I am also grateful that though the ultrasound showed a possibility of an infection pocket in my abdomen, just three days later, the CT scan indicated that I would not have to have more general anesthetic so I could be "opened up and cleaned out". I feel that the Lord has been aware that I am too worn down at this time to endure this treatment and has blessed me with healing, so that I don't need to do it.
Yesterday, I met here in St George with the surgeon who performed the cancer surgery six weeks ago. She said that though I still need to put heat on my abdomen, I am healing well and can do normal activity and lifting as I slowly rebuild my muscles and regain energy. Right now I can lift four pounds and walk about fifty yards during my morning and afternoon walks (my husband pushes me in our wheelchair the rest of the way). This surgeon travels from Salt Lake to my area every month and will be giving me a pelvic exam every three months to check for cancer growth.
After the appointment with my surgeon, I went over to the Cancer Center at the hospital and had blood tests, then I went to my appointment with my cancer doctor. Originally, it was planned that I would do two more chemo treatments after my cancer surgery, but we had to reconsider this plan. During the last six months, I've had three ascites fluid drainings with local anesthetic depression reactions, four chemo treatments which put me in anaphylactic shock three times, three painful treatments to stimulate white blood cell growth, anemia, a long round trip by car for surgery, a total hysterectomy and cancer removal surgery with a general anaesthetic having an anxiety reaction afterward, followed by a month of an abdominal infection and three weeks taking of strong antibiotics.
We had to face the fact that my abdomen is still healing, but it is not fully healed yet, and I've only been off antibiotics for four days. I am still dealing with fatigue and am just beginning to heal. Also, the time frame for chemo is already over, but it doesn't matter since I don't have the strength to do it anyway. Instead, we will be moving on to the after cancer treatment maintenance program. The cancer seems to be gone, so I am in a good position for maintenance now.
Since I have the BRCA gene mutation, and also my type of cancer returns, I will need to take anti-cancer medication. This is why we are hoping that I will be able to tolerate taking daily anti-cancer pills. It will take a couple of weeks to get insurance approval to cover the huge monthly cost for this medication. This will give me more time to recover, and I hope then that I will be strong enough to handle the medication without an allergic reaction to it. The doctor said that it should be much less stressful than chemo was and that there is little chance of a severe allergic reaction to it. I feel good about trying it.
The major concern about this anti-cancer medication is that it can kill off red blood cells and platelets which would result in anemia and my having trouble healing and bleeding. For this reason, I will need, at first, to have lab tests each week so they can stop or adjust the medication before the damage becomes too serious. There are also two other variations of the anti-cancer medication to try if I'm unable to use this one. If I am able to tolerate the anti-cancer medication, it is possible that I may never have cancer again. I know that the Lord loves me and will guide my life, and I have faith that it will all work out for the best for me.
Photo - My hair is growing back. I have a nice thick fuzz. Note Christmas balls on cactus.
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