My biopsy results came yesterday. I was surprised and relieved when I read them. What I learned is that there are no more hormones involved in my cancer, estrogen, progesterone, and her2 - all negative. (That's called triple negative, and tends to be a little more aggressive with no hormones or her2.) I misread the result the first time through and thought estrogen and progesterone were back, but no.
I talked to Dr. Buys tonight about 8:00. I hope she was calling from home and not from Huntsman! I admire her dedication and empathy for her patients. She explained the results, then gave her recommendations which included some chemo I've done before ("the red devil" Adriamycin, Cytoxan, Taxol, also Kisquali, various immunotherapies, equally brutal to the ones I've mentioned) I don't care if I loose my hair again - the first three will definitely make that happen. TIME, as much as possible, is much more important to me than hair!
She said there are several clinical trials we can talk about (no thanks, not with a 50/50 chance of actually getting the drug). She recommended she send my biopsy tissue to the lab for genomic testing to help determine what will work best. It will take about two weeks to get those results back, then we can talk and come up with a game plan, based on what they think will work the best in my situation. I asked her if I'd be OK going another 2 weeks without chemo, she assured me it will be OK.
When I went through cancer treatments in 2010, I did 4 infusions of adriamycin, cytoxan and 4 more of Taxol, every two weeks. Taxol the first time felt like a cake walk after the adriamycin and cytoxan. When I started this again in 2017, I did 20 weekly infusions of Taxol, with Herceptin and Perjeta every 3rd week. By the end of that, I was so physically and emotionally exhausted. Never underestimate the power of a drug that is simultaneously trying to kill you and save you! I don't know where I'll end up but I'll do whatever I can to make it past 2024 (our 30th anniversary).
p.s. You may have noticed that my profile pic and username (Maxine Floof) changed. I had to create an account on youtube so I could make a comment, but having an account on YouTube is a video sharing function. I'll never post videos. Hence the new name, in case you see it on here.
2 comments:
Kim, if I could go thru it all for you, I would!
P E A C E and love to you.
I'm sitting here thinking about you. This is Lisa Adair. I'm grateful and rather in awe that I ran into you at Costco a couple of weeks ago. I'm entirely at a loss to understand your "will." I have lost so many family members and friends through the years it would be impossible to count. What I find with those fighting cancerous invasions of their body is that sometimes they just get tired. I hate the idea that they give up because I just don't believe that. I think the battleground leaves them and they welcome a new journey. I love that you are here!! I love that you are shouldering your journey with continued grit. Thoughts of you bring me a sweet peace. Please know that I love you!
Post a Comment