It's not quite the exciting package one hopes for that appeared on the front porch today. No fun new pair of shoes from Nordstrom or random gadget from Amazon. This package is filled with potential to cause a range of symptoms from nausea, vomitting, diarrhea, fatigue, low white blood cell counts and mouth sores...just to name a few. But, this small box of 21 capsules is also filled with hope, potential stability and the return of healthier days. The only thing I do know for sure is that this package is filled with a whole lot of uncertainty. And although I am used to living with a great deal of it, this time the unknown seems a bit scarier. This new medication is one of two new drugs I will be starting this week. This oral medication is called Ibrance, and is also known by the generic name of Palbociclib. Ibrance is what is known as a "targeted therapy". In very simplified terms, targeted therapies aim to attack the cancer cells without harming the body's normal, healthy cells. Therefore, targeted therapies, while they come with their own list of side effects, aren't as toxic as traditional chemotherapy agents. Ibrance is a targeted drug that blocks proteins in the cancer cell which in turn helps prevent the cells from dividing to create new cancer cells. I will be taking Ibance daily for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week off which will allow my body some time to recover and for my blood counts to bounce back up. Due to the high risk of my white and red blood cell counts dropping significantly, I will have blood work drawn every two weeks to make sure I am safe to continue on this treatment. Not only does this week mark the start of Ibrance, but it will also be my first time receiving Faslodex. The drug has the generic name of Fulvestrant and is the intramuscular injection that I will receive every two weeks. The two of these drugs together have shown very promising results in recent studies. You could read about that here. Faslodex is known as an "estrogen receptor downregulator" which means it binds to the estrogen receptor site of cells and causes the receptors to break down, thereby preventing the normal cellular responsen to estrogen. This is important since my breast cancer is fed by estrogen. Even though I am in medically induced menopause, we want to make sure there isn't any other way these cancer cells can by fed by any stray estrongen that may be floating around. I will receive my first injection of Faslodex on Thursday, along with my monthly injection of Zoladex that keeps my ovarian function supporessed. On Friday I will meet with a gynecological oncologist at Karmanos to discuss my surgery to have my ovaries removed. Fingers crossed that I tolerate this treatment well with as minimal side effects as possible. And of course, that this treatment plan is successful! I have blood work next week to check how my counts are responding and will then see Dr. F the week after that to see how I am tolerating the treatment. It sounds like I will have scans in about 3 months to see how things are looking. As always, thank you so much for the love and prayers. Please keep them coming! xoxo, Meg ps - We just got back from a trip to California where I was invited to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation Metastatic Breast Cancer Collateral Damage Project. I am really looking forward to sharing more about that soon. But until I have the energy to write that post, enjoy these little snapshots of my free day spent with Mike. :)
20 Comments
Corinne
11/14/2016 09:02:08 pm
Good luck with this treatment course, thank you for being so open and sharing. I look forward to working with you more on the Dr. Susan Love project! I love your blog and your photographs! You really captured the Santa Monica vibe!
Reply
Nichole
11/14/2016 09:07:35 pm
So many prayers have been sent, and will continue to be sent by me as you take this next leap. Thank you for using your experience to make us all better informed and please remember how much you are loved! Need some smooches soon please!
Reply
Aunt Erin
11/14/2016 09:16:55 pm
Hey sweetie,
Reply
T.Ann
11/14/2016 09:17:50 pm
Love, strength, prayers, courage, and all things good be sent your way. This will be a successful treatment, you will be stronger and healthier for it, when it is complete. I believe this with all my heart, soul, and being. Love you Meg!
Reply
Brinley
11/14/2016 09:25:01 pm
Prayers my sweet friend! Xo
Reply
Mary Rose
11/14/2016 09:29:56 pm
Hang in there warrior princess! We are all with you in spirit and love.
Reply
Elizabeth
11/14/2016 09:30:29 pm
Continued prayers to you my beautiful friend.❤️❤️ I will be there for you lady no matter what you need. xoxo
Reply
Elizabeth B
11/14/2016 10:25:52 pm
Prayers and positive thoughts for successful treatment with minimal side effects. I am here if you need anything!
Reply
Julie
11/14/2016 10:28:33 pm
So glad that you and Mike were able to get away! You will push through this with strength and bravery, as you always do. We will be sending you love and good thoughts. xoxo
Reply
Meredith
11/14/2016 10:48:45 pm
Praying you through this next leg of the journey, friend! Love your willingness to share with great vulnerability, and a desire to educate and inform so many in the process. Love you SO dearly!!
Reply
Aunt Mary
11/15/2016 12:31:37 am
Beautiful, precious Meghan. You continue to astound me with your fierce courage. Please know that you are in my daily prayers & that I love you dearly! Aunt Mary ❤️❤️❤️
Reply
Meagan
11/15/2016 05:30:00 am
Thank you do you for the thorough education, Meg. This is not only helpful for understanding exactly what you're going through, but an overall helpful education on a disease we would all like to know more about, but at times feels too overwhelming to understand. Love to you, my beautiful friend :*
Reply
Deb and Bob
11/15/2016 07:52:52 am
Thank you for the updates and best of results from the new treatments. You are a continually amazing inspiration and educator and writer. We echo previous comments about you and your rock star status in our eyes. Every day we think of your fight and determination with all of our love. Give our best to Mike as well, the best partner anyone could have.
Reply
Sara
11/15/2016 02:15:44 pm
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Meg. We're here with you every step of the unknown way. Our love and prayers that you tackle these next obstacles with strength and grace (and lots of much needed rest). LOVE TO YOU! XO
Reply
Aubri
11/15/2016 04:41:18 pm
thinking of you, and praying your new treatment plan is amazingly successful with minimal side effects, meghan!
Reply
Kelley
11/15/2016 05:39:55 pm
Prayers and love coming your way with big hopes that your new treatment goes well and you're feeling minimal side effects! Xoxo
Reply
Julie Payne
11/15/2016 05:50:11 pm
Saying LOTS of prayers that this is the next answered prayer on your journey and that God can surround you with peace, comfort and HOPE. Lots of love to you, Mike and your whole family. LOVE YOU!
Reply
Denise
11/17/2016 10:07:07 pm
Meg, your a symbol of strength . Prayers to you, Mike,your medical team and the new drugs to work effectively to beat that mfer back DOWN. You are always in my prayers ...XOXO
Reply
Kathy Richgels
11/18/2016 09:38:51 pm
Storming heaven for you Meg, and of course your nearest & dearest who support & love you.
Reply
Leeny!
11/23/2016 02:47:58 pm
Hi Shep! Thinking of you! Sorry I haven't reached out lately, but I am catching up on YOU today! In light of Thanksgiving.... I am thankful to have met you in college and to still be in (cyber) contact with you 12 years later. Whenever I see anything related to Michigan, I think of you.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorMy blog to keep you all Archives
December 2021
Categories
All
|