December 25, 2021

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all…

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and lots of great food! This year we decided to stay in California for the Christmas and New Years. We did a whole chicken in the crock pot, mashed potatoes, corn, broccoli and cauliflower. The meal turned out pretty good and the chicken was super easy. I must say, California just doesn’t feel like the true holidays, with snow and cold weather. This year it actually rained on and off all day and it has been on the cooler side. When I say “rain” I mean “rain”. Usually we get a sprinkle here and there but not today. It was pouring coming down on an angle.

On a health note. A week ago I had my full body PET scan, complete spine MRI and brain MRI. I first spoke to my Oncologist about the results of the PET and complete spine MRI. They showed some new lesions in my lungs, increased activity in my left hip, and new/enhanced lesion in my spine. When I had the scans 3+ months ago it showed increased activity in my right hip (where I had my hip replaced) and some mild activity in my left hip. At that time I got radiation to my right hip. So when my Oncologist was going through the results, she felt that I should have radiation to my left hip in the next few months. I was able to get in for radiation to my left hip on Wednesday the 22nd and I will have 10 treatments. She also told me that I need to switch my current treatment that I am on. I was given 3 options: Erubulin IV, Doxil IV, and Xeloda (pills). We discussed the pros and cons of each and ultimately, I decided to go with Doxil IV once a month which I will start Jan. 7th. Possible more common side effects are: body aches (which I already get from zometa which is for my bone disease, headache, nausea and vomiting. All the things that chemo can cause.

The following week I had my brain MRI which is now being ordered and followed by the Cyberknife radiation team. I spoke to both doctors the day after my scan. There are 6 new small small lesions and a few that have grown but are still pretty small. It seemed like the doctors could have gone either way, treat or wait and get another scan in 2 months. I asked them how big the lesions were that were treated 3 months ago and they said 2cm and the ones now are 2mm and smaller. They informed me that thankfully they are not in areas that would cause side effects. One of the doctors told me that she doesn’t want them to get to 2cm before treating them again. The short of it is that I decided to wait and get another scan in 2 months to see how things look and they both agreed. Obviously if I were to start having any symptoms to contact them and we will do the MRI earlier.

I had an appointment with the Ocular Oncologist (eye doctor) on the 23rd and I remember him saying that I need to let him know if I change my treatment because he may want to see me at a sooner or later date. Knowing that I’ll be changing treatment in Jan. 2022 I felt there would be no reason to see him on the 23rd so I sent him a message. He got back to me and told me to cancel my appointment and reschedule in 3 months. Same thing, if I am having any eye issues to let him know and they will see me earlier. I was super happy to cancel that appointment and have another 3 months until I see him again.

Just thought I would update everyone since I’ve had my scans and things have changed. My feelings at first were, this sucks. Then I realized that this is my new life, start a drug(s), get scans every 2-4 months, if the drugs stopped working I switch to another drug until that stops working. Also when I was first diagnosed I had lesions in my liver, spleen and pancreas and since I’ve started treatment they have all responded and are no longer showing up on my scans which I think is a super plus. If I have to have achy bones, trouble breathing and brain lesions, so be it. Things could be much much worse.

Lots to say this time. Until next time…

Thank you and lots of love!