One of Matthew's friends at school went home this week and told her mom "Matthew's mom is done with cancer on Thursday"! It makes me smile that Matthew is sharing this great milestone and is excited to spread the word. Yes, done with radiation and the worst of the cancer treatment. (I will not talk about my armpit today...I only THOUGHT it was bad last week!) Now, it is tricking my body to do what we need it to do so that it doesn't feed cancer.
I am what you call "in the middle" of perimenopause. Not at the young end, not at the old end. The average age of women who begin menopause is 51. Chemotherapy stops the monthly cycles of women who are on it. Sometimes it stops it permanently and sometimes the ovaries wake up and start back at it. Most of the time that is determined by a woman's age. Since I am in the middle of the range, we need to continue suppressing the production of estrogen in my ovaries since my cancer is estrogen driven.There will be a monthly injection of lupron for awhile until we see how my body responds. If all is good, eventually I will be able to cut that down to once every three months. I will also be starting an oral hormone on Friday (not wasting any time) the day after radiation. This will be a daily pill that will be monitored for a couple months to make sure that I am tolerating all of the "menopausal" side effects. Joy!
Once we get everything working and good I have the opportunity to jump into a trial if I want which I think I went into a little bit last week in my post. It is a 50/50 chance I would be on the drug and for ten years I would be closely monitored no matter which group the computer puts me in. I kinda like the idea of closely monitored since this is the second time around with cancer for me, this time in stage 4.
So, we will see what happens. Bring on menopause!
Dear Lord, please heal Jody's arm pit fast and make sure she is "done with cancer"!!! ( am am being more specific with my prayers now!!
ReplyDeleteNicole Clymer, I just really love you! ;) Armpit is feeling much better...now it is the scar area ("cleavage" to those who have real breasts and wear low cut shirts)You never really know where your skin stretches until it is raw and you are trying to do the laundry! If it is anything like the armpit though, a week from now I should be good. Then it will be just getting strength back and getting some regular exercise (Stacey my future personal trainer and dietician is going to be getting a headstart in her studies by taking me on as her first "client") :) Thank you so much for your prayers my friend!
DeleteNicole Clymer, I just really love you! ;) Armpit is feeling much better...now it is the scar area ("cleavage" to those who have real breasts and wear low cut shirts)You never really know where your skin stretches until it is raw and you are trying to do the laundry! If it is anything like the armpit though, a week from now I should be good. Then it will be just getting strength back and getting some regular exercise (Stacey my future personal trainer and dietician is going to be getting a headstart in her studies by taking me on as her first "client") :) Thank you so much for your prayers my friend!
DeleteWhere would you be if you got in the trial? There was a lot we had to do before being accepted on my end and the hospital. I was accepted at the U of I but eventually had to drop out due to finding more cancer in the marginal areas they had already operated on. Hence, my taking infusion treatments now every three weeks. I am so happy for you and continue to pray for remarkable healing and a great quality of life for you from here on out!!
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