Update #83

Realized that I didn't let you all know (at least via email!) about the results of my scans yesterday.  Oops. Sorry. 

Easy day!  The scans show stability and/or improvement. This means that the current chemo drug I'm on will be what I continue with for the time being. 

So…tomorrow I go for Part 1 of Round #3 of chemo. 

So far, the side effects of this drug continue to be MUCH easier than those of the first drug I was on this summer.  

While I don't feel great and while eating is still hard, I recognize myself again.  

Well…I guess I really don't recognize myself if I'm talking about what I see in the mirror. 

That girl staring back at me is a bit scarier than the girl who I remember myself to be.  

But, when I think of how I'm not just laying on the couch all day or feeling crappy all day… 

THAT feels much more like my old self.  

So…thanks for your prayers and your encouragement. This would be so much more difficult without you…

Love to you all,

K. 

Update #82

Easy news today at Roswell.

Phew. 

The lumbar puncture came back negative which means that there is no cancer in my brain!  

And my tumor markers have dropped for the first time in months and months!

What does this mean, you ask?

The negative lumbar puncture most likely means that the buzzing sound in my head (tinnitus) isn't due to lesions in my brain.  However, we still don't know exactly what's causing it. My hypothesis is that it's due to the chemo drug because it's gotten better these last two days (since this past week has been my week off from chemo).  However, given this isn't a commonly reported side effect of the drug, my doctor isn't ready to firmly draw that conclusion.  

The tumor marker drop most likely means that this new chemo drug is having a positive effect on the cancer in my body.  I'm getting scanned in 3 weeks to have a more definitive picture as to what's going on, but for now, I'll totally rejoice that, not only has this new chemo been easier on my body due to the lowered nausea, it also seems to be at least somewhat effective. 

So…within this hard road of a cancer diagnosis, today was way easier than it could have been and I am so thankful.  

I"m thankful for your prayers. 

I'm thankful for your words of encouragement. 

I'm thankful for the meals. 

I'm thankful for the flowers and little gifts.

And I'm beyond thankful for the - not one, not two, but THREE! -  happy dances/kick line videos that you sent my way today to show how excited you were to hear of my easy news! :)

Love to you all,

K.