UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: Update on my daughter’s cancer and mine

UPDATE BELOW OP…

We got the news we didn’t want to hear today. Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Doctor says it’s incurable. She will be treated with chemo, radiation, hormonal therapies if applicable, as well as any and all naturopathic means. Some live months, some live years.

For those who missed my other posts, she is 29 years old, a newlywed who just celebrated her 1-year anniversary. She had pain in her hip and got it checked in mid-May. Tumor in her hip bone, lungs and liver. For now she is under the care of the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle. From what I’ve learned in the few days of research I’ve done it seems like a first rate clinic. Seattle for all its faults is a world class city and I’m confident she’ll get great care.

As for my situation, it seams very small in comparison. Although I have to fight to stay here for her, I honestly don’t give a frick about myself right now. The tumor on my pancreas is small and contained as far as we can tell.

I have not had any treatments yet. I have made the decision to switch my care and treatment to the UAB pancreatic oncology group. Dr. J. Bart Rose III and the entire team there are on the cutting edge of this kind of cancer. I will meet with him on Thursday to get a plan in place.

It’s a heavy load to bear. I’m pretty much numb. Thank you for your continued prayers.

********

ETA UPDATE: Wasn’t really sure the best way to do this. I considered a new post but I thought it might be better to keep it all here. I don’t really like talking about myself but a lot of you good folks asked me to check in with any new developments. And it helps to talk about it, so...

Things are coming into slightly better focus for my daughter. I mentioned this before but her cancer is type HER2+. Some of you smart folks have extensive knowledge of it, I’ve learned. This is a more aggressive cancer but it also responds well to non-chemo/radiation treatment methods such as monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates. I couldn’t possibly explain those except to say they are reported to have 30% better outcomes and a 50% reduction in recurrence compared to chemo alone. She will still do chemo and radiation as well as possible surgery, which we originally were told was not an option.

She had a full skeletal and brain scan today (June 18). Won’t know anything for a few days.

She is seeing a fertility doctor soon to freeze some of her eggs. The hope is chemo/radiation won’t damage them but it’s a precaution in hopes that she lives many years and can have children. It crushes me that she is having to think about and do that. She desperately wants be a mother. I understand the ethical and religious issues regarding this but I’d ask you to please refrain from discussing them here. The decision is hers and her husband’s.

My surgeon at UAB did his residency in Seattle and is familiar with her clinic, the Swedish Cancer Institute. When I told him his eyes lit up and he said they are considered the gold standard especially for breast cancer treatment in the PNW. Apparently they do a majority of breast cancer treatment in Seattle and even from nearby states. I understand many of you stand by MD Anderson as the only place to be treated for cancer but we are confident she is in good hands.

As for me, I am getting my port inserted this Monday at UAB. I’m also getting a nerve block for pain so I can get off oxycodone. It’s called a celiac plexus block which deadens the nerve center at the back of the pancreas. Long needle into my back, etc, etc. I’ll meet with my oncologist that day also. I don’t have a date yet but chemo will probably start by end of next week.

I will have Whipple surgery after these first 6 rounds of chemo, sometime around the end of October. That’s really the beast that I dread. It’s a complex and lengthy surgery, often 6-10 hours. A third of my pancreas will be cut out and my digestive tract will be rearranged. Many people lose 20% of their weight and have digestive issues for months or years. Eating and digesting food becomes problematic. I’m 6 ft and I’ve lost from 192 down to 180 already. Doctor said dropping to 155-160 would not be unusual.

All in all we have more hope than in the beginning a month ago. Still a huge battle ahead. It’s a heavy, heavy burden and I have faltered in my faith and belief many times. But we are trusting in God, modern medicine and talented doctors (which he’s in charge of anyway)`.

Sorry for the length. It’s hard to keep these short and sweet. Thank you once again for your care and prayers. I appreciate all of you anonymous fvkers more than you know.