Well, 1 year has gone by…strange…weird…crazy…but I am so BLESSED! I have Stage IV with mets to the liver, humerus, spots on my hips & spine and finished up 8 months of straight chemo. (GTX) this fall. I’ve been off for 4 glorious months! I’ve lost most of my hair and it came back. Now I sport a sassy, short style! I had time in the hospital to search for my tumors & diagnosis (yuck!) I’ve had several surgeries (to remove the mets to the humerus, to get a mediport) and I’ve had radiation to my arm. I turned 40. I got a new car. (It is sassy, too!) I walked in the Livestrong Challenge. Lots and lots of blood draws, waiting, wondering, praying, laughing, being uncertain; but most importantly, LIVING. My ortho oncologist thinks I should be “restaged” (you can do that??!!) My medical oncologist says I am amazing. And I don’t really feel amazing…just normal with this weird second life. I work full-time in a stressful, busy job…although I did take a leave for three months when I was first diagnosed and started chemo. I am a brownie leader for my kid’s troop. I do whatever, whenever to have a so called “normal” life.
So, what will my next year bring? I know it will continue to bring me time with my family, new adventures and I hope, a continued shrinking CC tumor!
My doctor has basically told me that for me, I am going to live with my CC like a chronic disease. If it isn’t growing and spreading, then we’ll just leave it alone. When it “acts up” we’ll zap it with some high dose chemo. Hey, I can do that for another 40 years. Forget that…I am doing it for another 60 years. So, here’s to my first of many, many anniversary posts to come. : ) You all can do it, too! Come along with me on my long ol’ trip to a cure!