Survival Rate

My friend told me that her father-in-law had lung cancer. She wanted to know what his chances of survival are. I felt that knowing the rate is depressing and might not even apply to him. Everyone is different and special in their own way. No one wants to be just a number. When I was first diagnosed during Thanksgiving of 2011, I googled my chances of surviving - 8 months was pretty slim and 5 years was even slimmer. I don't know if I'm going to be that 1%, but it doesn't matter. I can't spend my life crying about my death. What matters is the present, because that's the only place I can be in. So I have to enjoy ever moment of it and make it count. I hope he does too.

 

Genome Test

I became allergic to the Carboplatin treatment recently. My throat closed up causing me to wheeze heavily. Thankfully, the nurses ran to retrieve an oxygen tank for me.  Time to search for another treatment, since I can no longer tolerate this one. Plus, a scan showed that I also now have a new met spot on my rib.

A week or two earlier, I had taken a genome test, which tests for 340 types of mutations that are also present in other types of cancer, not just lung cancer. I had another mutation, NTRK 3, which does not have a targeted drug in the market yet. The next best solution is Crizobtinib that targets another mutation, ALK, but has been known to be somewhat effective with the NTRK mutation.

This little pill packs a punch. It has been so hard to keep food and water in with the nausea and GI track problems. I was eventually prescribed a nausea drug (Zyprexa), which for the most part, is keeping things under control. It was a tough beginning. At least my hair is slowly growing back.







 

Beautiful Stranger

Earlier this month, at my physical therapy waiting area, I met a young woman who recently got diagnosed with leukemia. Interestingly, she was a radiation oncologist resident at Mount Sinai hospital. We connected via issues we face as young adults with cancer. She was sweet, but seem bitter and jaded from her experiences. Understandably so, I felt a bit unnerved as she was sharing her story. Long story short, she was determine unfit by the hospital's Wellness Board to treat patients. Since she can no longer work as a resident, she is being evicted from the hospital's housing apartment for residents. To top it off, the day she got diagnosed, her boyfriend left her. After we departed, I thought a lot about her. I'm not sure if I could help her emotionally without causing myself stress, which was one of the reasons, I did not ask for her contact information. I hope she's doing better than I left her.

She reminds me of  how extraordinarily lucky I am to have an incredible network of supportive family and friends in my life. The holidays, specifically Thanksgiving, mark the anniversary of my life After Cancer. I made it to my third year. Three years is a long time for someone with stage IV. I'm hoping for more anniversaries to celebrate with the people I love so dearly. Thank you all so much for your love, support, patience and reading my blog. :)