A Cancer-Free Month

I saw my new oncologist on Wednesday for the second time, and he had talked to Dr. L in Tucson by then and also reviewed some of the masses of files and charts with my name on them, plus a summary from Dr. L that covered the highlights of the past nine years of treatment.

The really good news is that my new doctor, also Dr. L (Lee), agreed that I could take a break from treatment. This is the first break I have had in FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, and it is incredible. I feel so much better after only six weeks of no cancer drugs.

So of course this doesn't mean I can just walk away and come back when a bone breaks--I still have active disease, after all. For those of you who follow these things, my tumor marker (CEA) is 12, which is not normal but is the lowest it's been in years.

I had a blood draw on Wednesday, and will get the results of the tumor marker in about a week. Also checked all the usual suspects, and my anemia is now officially gone, a hematocrit of 33, which Dr. Lee considers normal for a cancer patient, and which feels fine to me.

And in early July I am scheduled for both PET/CT and MRIs of various body parts--T-spine, L-spine, and my upper right arm, which is hurting right now. That's the bone that broke when my cancer metastasized, and it usually hurts a bit, but it's hurting more than usual right now, probably because of some vigorous gardening over the weekend.

This is the incredible part: I have an entire month with no cancer-related appointments--nothing between now and those scans in early July. Woo hoo! Normally, I have at least one cancer-related appointment a week. I never get away from it. So I am celebrating this.

Dr. Lee gave me a copy of the "Breast Cancer Progress Note" that Dr. L wrote after my most recent visit to Tucson, and in it he wrote, "She would very much like to have a break from trips to anyone's infusion room."

Yup. That sums it up. Thanks Drs. L and L.

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Comments

[Kate]

I am so happy you found another doc. The last one made my stomach ache just hearing about your interaction with her. Yikes.
I am 10 years out with mets. from breast cancer too. I haven't had a break but I don't think I can afford one at this point. I started crying at the drs. office and told him. "The good news is I'm still alive after ten years. The bad news is I'm still doing this after ten years." I too have a teenager. Her dad lives in Sequim WA and is great on the phone with her but I am her mainstay, her anchor and I understand how weary you feel. We don't just juggle balls, we juggle cannon balls, and sometimes it's not enough. I'm just playing the cards I was dealt and to hell with all the rest.

take care, Katie

[Sara]

Yay! And the timing really couldn't have been more fortuitous, could it?

Enjoy.

[Jeanne]

Katie--thanks so much. It is great to hear from someone who understands. Believe me, I was crying when I was explaining all this to Dr. L in Tucson, and he is giving me the break when many another doctor would not. I feel reasonably safe with it because we'll be checking my tumor markers every month, plus the scans.

Hang tough. And if you ever just need to bitch, shoot an e-mail my way.

Jeanne

[laurie]

Congratulations! I am incredibly jealous.