My 72 Birthday - Ovarian Cancer, MCAS, and Lynparza

 

I made it! Today is my 72nd birthday which I enjoyed spending with my family. 

Last year about this time, I was in the hospital and had been just diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 3c (cancer cells covered all inside my abdomen, but had not yet invaded any organs). When I was asked what I wanted for my birthday, I replied, "to go home!"

I was told that without chemo treatment, I would only live three months. My CA125 cancer marker was 1,900 (35 is where you have cancer) and there was little hope that I would live, but through the the power of God, the prayers of others, four chemo treatments, and an hysterectomy, my cancer is now in remission. 

This year I've come to feel how much I am loved, and have seen over and over how the Lord has interceded in my life to help me. Just this last month, I was concerned about having to go off of antihistamines for five days around the 4th of July so that the allergist could test for medications for my upcoming

Chemo Caused Anemia

So far the chemo has been helping me to feel better (after the first week), but now I need more rest to cope with the chemo induced anemia. I have made it through four chemo treatments before this happened, so I'm doing well.

Now, I'm losing a lot of the small amount of remaining hair I have. It has been two weeks since my 4th chemo, and now I'm seeing the effects of it. The chemo kills cells in my body which grow quickly. Hair goes quickly so it is being killed. Red and white blood cells also grow quickly which is why 90% of people who have chemo also become anemic, and why I take medicine to make more white blood cells. Most people taking chemo treatments are just mildly to moderately anemic. I'm only mildly anemic so I hope to make it through without having to have a transfusion and with some hair. Only two more chemos!