The waiting game....It's never fun, but in the midst of a global pandemic, it has been taken up a notch. It has been longer than expected since I have shared an update and that is due to the fact that I was waiting for more information to actually update you on. Last week marked 6 weeks since I had been off treatment and over 5 weeks since the biopsy of my sacrum. Just as a little recap, that biopsy was completed in order to test whether my cancer has a particular mutation that would qualify me for a new promising drug, since we have come to another fork in the road regarding my treatment plan. I was told the biopsy results would take two weeks for the independent lab to complete, but I didn't hold my breath knowing full well that everything is delayed these days in the midst of COVID-19. While I awaited those results, I completed 10 radiation treatments, started to have pain relief, got off the meds that made me feel lousy, felt super grateful and relieved...and then the pain returned. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster, which seems to be par for the course when I'm in the midst of a recurrence. The good news is that after re-introducing the nerve pain medication, I am feeling better with minimal side effects...bonus! In all honesty, I have actually been surprised at how patient I have been while waiting for these results. (Patience is definitely not one of my virtues!) I have been able to let go of any stress or anxiety about it, knowing full well that it was entirely out of my control. But, come Week #4, I was hoping for some type of update. I called my nurse and was told that the lab had completed 3/5th's of the testing. Fast forward to Week #6, and I was starting to get a little antsy. I checked in once again to see if there were any updates, and that's when the rollercoaster ride continued. The first thing my nurse said was, "the biopsy is positive"...and I literally said, "yes!" out loud. However, my excitement and relief were quickly dampened when she said the lab did not have enough tissue to complete the testing. The "positive" aspect she was referring to was that the pathologist reported that indeed this tumor is metastatic breast cancer that has spread to my sacrum - which is what we already assumed. The fact that there wasn't enough tissue to complete the testing for the mutation was devastating. It has been very unsettling to be off treatment for 6 weeks; the longest I have ever gone in 9 years living with MBC. And now to top that off with feeling like that biopsy of my bone (which was not fun), and the subsequent 6 weeks of waiting...has all been a total waste. The plan now is as follows:
There are a few other important considerations that further complicate things. The one that weighs heavily on my mind is that no one knows if this tumor mutation survives in tissue that has been preserved for many years. There is a great chance that even if I have a positive mutation, the test will be negative because the tissue they are testing is 3 years old. On top of that, what if there still isn't enough tissue there to test? Do we have to wait until my tumors grow large enough to have a painful biopsy yet again in order to have a complete test? All of this scares me. To top it all off, communication with my treatment team has been poor and for the first time in 9 years, I have felt very in the dark and have been left with a lot of unanswered questions. For now, I am focusing on the hope that being back on some type of treatment contains my disease and hoping/wishing/praying/pleading that there is enough tissue in my ovaries to complete the testing and that the result is positive. I continue to practice letting go of what I cannot control and will continue to live, love, laugh and soak up every moment I can....despite remaining on this rollercoaster. xoxo, Meg Mike and I enjoyed a hike last weekend and coming upon this tree felt so poetic to me. Sometimes we are forced to bend so much that we think we might break. It's amazing what all living things can endure.
16 Comments
Janine Heath
5/5/2020 07:03:29 pm
Continued love & prayers for less pain and effective treatments for you my Meghan-girl. Completely humbled by your amazing attitude- love & hugs to you and Mike 💚💗
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Gina Vanderhoff
5/5/2020 07:10:11 pm
Keep looking and finding the joy, baby! Continued love and prayers are always being sent to you, my dear one! Do we need to have another "feed your soul" party? lol maybe so ~ always, Gina
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Sara
5/5/2020 07:12:10 pm
Thank you for updating us, Meg! I’m sorry it’s not everything you’ve been hoping for. I pray they can expedite and there’s enough tissue to test. You’re in my prayers every day. Sending hugs and continued patience ❤️ I love that picture and sentiment, too.
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Lauren Phillips
5/5/2020 07:13:28 pm
Sending love and prayers to you and Mike.
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Diana Walter Black
5/5/2020 07:13:43 pm
Praying for relief from your pain and treatments that will work. Sending you love and virtual hugs!
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Elizabeth Bedia
5/5/2020 07:16:25 pm
Your patience is amazing Meghan. I can only imagine how frustrating this waiting game is for you and Mike. I pray that you get speedy results this 2nd round of testing and the positive answer you need for the treatment. You are always in my prayers. You’re such an inspiration in determination and perseverance.
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Heidi Hannan Truba
5/5/2020 07:44:12 pm
Meg— I am praying for a positive result from the test of your ovarian tissue. Thank you so much for sharing your vulnerability S well as your strength. You have experienced so much in your young beautiful life. I am so hopeful that like the tree you captured you will be able to continue to bend and recalibrate and that the science will be there to support you medically. Your journey has not been easy but there is so much more for you ahead. I am confident that you will continue to persevere — what I know is not an easy path. Sending much love and faith for complete healing.
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Megan
5/5/2020 07:47:47 pm
Love you, Meg! Praying for a positive result of the ovary biopsy!
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Nancy Doman
5/5/2020 07:47:55 pm
Continued love and Prayers Meghan. ❤️🙏🏻
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Jenny Kileny
5/5/2020 07:59:00 pm
❤️ stay strong . Youre an incredible inspiration !
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Dana B
5/5/2020 08:00:20 pm
Twins in patience not being one of our virtues, I hear you on that, sister!
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Annita Mitrevski
5/5/2020 08:03:01 pm
You are an amazing woman! You are such an inspiration!
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Carrie Leser
5/5/2020 09:12:01 pm
Thank you for sharing so many personal details of your story. I pray for you often and am constantly amazed by your resilience and strength. You're such an inspiration! Xoxo, Carrie
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Kim Glushyn
5/6/2020 07:47:20 am
I am so sorry to hear of these latest trials. I will continue to hold you in my prayers. You have a great attitude and that will carry you through this. Sending much love, you are a warrior.
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Melissa Dinslage
5/6/2020 07:57:36 am
Meghan -
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Michael Malley
5/7/2020 09:09:02 am
Dear Meghan,
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