Good News a week after starting anti-cancer medication!

One good thing now is that I have hair. Actually, I never completely lost my hair before the new hair began to grow. It is gray and nice and thick like it used to be.

Another thing that I'm really happy about is that I am adjusting to the Lynparza anti-cancer medication, and it is only taking the week they assured me it would take.  It was a tough week, but I am now feeling more like myself. It is wonderful to no longer have the sense of anxiety and depression. I'm glad that the muscle and joint pain, headache, and nausea are just minor now. I don't have any diarrhea and the irritated gums are less and are being helped by using a baking soda mouthwash and the minor heartburn by pepcid medication. Oil and lotion are easing my dry itchy skin, and my decongestant and antihistamine are not only helping my allergies, but are also keeping the lung inflammation at a minimal level. So, though I don't feel as good as I did without the medication, it is livable now and my energy is even increasing. Yesterday, I walked nearly a quarter of a mile. The only thing which has become worse is that I have little sense of taste and little appetite. Since this removes the temptation to overeat, that really isn't too bad.   

I also found out that, though I have a BRCA gene mutation, it is BRCA2 not the more common BRCA1. Though both give a much higher risk of having cancer, especially breast cancer, BRCA1 has a 65% chance of developing breast cancer while BRCA2 is 10% less at 55%. I also do not have the 
increased risk that those with BRCA1 have of developing triple-negative breast cancer which is not only aggressive, but often very difficult to treat.

The really great thing that I learned at my appointment with my cancer doctor this week was that the medication is not destroying my blood cells.  A common side effect from taking Lynparza is for your red and white blood cell levels to drop and also your platelet levels. Not only have my blood levels not gone down, but my red blood cells are actually higher than they were before I began the medication. This is amazing!  I feel that the Lord is helping me to be able to take this anti-cancer medication, and I feel His love. I am so blessed!