Today was a day full of doctors appointments, and there is good news and bad news. I'll start with the good news: So, the oncologist said that NO matter what, my last Interferon injection will be November 16th!!!!!!! Yes, that's right, mark your calendars - in pen, not pencil, November 16th is the last day of this horrendous and miserable drug. Send out the media advisory, write a press release, throw a party, shout from the rooftops, call up your mother, brother, grandma, and her dog - the war will be over! And, I will never EVER have to take Interferon EVER again, EVER. Even if the cancer comes back (which we pray it does not), the oncologist said he would put me on a new drug called Yervoy which is like the Lamborghini of drugs for treating malignant melanoma. The oncologist said my treatment would not be prolonged even if they have to take me off the drug for a short time between now and November 16th. Of course, that day cannot come soon enough!
Furthermore, he explained to me that out of all the treatment options for malignant melanoma (regardless of stage), that mine is by far the worst. Why is it the worst? Well, simply because there hasn't been enough research for malignant melanoma patients with stage 3A and better. I qualified for a clinical trial when this mess started, but opted out of the trial because I had a 33% chance of receiving the placebo drug (aka saline solution) and I didn't want to chance it. I don't understand, but I know God does. I don't have to understand anymore, I just take each day as it comes. We're not promised tomorrow. Each breath has a purpose, thankfully. I admit, part of me wants to throw in the towel sometimes and just say, "That's it! I'm done with this, I'll take my chances!" But, as a fellow warrior in the fight once told me, "you've come this far, why stop now?" He was right. Life is a precious thing, and regardless of how many trials it has, it is still a gift we have from God Himself. I just pray He uses all this mess for His glory, and I know God has a long track record of turning junk into something beautiful.
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. - Exodus 14:14, NIV
So, the bad news: I have to go back to physical therapy. Yes, I think once or twice a week until October. The side effects from chemotherapy have been so exhausting that my pain management doctor at the National Rehabilitation Hospital thinks physical therapy is necessary. I'm not strong enough to hire a personal trainer, that would most likely be too intense. So, he's having me go to the physical therapists at the hospital. Furthermore, I've been having some intense neck pain the last couple of weeks. To be honest, I've been sore still from surgery since November but its been really minimal soreness, nothing to write home about. But now its awful. The doctor gave me three different injections of muscle relaxers in my neck to help today, so I'm hoping that makes a difference. It hurt, and felt SUPER weird.
In other news, I had a blood draw today and should get the results back tomorrow afternoon or Thursday. The results will tell us my white blood cell count, liver enzymes levels, platelet levels, and neutrophil count.
I'm leaving for Houston, Texas on April 19th and returning to Washington, DC on April 29th. I'm in a friend's wedding, and working at our Houston office for a week. I'll be staying with my grandma, who used to be a nurse, so I can't wait! Traveling with my chemo drugs will be a new experience. Work has been great, I love my job, so I have to be extra careful since I'm not very good at saying "no" to workload at times. I could use some prayer there. So, my doctor got a bit fussy at me saying I need to rest/sleep more than I am now.
Well, its late, so I'm wrapping this one up. My Mom comes to visit this weekend, so that will be nice. Nothing like your Mom to take care of you! So grateful for the prayers, and for the encouragement as I continue to adjust to a "new normal."
Furthermore, he explained to me that out of all the treatment options for malignant melanoma (regardless of stage), that mine is by far the worst. Why is it the worst? Well, simply because there hasn't been enough research for malignant melanoma patients with stage 3A and better. I qualified for a clinical trial when this mess started, but opted out of the trial because I had a 33% chance of receiving the placebo drug (aka saline solution) and I didn't want to chance it. I don't understand, but I know God does. I don't have to understand anymore, I just take each day as it comes. We're not promised tomorrow. Each breath has a purpose, thankfully. I admit, part of me wants to throw in the towel sometimes and just say, "That's it! I'm done with this, I'll take my chances!" But, as a fellow warrior in the fight once told me, "you've come this far, why stop now?" He was right. Life is a precious thing, and regardless of how many trials it has, it is still a gift we have from God Himself. I just pray He uses all this mess for His glory, and I know God has a long track record of turning junk into something beautiful.
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. - Exodus 14:14, NIV
So, the bad news: I have to go back to physical therapy. Yes, I think once or twice a week until October. The side effects from chemotherapy have been so exhausting that my pain management doctor at the National Rehabilitation Hospital thinks physical therapy is necessary. I'm not strong enough to hire a personal trainer, that would most likely be too intense. So, he's having me go to the physical therapists at the hospital. Furthermore, I've been having some intense neck pain the last couple of weeks. To be honest, I've been sore still from surgery since November but its been really minimal soreness, nothing to write home about. But now its awful. The doctor gave me three different injections of muscle relaxers in my neck to help today, so I'm hoping that makes a difference. It hurt, and felt SUPER weird.
In other news, I had a blood draw today and should get the results back tomorrow afternoon or Thursday. The results will tell us my white blood cell count, liver enzymes levels, platelet levels, and neutrophil count.
I'm leaving for Houston, Texas on April 19th and returning to Washington, DC on April 29th. I'm in a friend's wedding, and working at our Houston office for a week. I'll be staying with my grandma, who used to be a nurse, so I can't wait! Traveling with my chemo drugs will be a new experience. Work has been great, I love my job, so I have to be extra careful since I'm not very good at saying "no" to workload at times. I could use some prayer there. So, my doctor got a bit fussy at me saying I need to rest/sleep more than I am now.
Well, its late, so I'm wrapping this one up. My Mom comes to visit this weekend, so that will be nice. Nothing like your Mom to take care of you! So grateful for the prayers, and for the encouragement as I continue to adjust to a "new normal."
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