I was not planning on
blogging tonight as I see Dr Lynn tomorrow and then all the pieces will be in
place. However, today needs a blog all
to itself.
As
many of you know, the first go-round I gave Dr. Kotz a run for his money. He was the first one to utter... you are just
special. He could not for the life of
him figure out why I crashed the way I did and why I bounced back like I
did. Drove him nuts. When I started the Ibrance, I know he was
worried about my white blood counts due to my history. I passed the first lab
test with flying colors and my temperature never got past 99.3. And while I have had my issues, nothing earth
shattering. Gold Star for me!
Today,
I saw him for the first time since I started both the Ibrance and the shots. I was ready with questions and I also knew
something he had no clue about. We did
the usual go over things, how are the side effects and then he started the exam—which
consisted of checking the neck, throat glands and the under the arm where the
swollen lymph node is. He gets to the arm
area and gives me a funny look. I said… yup—amazing, don’t you think? He checks
the area again and is actually giddy. He
goes back to his notes to verify and said on October 4 it was 4 cm and today he
can’t find it. That is when I let him in on it—I check it almost daily and I
knew it was shrinking and it had been since staring treatment. He was like a kid at Christmas as he could not
believe it. Which is where the uncharted territory came in. Never, ever did they think the response would
be as good as this in one month. Ever. Nor
have they ever seen something like this (add another Gold Star). At this point,
I can see his mind doing the thing he does best… figuring out the next steps—after
surgery. You see, it was decided the
node has to come out. The when is the
missing piece I am waiting for and that will happen with Dr. Lynn tomorrow. This is a game changer. The radiation trial we discussed a few weeks
ago, it appears I will not qualify for it as there will be nothing to radiate (however,
there is a possibility of radiation, but that remains to be seen. Hello tumor board… yet again). The meds might
be changed as well, but again, that remains to be seen. To say he was thrilled is an understatement.
It was then he reminded me of the questions and I went for it.
·
Me: Mom reads everything, can she get the shingles
shot?
·
Dr. K: Yes, she can, as long as it is the new, dead
one.
·
Me: After all
this surgery and stuff can I take a vacation? After all I did cancel the other
one.
·
Dr. K: Yes, and sorry about that. However, it needs
to be in between shots.
·
Me: Is there anything
I can do for energy—and do NOT tell me to exercise. The fatigue is killing me. I mean, nothing at the end of the day.
·
Dr. K: Sorry, but no, it is a side
effect. If this continues, we will look
at lowering the dosage of the Ibrance, but sorry nothing.
·
Me: About the flu
shot...
·
Dr. K: What???!!!
·
Me: Calm down.
When you told me to get it, I had just started the Ibrance and I did not want to
crash.
·
Dr. K: You are
getting it today.
·
Me: No. Just no.
·
Dr. K: Yes, you are.
·
(this goes back
and forth a few more times and we are now laughing as I know it is a losing cause)
·
Me: I just had a blood draw, and I am getting 3 shots
in my butt.
·
Dr. K: This
is in the arm
·
Me: I hate you, I really hate you.
·
Dr. K: I know. Enjoy. Let me know about the surgery
and I will see you January 2.
It
is now 1040pm… a little past that time 7 years ago when I found that pesky
little lump. Never, in my wildest dreams
would I have thought I would be back on this journey yet again. Yet here I sit with my arm killing me, my butt
stinging and thanking God for prayers answered and trying to wrap my mind
around a giddy Dr. Kotz.
So
very, very blessed.
