I first want to say how much I appreciate your comments on my blog posts. You are encouraging and inspiring and I love hearing from you. Thank you! After the fourth month of the cancer marker number on my monthly blood tests (CA 27.29) going up, my oncologist ordered a PET/CT scan to see what is going on.
The scan results verified that the Faslodex treatment I have been on for just over a year is no longer doing its job. The changes aren’t huge, but are worth addressing. The overall impression on the scan results says, “There are persistent left pleural tumor involvement with two new small foci and more prominent and extensive uptake in the posterior costophrenic angle.” The report is four pages, including many words I don’t understand.
What my oncologist (who understands all the words) said is that a ‘small foci’ is like a pencil point, and having two more of them in the lining of my left lung is not a big deal. All the tumors in the lining of my left lung are small, and there is no evidence of metastasis anywhere else in my body. She said I don’t have any tumor big enough to do a biopsy (if we wanted to do that).
Even though the changes are small, we are going to change my treatment since any progression of disease means the Faslodex isn’t stopping it any more. I will be switching to Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane), the one aromatase inhibitor I haven’t taken. It’s for postmenopausal women with estrogen-positive breast cancer.
I am feeling grateful to still be thriving, soon (in May) to celebrate 30 years of living with cancer. My oncologist says she doesn’t know many patients who have lived with cancer as well and as long as I have and she believes it is because of all that I do to create a terrain not conducive to the growth of cancer.
So, I will continue doing what I have been doing – eating in an 8-hour window and fasting 16 hours a day; eating a high-fat, low carb (no grains or sugar) diet that is heavy on veggies and low-glycemic fruit; exercising daily; meditating; taking supplements; injecting Iscador; and looking for joy and purpose in life.
I have been accepted to be part of a study at the University of Wisconsin on Outliers. They are studying 50 women who have lived longer than usual with metastatic breast cancer. Of the 50, I have lived the 8th longest. I’m eager to find out what science says about why I have lived so long and so well with metastatic breast cancer. The website for the study is https://outliers.cancer.wisc.edu/.
Jan,
I’m so happy that you have lived so long and that our paths crossed many years ago. You are such a role model for persistence, tenacity, courage and honesty. I love you and pray that your new treatment Aromasin will do its job.
Much love and hugs,
Debra
Great to hear from you. Terri Tate and I will be teaching our intuition class in Seattle in July. Hope we can see each other on that trip.
Keep the faith, Jan. You are doing a perfect job learning to help your body deal with cancer. What an inspiration you are!!!
Thank you, Pat. I appreciate your support.
It will be so interesting to be part of that study. And I am so grateful that you have lived thirty years. I love you, Jan.
Thank you, Lois, for your support and your love. You have been an inspiration to me these many years. I’m grateful you have lived a long and good life also.
Jan
I am forever grateful for the inspiration you have been and friendship you have brought to my life. All those years of involvement with Healing Journeys & 15 Conferences enriched and enhanced my being and becoming. I hope you’ll be visiting us in Ashland in the near future! Love All Ways, Lloyd & Deborah
I miss you, Lloyd and Deborah, and am glad you are happy in Ashland, continuing to live your dreams.You have both enriched Healing Journeys.
Thank you, Jan, for all you do to take good care of yourself, and for blogging.
My breast cancer diagnosis was in 2015, and lumpectomy in 2016, and I have been on Faslodex since late August.
Dr Larry or Lawrence LeShan’s book Cancer As A Turning Point inspired me to make some life changes. Your blog is an inspiration, as well.
Keep up the good work!