Heather's Blog: Off of Chemo

Why Am I Writing This Blog?

There's nothing more important to me than my connections with family and friends.

So in an effort to stay connected I'll be posting updates about my treatment and health here. Of course I want to connect with you outside of this blog! But this is a quick way you can find out what's happening.

Also a request: I would appreciate it if you didn't post anything on Facebook about cancer and me.

Writing has always been a natural form of self-expression for me. So this blog is also a personal outlet, one I'd like to share with you.

June 17, 2015

Off of Chemo

Back to the Conservatory

I wish I could say that I'm off of chemotherapy because the disease is stable, but last week's CT scan showed that it still continues to progress and my liver is not functioning well enough to tolerate chemo right now.

My liver function tests have been abnormal for months but not to a point that I couldn't accept chemo. Now there are a couple of "worrisome" numbers.

Yesterday I met with my oncologist and she is having me take two medications (both are pills I take at home): Aromacin (an aromatase inhibitor that lowers estrogen levels in postmenopausal women) and Afinitor. Neither of these are chemotherapy and my doctor has seen positive results with these drugs in some patients like me.

This is also the course of treatment that the oncologist I've seen at the cancer research center recommends.

So this is a week by week (or day by day) experience now. I'm hoping the particularly troublesome liver tumor shrinks and my liver function improves.

I continue to feel good on some days and not as good on others. It varies quite a bit.

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Want to Help?

We periodically need help with meals, rides, errands, dog walking and that kind of thing. If you're interested in helping out sometime, you can join "Team Heather" online. Just go to https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/710014/ and request to join the community.

Once you're approved, you'll receive instructions on how to log in. When we post a request for help you'll receive an email message and can sign up if it works with your schedule.

Or if you have something specific in mind to offer, just call or email B. or me! And THANK YOU.

History

2012: Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis. Mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation treatments. No evidence of cancer after surgery.

2013
September: Masses found in liver incidentally as part of a standard screening breast MRI. Diagnosed as the return of the breast cancer. No evidence of cancer anywhere else.

September -December: Chemotherapy.

2014
Chemotherapy (a few different kinds) throughout the entire year. Fared well and felt well most of the time!

May - cancer found in several places in my spine/pelvis. Very small, no pain.
June - December took post-menopausal estrogen-suppressing medication (and received monthly injections to create medical menopause)

2015
Jan - March: chemotherapy as part of a new clinical trial
April: starting a different chemotherapy since the disease progressed while I was on the trial.
June: The chemo is not helping, and my liver function is such that I have to take a break from chemo. Starting anti-hormonal pill plus a pill that targets cancer cells but does not damage the liver.