The Cancer Years

Update February 7, 2020: Good and good-ish news

Today was my trimonthly meeting with my oncologist to discuss scan results and treatment. There was some good news - the fluid around my heart is gone and there has been no progression in the tumours. No spectacular progress in reducing the size of the tumours though, so the chemo treatments will continue. I’ll be assessed again in another 3 months. After much discussion, the oncologist confirmed that I will be on this current medication until it quits working, the side effects are too bad or I decide to take a break. The problem with the latter is that there is no guarantee that the current drug would continue to work after a break and one of the other options would need to be considered.

So, I continue with the chemo and managing the side effects. I was in a slump in January but my medications were sorted out and I feel better. Plus it helps that the weather has been warmer (even if I know the cold weather will return) and it is lighter earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon. One of the benefits of living further north.

While I was in my slump, I watched escapist TV shows and movies but I also watched “The Big C”, about a woman diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. Sounds like an odd thing for a woman with stage 4 breast cancer to watch, no? Well, it was interesting. I could relate to some of the things in the show although not the general craziness of the storyline. One thing I found funny was how easily the main character was able to access her oncologist. Perhaps that is the case in some ritzy private clinics but that is definitely not the case in Ontario or Saskatchewan. I feel lucky that I can pass on messages to my oncologist’s nurse.

Generally, things are going well. I had a great Christmas with family in Regina and Prince Albert. Just before New Year’s, I went to Saint Lucia for a week. I met up with my friend Michelle who is on a 7 month sailing trip from Saint Lucia to Australia! Anyway, I enjoyed my time on that beautiful island, especially being warm.

I have a 2 week trip to Morocco at the end of March to look forward to. The oncologist wasn’t super happy with the timing of the trip as it will interrupt the chemo schedule but it’s difficult to plan as the schedulers only book the appointments a month ahead of time, at best. Anyway, I can’t live my entire life around the chemo schedule so I have to make other plans. I want to do as much as I can while I still can. Now if I could only get back into the habit of going to the gym.

So, my readers, that is about all for now. No inspirational quotes or book recommendations, just a few pictures.