Getting clarity

Last Wednesday, I had a PET scan, and the results were mixed.  After visiting with my oncologist today, I’ve decided that there is more good news than bad news, it’s really a matter of how you look at it.

The bad

• I have progression in my lung area.  The pleura, which is the lining around your lung, has thickened.  Looking at the picture on the scan, I saw way more things lit up than I wanted to see.  Basically, this means that if it continues to thicken, it could restrict my lung from expanding and cause more breathing issues.  We don’t want that.
• My tumor markers went up from 700 to 1083.

The good

• Now I know why I was getting these weird pokey pain under my sternum, the pleural thickening.
• Even though I’ll be starting a new medication that has lots of potential side effects (hairloss, mouth sores, constipation, nausea, tiredness, aches and pains), I’ll be starting this AFTER my responsibilities at the University are over, and as things are winding down at work.  What great timing!
• I don’t have to wait around for insurance approval.  I’ll be getting a port placed on Wednesday morning, and hope to start chemo on Thursday.
• It’s only four cycles, and then I’ll never have to do this very toxic combination again.
• The oncologist thinks that this med has a better chance of working than the Xeloda.  (This is actually what he said before I started Xeloda, but I opted to try Xeloda first because I wanted to delay IV chemo as long as possible.)
• I’ve been having stomach discomfort and nausea for like 2 months now, so it’ll be old hat once I start the chemo! =)
• I’m feeling pretty good.  On a scale of 1 to 10, generally I feel like a 7.5 or 8.  That means that this is the ideal time to try this really toxic combo so that my body has the best chance of dealing with the toxicity.  (See how the timing is working out so beautifully?)
• The cancer in my spine has decreased.  (Yes, please do a happy dance!)
• The cancer in my femurs, humeri, and pelvis seems to be decreased as well. (More dancing!)
• The bone metastases seem to be under control. (Alright, it’s a straight up dance party up in here!)

See, so there is way more good news than bad news.  Yes, it sucks that I have to go the IV chemo route as that chemo tends to just blast everything in site, whereas the oral chemo is more targeted, meaning fewer side effects.  But we’ve seen that the oral chemo isn’t cutting the butter, so IV chemo it is.  And no, I’m not thrilled about having a port again.  I’m actually pretty ambivalent about losing my hair.  I kinda rocked the bald head the last time, so, bring it, I guess!

I’m ready to get this new plan started and see how well it works.  If you are the praying type, I’m asking specifically that I won’t suffer the dramatic effects of the chemo, and that it will help to kick this disease into remission.  Thank you to all of you for your constant and continued support!  Words can’t express how much that support has been helping me this past year! ♥♥♥