Update: February 2023

10 February

Hi everyone!

 

Here we are in February, and I've just completed my three-monthly process - CT scan last Tuesday; consultation with Garth Davids, the mensch oncologist, today. In the past three months, I didn't have any Vitamin C infusions; I also didn't intend to try anything new, but was forced by circumstance (stock issues nationwide) to take Equisin, a generic that contains Exemestane, instead of my usual Aromasin, which is Exemestane. And wow, did I feel the difference! I really didn't feel like myself at all - grumpy, irritable, didn't sleep well, etc. (No comments from the peanut gallery! 😄)

 

Today's consultation:

 

·       No change to my bones.

·       The lung nodules still exist, but (unlike last time) there is no significant change in their sizes.

·       No new nodules or bone metastases anywhere.

·       I still have a couple of lymph nodes that slightly fluctuate in size, but Garth is not concerned about them - he says that various things can cause tiny fluctuations.

 

He also said that I'm looking well (which matched how I'm feeling).

 

There is, however, one new phenomenon, which made him say, "You're outstandingly different". And that is: I have some scattered soft tissue lesions in my spleen, which is very unusual for someone with my type of breast cancer. They may or may not be metastatic. Garth doesn't yet have enough info to tell what they are; he is going to discuss, with the radiologists, whether or not we need to do further investigation right now and, if so, what - it could be an ultrasound or an MRI. If they are found to be metastatic, then we'll probably do some radiation on my spleen, as we've proved that I respond well to radiation.

 

I will also be discussing all this with the other mensch, David Nye, as will Garth.

 

There is no point in losing sleep etc over it, and anyway the only way I know I am playing host to some cancer at the moment is because I'm told so. I truly wouldn't know, any other way!

 

I've now been seeing Garth for a year, and I continue to be happy with this process. We continue to disagree, amicably, about all sorts of things. We've both learnt a lot.

 

In other news:

We're in the last cycle of moving next door, now that the painting is finished, the security system upgraded, a semi-gas stove installed (I wonder why??!! 🙄), and so on. I'll send further updates on that when it's done! (Photo: the yucca flowers outside the front door.)

Lots of love to all of you 🌹❤️ 

17 February

 

Thanks again for the loving messages over the past week, and for all your support in general.

 

I received the notification, today, that I'll be having an ultrasound on Tuesday at 09:00 SA time, to find out more details about my spleen and to plan what - if any - treatment I may need for it. Please send some good vibes, around then!

 

And two days later, the last of our furniture goes next door and we sleep at the new house for the first time.

 

Lots of love to all of you, and all the very best for whatever you have on your plates at the moment! 🌹❤️

21 February

Ultrasound done, but I have to wait until late today or sometime tomorrow before I hear from Garth the mensch oncologist. 🌹❤️

22 February

 

Hi everyone - thank you for your patience, waiting until I'm ready to tell you what's happening.

 

The good news is that I still feel fine, and I'm not about to keel over any time soon.

 

The not-good news is that Garth told me, last night, that the ultrasound indicated that those nodules in my spleen are - in all likelihood - unfriendly.

 

There are a few options for treatment, which my two mensch doctors have hopefully discussed today, although I haven't yet heard back from Garth. It's likely to be either or both of radiation and a change in medication.

 

Treatment is not a guarantee that it will never pop up anywhere else, but it's the best chance of containment for as long as possible.

 

The fact that I still don't feel a thing prompts me to remind you to keep checking yourselves!!! And may you never find anything.

 

(In parallel with all of this, it's been an extremely busy day for both Gail and me, preparing for tomorrow's move in multiple ways. I also had a work shift, proofreading, which was probably a good thing!)

 

And may we all keep dancing, and dancing, and dancing some more.

 

Lots of love 🌹❤️