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Marla, smiling through chemo treatment #7 |
Interestingly, the chemo destroyed some of the old lesions,
which were not detected at all on the scan; however, new ones showed up, mostly
in my spine and liver. Needless to say, I was disappointed that more progress
had not been made, as was Dr. Makhoul.
He suggested that we start looking for new drug trials again, especially
since the idea of going to M.D. Anderson in Houston fell through. Dr. Mak planned to have
his research team investigate various drug trials all over the country to see
if there are trials for which I might qualify.
He said he would call me a few days later with an update.
In the meantime, the good doctor prescribed the third
carboplatin/gemzar treatment. He felt
that even though the results were not as good as we had hoped, it was still
working – slowly - and should be continued while the search was underway for a
drug trial.
My brother, Mike, and sister-in-law Barbara faithfully
traveled to Little Rock, once again, and accompanied me to Infusion 1 for the
treatment. Unfortunately, the chemo
treatment and the medical team that administers it have become routine. Each week, with a nod of the head, we
acknowledge familiar faces awaiting their turn for treatment. We smile and cordially
speak to one another as we patiently wait for the poison concoction to trickle
into our bloodstreams and silently pray that remission, or better yet, a cure,
is just a drip away.
The week following my third treatment, I noticed that the
fatigue was more prevalent than usual. I
actually became winded when I made the walk from the parking lot at work to my
office, which was unusual. Mid-afternoon
became a challenge for me to stay focused and awake. I assumed that the third treatment of chemo
had built up in my system, just as Mr. Nurse Ratched had predicted.
When I returned for my next chemo treatment, a week later, I
reported for the usual lab work to check my red and white blood cells. About 30 minutes later, the charge nurse in
Infusion 1 called my name in the waiting room.
I assumed she was escorting me to a recliner for my treatment. Wrong!
She informed me that my white blood count was very low (neutrophils at
2.1); therefore, Dr. Makhoul cancelled my chemo. In fact, she said Dr. Makhoul was very
concerned that if I were exposed to a cold or other type of infection my immune
system wouldn't be able to fight it. She explained that if I ran any fever over
the weekend I was to call Dr. Makhoul immediately. Well, it was now understandable why I was
experiencing extreme fatigue; it was the low white blood count.
The plan was to stimulate my bone marrow to make more white
blood cells, so Dr. Makhoul prescribed three consecutive days of Neupogen, a
drug that would do just that. The first
injection was scheduled to be given that day – Friday – while I was still in
Infusion 1. The RN, who was preparing to
inject the Neupogen into my belly forewarned me that the main side effect was
bone pain. Well, that’s just dandy –
fatigue AND bone pain. The next
injection was to be given on Saturday morning at UAMS Cancer Institute on the 4th
floor, where multiple myeloma patients receive treatment, followed by another
injection on Sunday morning in the same location.
Over that weekend, I was not only exhausted, but I was
experiencing a lot of bone discomfort that moved from my upper spine to my
lower spine and all places in between. All I could hope is that the pain was
due to my bone marrow making lots of new white cells. The good news is that by mid-week I felt like
my old self – full of energy and a renewed fighting spirit.
I was scheduled for another chemo treatment the following
Friday. When I reported for the routine
lab work, I was anxious to know the results.
About 30 minutes later, I was called back to the infusion room… for
chemo. My white blood cells had
increased enough to get back on track with treatments. I was relieved because every week without
chemo could give the cancer cells a head start.
Bring on the chemo; I’m more than ready.
The following week, the extreme fatigue returned, indicating
that my blood count had dropped again. When
I reported that Friday for the next chemo treatment, I flunked my lab test and,
again, had to take the Neupogen shots to build up my white count. The next five days were filled with
exhaustion and bone pain but my energy level improved by mid-week.
I had an appointment with Dr. Makhoul a few days later. We agreed that I would return to a regular
chemo schedule and the Neupogen shots would automatically follow for three
consecutive days after each treatment.
This plan would keep us on track and prevent any future cancellations of
treatments, which suited me just fine.
During our visit, Dr. Makhoul informed me that his research
team had found two new drug trials for triple negative breast cancer for which
I might qualify. Both trials are being
conducted at Washington University in St.
Louis . Dr.
Makhoul was very excited about one of the trials in particular, which involves
a chemo drug that is currently being used as a treatment by some oncologists
for other kinds of cancer – one that I have yet to experience. After administering the existing cancer drug,
the trial drug would be injected, which should flush the cancer cells into the
bloodstream, making them much more susceptible to being “zapped” by the
existing chemotherapy drug. We learned that this particular drug trial is
taking a three to four-week hiatus to collect and organize the data collected
at this point. When the trial comes back
on line, Dr. Makhoul has submitted my name and case for admission to the
program.
The second trial is brand new and involves testing the
cancer-laden tumor that was extracted during last year’s mastectomy. If the tissue contains a particular mutation,
then I would qualify for the trial and be given a new immunotherapy drug that
would enhance my immune system and improve its capability of fighting cancer
cells. The medical necessity for me to qualify for either of these drug trials
is monumental. As Dr. Makhoul told me several months ago, the plan is to keep me
alive long enough to find a cure for my particular type of breast cancer. While those words are sobering, they are also
my reality. My fingers are crossed and many prayers are being said daily in
hopes of qualifying for one of these programs.
Several weeks ago, someone asked me how I cope on a daily
basis with the knowledge that I have Stage IV breast cancer. My answer surprised the inquisitor. Even though I have a life-threatening
disease, my life is good. I work at a
job that I love and with people that are like family. My responsibilities at the Arkansas
Department of Parks and Tourism help occupy my mind so that cancer seldom
enters my thoughts during the day. I’m a
happy working girl.
In addition, I’m lucky and fortunate to have a loving relationship
with Don, who has been with me during every step of this battle. He interprets
the tests and translates the doctor-jargon that might confuse any other
patient. He talks frankly with me and
doesn't soften the reality that I’m sick.
He makes me happy.
I have a caring family that has committed themselves to
accompany me to each chemo treatment and doctor’s visit, even though they live
more than 180 miles away. They provide me with encouragement and embrace me
with their love and support on a daily basis and that makes me happy.
My support network is hundreds strong and includes friends,
both old and new, colleagues and acquaintances that cheer me on and offer their
prayers when I need them most. They make
me happy.
I’m fortunate to have a remarkable, experienced medical team
that cares for me as an individual patient and not just a number. They are just as concerned about my health status
as I am. They talk me through the
difficult treatments, answer my questions and treat me with respect-and that
makes me happy.
Cancer has taught me much, like loving unconditionally and
not taking myself too seriously. It has
taught me how to be grateful for the smallest of accomplishments and to
appreciate the wealth of support and encouragement received from family,
friends and my medical team.
Make no mistake; cancer is not my friend, yet it is a part of my life. One of the ways I have learned to fight this disease is to not give into it. How do I accomplish that? By being happy!
And that, I am.
Make no mistake; cancer is not my friend, yet it is a part of my life. One of the ways I have learned to fight this disease is to not give into it. How do I accomplish that? By being happy!
And that, I am.
Hi Marla,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kathleen Engel and I am an editor at Health Monitor Network in Montvale, NJ. I would love to talk to you about doing a short profile on you for one of our guides, which are distribute free to patients through doctors' offices. Your words are inspirational!
If you'll send me your email address, I'm happy to send you a PDF of our last guide so you can see what these look like. And then if you have any questions, just let me know.
Thanks so much!
Kathleen Engel
Editor, Health Monitor Network
Sorry, I forgot to include my email at work:
ReplyDeleteKathleenE@healthmonitor.com
you are truly inspirational. such things in life not only alter you physically but mental is gets also critical i am so inspired that you didnt give up and kept going. i will definitely learn a thing or two from you
ReplyDelete
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