Uncharted territory

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.