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And the numbers are in ... 

2/18/2016

4 Comments

 
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I saw the oncologist yesterday in what was supposed to be a routine visit.  We check the blood work, check how I'm feeling and she signs off on the next round of treatment.

Only it didn't go that way.  While my red cells are doing fine after last weeks transfusion (I ended up going in on Friday) and while my white cells are holding steady, my platelets are dropping at a somewhat rapid rate.  They are too low for me to start another chemo cycle, in spite of having a week off.  We're waiting another week to see if they rise on their own, otherwise, I may need a platelet transfusion.

In the midst of all this confusing blood stuff, I've actually been feeling better than I have in a while.  I do get tired ... by the end of the day, I'm quite ready to crash and relax ... but overall, I'm feeling more "normal."  I asked the oncologist if the blood issues were cancer related or treatment related and she couldn't give a definitive answer.  We just don't know.

As you know, my cancer is tracked by both scans and tumor markers.  The tumor marker that measures for my cancer detects a protein released by the cancer into the blood stream.  The normal level is below 3.8, although, we'd be pretty happy with anything below ten.  My tumor marker has been rising for months, along with pain levels and general malaise.  I changed treatments from Xeloda to Ibrance/Femara to Aromasin/Afinitor to Doxil, all to no avail.  In fact, my tumor marker tripled from 92 to 275 after one cycle of Doxil and then rapidly rose to 302.8 a few days later. 

I was switched to my current treatment, Abraxane.  After one cycle, I'm feeling much better and my hope was that the tumor marker remained stable, or at least dropped 20 points.  I told the oncologist that I didn't really care what the number was since I was feeling so much better.

The results came in today ... they dropped by almost 2/3 to 116.4.

Wow.  Just, wow.

I spent the holiday weekend (and my 53rd birthday, woo hoo!) in the mountains and I was reminded of this verse:

"I look up to the mountains;  does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains."  Psalm 121:1-2 The Message

I still have cancer, but I'm feeling better. I am grateful.  That's good enough for now, although, I'm still very willing to admit that I want more.  I want the cancer to be gone, or to be so minuscule that it has zero impact on my health.  I want my blood to be back to normal. 

The current chemo is fairly easy to tolerate.  I have lost my hair and this time, I actually have a wig.  I've only worn it once as most of the time, I wear hats.  The wig has a bit more gray than my natural hair, but it's pretty hard to find salt and
pepper wigs.  I'm pretty satisfied with it.

4 Comments
Rebecca link
2/18/2016 02:20:32 pm

Thank you for sharing your encouraging news. I am happy for you. I pray your health continues to improve.

Reply
Dana George-Berberich
2/18/2016 04:45:48 pm

I dig the new wig! Seriously, the color is great against the tone of your skin. Most of all, I'm so happy for the new numbers (and grateful that you explain what the heck they mean).

Have you seen the meme that reads something like, "We're all just walking each other home?" I think it's true. Whether we live 25 years or 100, we're all just holding hands on the path back home, sharing the ups and downs, the scary stuff and the victories.

Reply
Cathy
2/19/2016 06:38:10 am

That is really wonderful news! May it continue!

Reply
Denise Paulsen
2/21/2016 08:47:46 pm

This is great news, Vickie. And your wig looks fantastic! It is so sophisticated. The grey doesn't even look like a hard grey. It almost has a soft platinum blonde tone to it. I just love it. Much love, xo.

Reply



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    God's Story

    _I believe we all have a story. This blog records my story and how I've lived with breast cancer both as a primary disease and a terminal disease.  I believe this is all a part of God's story for my life. This blog unapologetically includes all areas of my life: my faith, my family and my advocacy for change in the metastatic breast cancer world.

      

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