MRI Results

I was not too happy for this appointment, as I was already aware of the bad results of tumors in my brain.  

Here's what the report said.  

Impression: There has been interval development significant to the small metastatic foci involving the bilateral cerebellar hemisphere as well as likely involving  the cerebellar vermis which may also be involved with leptomeningeal enhancement which all appear to be new with local mass effect except for the previous area of linear enhancement along the periphery of left cerebellar hemisphere associated with mild edema and local mass effect.

There is interval development of multiple metastatic foci approximately 4 in number on the right side and 3 in number on the left side associated with mild degree of subjacent edema compared with the previous MRI of the brain from 3/24/22.

I was also not thrilled because I waited A LONG time to see Dr. Tafur.  

He went over the results. 

We discussed a few options and he gave some ideas on what he suggested.  My neuro-oncologists were still researching and counseling on the best options for me at the time.  That was actually fine as we had our big summer road trip planned for the following week.  

Tafur's nurse had asked me to put on the organic paper robe, which was unnecessary as I wasn't there for a breast exam, but to discuss my brain.  Dr. Tafur told me to just tell them in the future that I don't need to change for an appointment like this one, as having all patients wear the paper is part of their protocols.  

And that was it.  No decisions have been made.  I should go enjoy my family vacation.  We could try to get 2nd and 3rd opinions or look up trials for new drugs, but nothing was set in stone for the best option.  

Go on your road trip.  See the country.  Make memories.  

See me the week you get back. 

With that advice in mind, I headed home to try to finish up some of our last minute vacation plans.  

And, a driver of a Dodge Charger came at me, falling to yield and busted up that bit of hope.  There are just some days when I have to ask WHY?

Have we not been through enough?  Could something else go wrong?  Is it time to give up?   
 

And, then I remembered that I have people and we are in this together and I will still keep keeping on.  

We borrowed Stephen's dad's truck and went on our way.

And hit a huge dog on a suicide mission. 

And a bird in the same mode.

And got our clothes and supplies wet in the back, when we had purchased a rooftop cargo shell for our car in preparation for said road trip.  

We. had some hiccups and ridiculously annoying and frustrating setbacks, but we survived and stayed in places with laundromats and saw had beautiful adventures of a big part of this land of the free.  

It is not easy to keep going when the world seems to be against you, but I will put one foot in front of the other and keep living the life I have been given.  

I Did a Thing

With my latest brain news and the likelihood of losing hair in radiation spots, I took a vote and made a that-day decision.  I mean, as much as I was looking forward to the perfect hair for a Doc Brown costume, this mess had to go.  

BEFORE:

During: 

Two of my boys were already scheduled for haircuts that day, so I just asked to squeeze in between them!  

They were there for moral support! 

After:

After showering off all those strands of tired, chemo-infusion hair, it was time for the reveal:

Cancer, you might be trying to attack my brain, but I still. have a good head for baldness!  

Let's Do This!!!

Here Comes the Sun

 After what felt like a wild goose chase to find Dr. Sun's office, we finally made it to Dr. Sun's office.  (Three different people giving us directions that did not match with each other or with the address I have been given. It was more than a little bit frustrating.)

Even though we showed up late for my scheduled appointment, everyone was very nice and accommodating once we arrived.  

Dr. Sun, with his calming, quiet voice, was welcoming and kind.  He checked in with my current treatments, and seemed very happy about Enhertu.  Then, he started asking questions. 

Have you been having headaches?

What about other pain?

Nausea? Diarrhea? 

Fatigue?

Other new symptoms?

This line of questioning was getting a little bit annoying, so I finally said, "Dr. Sun--Is there something wrong with my scans?  Just tell me what they found."

They found some new, REAL, tumors this time.  It's not the best news, but not the worst.  They are planning on doing gamma knife radiation in the next week or so.  Sun will get with Scranton and make a plan for me to come back to Lubbock and get the new spots zapped.  

He asked if I wanted a video to show the new areas of concern. The first part of the video shows the scans from the top of my brain down.  The top part is not of concern.  

The last half of the video shows new spots in my lower brain.  Most of them are circular or pointed out by Dr. Sun.  

I am not super happy about this news, but I am ready to keep on keeping on.  

Let's treat this beast.  

3 Month MRI Check

 

It's crazy that it's already been 3 months and time for another trip to Lubbock for another brain MRI.  

I'm grateful my aunt was able to drive me again, and feel so loved that family friends opened their home for us to stay overnight.  I'm also glad that this time the appointment wasn't at the crack of dawn, so I had time to get sleep before the scan.  

I'm glad for that, as there was quite the wait time before the scan.  We found out that was due to a large amount of scan patients being squeezed in from the ER.  The tech told me she would be back to get me in five minutes.  After much. more than five minutes, the first tech didn't show up, but another one did.  He gave me instructions of changing into the robes, removing any metal and all fabric that was not cotton.  Then he talked about the IV.  I explained that my veins are not good.  He took a look and disagreed.  I told him again that they might look good, but the ALWAYS roll or blow.  He knew it would go well.  "I got you, girl." was the last of that conversation before we headed in for the scan.  

The tech, with all his confidence, made me into a pin cushion.  Oh, how I wish I would have left my port access in from the day before!  The tech swore that it worked, even after digging and resticking and starting the contrast.  Finally, I just told him to stop and try the other arm.  I have pain and a bruise from all that mess.  He "got me," alright.  

As a tender mercy, just at that moment, a nurse came by to check on the techs and was able to get the IV, and the rest of the scan got done.  

I was less than thrilled and ready for lunch.  

Enhertu #21 + Zometa

After a long month of trips, it was time to head back to the Cancer Clinic.  

What should have been an easy/peasy infusion turned out to be a bit longer than expected, as there was an new nurse training + an ER nurse learning the ropes on what to do for cancer patients.  

It seemed like much longer than a month since my last infusion appointment, but it was all back to the same old thing.  They did try to feed me Brussel sprouts, but it was all good after that.  

Back to kicking cancer to the curb.