Waiting for Summer

Here in Oregon, we don't have summer yet. Usually it comes in early July, but the fact that so much of the rest of the country is enjoying sun and warm weather makes the wait extra hard. It's sunny right now, but I see clouds rolling in that will probably bring rain. The good news: it's green as can be and everything is blooming like crazy.

On the health side, things are good right now. I had a rough few months from mid-March until recently, however. The Abraxane/Avastin chemo combination stopped working and in March I started a new drug (new to me and quite new to the market) called Eribulin. In the doses that were recommended, it knocked me out. I had two episodes of dangerously low white counts that completely stole every bit of energy my body had. There were a few other challenges, but my doctor (and I) were committed to trying to find a way to make this work, and it looks like we have.

I am on the recommended dose now but with less frequency; I take shots for boosting white cells and right now things are so much more manageable.

This cycle I was able, with the help of my folks, to travel to California briefly and see Dawn perform at the Ojai Music Festival where she was Music Director this year. Then, the last few days before yesterday's chemo I had enough energy to do a little bit of exercise and enjoy the extra energy I had with awe and gratefulness.

So if this regimen continues to work as it has, I expect to be able to get out a bit more, get stronger and really enjoy the summer.

As for the cancer progression, as far as we know this new chemo drug is working to hold things back. We will have more definitive information after a scan I'll have later this summer.

In the meantime I am finally feeling good again after several months of struggle. I could not have gotten to this point without the help of my family. Mom and Dad have spent a great deal of wonderful time out here helping out, Dawn came in for a bit, Martha came home for a long Memorial Day weekend, and Dave and Elliott are my regular on duty team who are indispensable.

Last but not least, messages of support that have come from extended family and dear friends have meant the world to me. I may not respond, but I get them and they boost my spirits to no end.

Love to all and so grateful to have just celebrated another birthday. Cancer gives a whole new meaning to birthdays!

Dana