"A mixed bag"....That was Dr. F's opening line as he shared my latest scan results with me today. I had a new round of scans completed Monday and saw Dr. F today for the results, now that I have completed three months on this new chemotherapy regimen. The "mixed bag" he referred to goes a little something like this.... Good news:
Not so good news:
This is often the dilemma with metastatic cancer - treatment can be working in one area of the body, but maybe not somewhere else. Another dilemma is that treatment options are not infinite so at what point do you decide the current chemo is not effective and move onto the next...knowing full well that the more options you blow through, the less that remain for the future. Thankfully, I have an extremely experienced, knowledgable, and collaborative team of physicians who I trust wholeheartedly to help guide my decision making. My oncologist and radiation oncologist consulted with each other and with the radiologist who wrote the report on this round of scans. They believe that the scapula metastases might be old. The difficult part of these scans is that bone damage due to active metastatic disease can often present similarly to that of areas where the bone is healing from old mets. They are hoping that I might not be having progression of disease in the bone, but that this chemo might be healing mets that were in the scapula already but weren't detected on the last scan. There is no way to definitively know unless we biopsy the bone. No thank you - been there done that. Not fun. As for the growth of the tumors in the liver, my docs think that it could be due technical error with difference between the current and previous radiologists reports and could even be due to a difference in the amount of contrast during testing. I am not well versed on this, but I am taking it as a positive sign if the growth seems that small that it could be chalked up to something like this. Overall, Dr. F said there there is not enough evidence for him to want to change course of my treatment, especially because I am tolerating it pretty well. So, I will stay on this chemotherapy (6 pills each day- 2 weeks on treatment, 1 week off to let my blood counts rebound) until we re-scan again in 3 months. I will continue with blood work and visits to the oncologist every 3 weeks, as well as an infusion for my bones, and as always, if I am not tolerating treatment or have any change in my symptoms, we will bump up scans right away and forge a new path. I have so much to be grateful for and that will remain my focus. One of the greatest sources of my gratitude is that I haven't had many of the major side effects that others experience on this chemo. The biggest issue I am having is the hand-foot syndrome that I feared from the beginning. My skin has started to take a beating over the last week in particular. It is cracked, peeling, burning and sore. Bag Balm gives me the greatest relief, but it makes it difficult to do much with my hands when they are lathered with this greasy stuff. The good news is that although my feet don't look so great either (and even worse since I took this picture), they aren't painful and sore like my hands are. I continue to stay active, without this affecting my quality of life. If I am being honest, I do wish these scans showed more improvement. But, I am grateful that there is any area of progress at all, and that things don't look worse. I will remain hopeful that continued progress will be seen in 3 more months.
Thank you for all the love and support this week, and always. This is not an easy road and I know I couldn't do it without the support of my friends and family. With love and gratitude always, Meg xoxo
15 Comments
Aunt Carol
12/9/2021 07:17:44 pm
Meghan,
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TAnn
12/9/2021 07:17:54 pm
I’ve not commented here before, usually I’d just text you what I wanted to say……since you take the time to update us with your various test results, let us know what is going on, how the medications are tolerated and share your strength and positivity through this journey, it’s only fair that I send my love and support via this Avenue.
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Elizabeth
12/9/2021 07:33:44 pm
Thank you for always updating us Meg. You have been on my mind all week but I don’t want to bother you and ask for the results of your scans. I’m so sorry they are not the news you ( and all of us were hoping for) but I have faith that you are receiving the best care and lesions will continue to shrink. I really hope you’re hands feel better soon too! That has to be so uncomfortable to deal with. Love you.
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Julie
12/9/2021 09:03:04 pm
Meg,
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Dana B
12/9/2021 10:48:12 pm
The scans are all wrong — the only thing that was supposed to show up was tiny little cells spelling out YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!
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Diana
12/9/2021 11:35:18 pm
Thank you for always updating us and sharing your experience. We are alongside and behind you always and are here with love and prayer. You are a fierce badass warrior queen with an army around you!
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Jenny Flanagan
12/9/2021 11:39:49 pm
Meghan,
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Julie E
12/10/2021 01:41:21 am
You are a light to all Megs. I keep you in my thoughts and prayers always. Thank you for sharing your journey, you are teaching us all to live with gratitude. We are sending cancer zapping vibes to your cells from Cali with a big dose of LOVE. xox
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Georjene K Vanderhoff (Gina )
12/10/2021 05:23:34 am
You and your Dr.s are on top of this ~ so enjoy the beautiful Christmas sights and sounds with family and friends. We are all holding your hand along this road. Continued love, prayers, and friendship, Meghan. Love to you & Mike XOXO
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Roni Hall
12/10/2021 10:29:52 am
You continue to amaze me. To say you are awesome is an understatement. May the love that we all have for you continue to boost your indomitable spirit. Thank you for sharing. ❤️❤️❤️
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Corinne
12/10/2021 11:37:32 am
Meghan, I’m celebrating the small wins with you and praying for more with each scan. You are beyond amazing and I’m so grateful to know you. Love you and continuously hoping and praying for good news 😘
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Aunt Erin
12/11/2021 10:39:47 am
Love you 💚
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Helengraczyk
12/25/2021 02:13:15 am
Hi Meghan. I also have lobular cancer and was on xeloda for over a year. I had CeraVe lotion and tetrix lotion (available by prescription only).tetrix works as a water barrier and is applied after the Ceravu lotion.
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Angie
12/29/2021 03:27:29 pm
Namaste, I am listening to an audiobook on YouTube by Wayne Dyer called “secrets of your own healing” and it’s phenomenal. It could really really help you heal, especially the Japa meditation he describes. It’s really really really worth a listen as he describes how all healing has a spiritual component. I hope it awakens your healing power :-)
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Susan Thomas
1/15/2022 10:55:07 am
Hi Meghan,
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