Happy February! After a January that lasted what felt like 47 months,,,,,we survived! My side effects are finally under control after the first immunotherapy infusion tried to kill me. After I was released from the hospital, I developed immunotherapy-induced colitis. They had to switch my steroids to try and fight those symptoms. That was just a truly shitty time......pun intended. I'll spare you the details but I don't wish that on my worst enemy. Ooooofffffff.
To add insult to injury, the flu and chest crud went through our house with a vengeance. Took out Nick, then Jackson and then me. I am still trying to get rid of my remaining lingering cough but everyone is back to healthy! Sickness is everywhere.....so please be careful.
I have been looking forward to February 4th because that is the date we were going to try and restart my immunotherapy. Now, the intention was always to most likely just do one drug instead of the two to make it easier on my body. One of the drugs gives a lot of people trouble. So the plan was to increase the dose of the more tolerable one and see how my body tolerated that. I've been manifesting the ability to restart immunotherapy because if I am being honest, I am terrified of having to sit around and wait. That has never been my style. My bloodwork came back and it was fine. Still some abnormalities, but good overall. We decided to go ahead with the treatment. As I was heading up to infusion my TSH level came back. The normal levels are 0.45 to 5.33. Mine was 58.277. Just a smidge high. Seriously?!?!?! My oncologist had to reach out to my endocrinologist to see how to proceed. She increased the Synthroid dose I was already on. However, we were still left with the decision of what to do.
My oncologist is cautious because of how bad my reaction was last time. Nick and I are as well. But if we took out one of the drugs and are managing symptoms with steroids, then is it at least worth a shot to restart? I decided to go ahead with the infusion. I have blood work scheduled three (3) times in the next ten (10) days. That way we can stay ahead of anything that seems to be getting out of whack. I also have a video visit next week to speak with the oncology team. All these precautions make me feel MUCH better. So I took the risk by starting back, but it would have been a risk not to start back. I HAVE to be here. I am NOT finished raising my son so that is not an option.
So PLEASE send good thoughts, prayers, vibes, whatever your preference, that I will have minimal side effects from this treatment. If all goes well, I will have my 3rd treatment on Feb 24th.
DREAM COME TRUE!
On Monday, January 20th we got to check an item off my bucket list! An extremely kind and thoughtful friend, Lynn, organized for the 3 of us to attend a Charlotte Hornets game and sit in courtside seating!!! We went in a VIP entrance, had brunch at the Courtside Club, and sat in incredible seats that were third row back courtside. It was an experience like no other. We needed that time as a family. That was such an incredible day! Thank you Lynn!
Looking forward I am hoping for fewer side effects! We are also going to test to see if it was my pituitary or adrenal glands that caused the primary misfunction after the first treatment. That will help them figure out how to treat me from here on out. I have been struggling with losing control of my life. I have always worked very hard to maintain some control in this fight with cancer. With the unexpected reaction to the immunotherapy, added doctors to my team, etc. it just seems to have taken control over me. I am working like crazy to take some of the control back. It is my life, and I am fighting to be here and be present with my boys and my friends. I refuse to let cancer control me and my life, I am just somebody living their life that happens to have cancer.
Please get out there and #MakeItCountForCort
Love,
Cort
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