Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Positive News

I had a CT scan last week and got the results Monday (10/26). There are no new tumors and the liver lesions are shrinking. I will continue on the same treatment until my liver is clear. One thing that stood out in the report was the word "faint." Last New Years Eve, the report showed multiple liver lesions on the right lobe, the biggest being 11 MM. On Monday, the report read, "faint" lesions. I'm hoping that the next report will read, "unremarkable" which means no evidence of disease. I always thought "unremarkable" meant something negative, but when you have cancer, that word is golden.

I'm learning more about metastatic breast cancer every day. My oncologist tells me that I will probably not be cured, but the disease can be managed. Once my liver is declared "unremarkable" I can go on a different treatment plan. Maybe Tamoxifen, maybe chemo every three weeks instead of every week. I'll have periods when the disease is very under control, and then there may be other times when I have a "flare up" and I have to go back in treatment. Several years ago, stage IV metastatic breast cancer was pretty much a death sentence. Now people like me can live many years and keep the disease under control. It's really amazing.

I pray for strength and good health every day so I can stay in treatment and keep beating this. Without God, I wouldn't be here. Prayer and faith have gotten me through this year.