or so. In the meantime, he is putting me on three different meds that don’t have horrible side effects. I don’t have them yet but should by the end of the day today other than one that has to come from a specialized pharmacy.
So as of right now, Dave and I talked and I am going to give it a try with the understanding that I can stop at any time if it becomes too much. We will continue to do what we do and live our lives to the fullest as long as I can.
We want to go to Montana for the summer, but I worry about the quality of medical care there. He has a friend who did her internship with him who practices in Bozeman which is close to Butte. He intends to get me in with her while we are in Montana. That was a huge relief to me.
Although this is not good news at all, I do see many positives. I feel good other than some pain but I have good meds for that. And the ability to be able to hopefully participate in some trials. I know of several people who have been in a way worse condition than me who have had trials work for them. It is worth a try because science has come so far and continues to make wonderful progress day by day. I look at what they did the with COVID vaccine and how quickly they were able to get that going and look at the lives it saved.
I am at peace with this even though it is not good news. I have no control over any of it. I only have control over how I handle it. We intend to do as much as we can for as long as we can and live our lives to the fullest. I can talk about this, but sometimes telling the story over and over again is hard and exhausting, I appreciate those of you who have kept in touch with me and checked on me more than you know. As I put the FU in FUn, I plan on continuing that as much as possible. And don’t forget we have lots of room in Montana! Our only issue right now is not being able to make hard plans. We will have to do some things at the spur of the moment, etc.
I would appreciate prayers, positive thoughts, dancing in the nude at midnight or whatever “floats your boat” so to speak! My philosophy has always been that life is about living and the way you treat others as being the most important qualities that you can have. It doesn’t matter what your belief system is, it is how you live your life! I have always lived my life to the fullest and continue to do so for as long as I can and hope that one of the trials will possibly work for me. But as I said, I have no control over any of that so whatever happens is what is meant to be.
I have been blessed with so many wonderful family members and friends in my life. I don't know how this all will play out, but it's probably not going to be what I would like. I am still waiting to hear about the trial. I had biopsies on Friday and they need that information to determine if anything would work. I intend to start writing more about the journey that I have been on. For the most part, the past three years have been good. Treatment hasn't been fun, but it has been tolerable.
So stay tuned...
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