We spent the last 3 days living “normal”. It was absolutely crazy but it was our crazy normal. And it felt so so good. I had no scans no appointments, no where to be and it felt good to just hang out with family. Seeing the magic of Christmas through a child’s eyes and teaching our children about Jesus’s birthday just brings joy to my soul. It felt so good to have these days to just reset before we start living our new normal (and kicking this cancers ass 🙃)
On Wednesday we got the results of my CT scan and bone scan I had earlier in the week. With these scans the doctors were looking to see if the cancer had spread to any other part of my body. If the cancer spreads, it would not be “curable” but could be managed. It could also change some of the chemotherapy. Let me tell you, “scanxiety” is a real thing you guys and it’s brutal. Waiting between scans/tests to get results can drive you insane. After waiting days for the results we found out the results showed the cancer has NOT spread to any other part of my body other than the known lymph nodes near the mass! We are SO SO thankful to God for these results!
I also had an appointment with the oncology team to go over more details about this “Phase 1” (out of 3) with the big chemo drugs. There was a change with the date of my first treatment and will be having it this Wednesday instead of Thursday. Every time after this initial one, treatments will be on a Thursday. I will be receiving 4 drugs: Carboplatin, taxotere, Herceptin, and Perjeta. The Carboplatin and taxotere are the “big” anticancer chemotherapy drugs. These are the drugs that have the “typical” chemotherapy side effects (hair loss, neuropathy, nausea, fatigue, etc.). Herceptin and perjeta are considered monoclonal antibodies that specifically target the HER2 cancer cells (I will continue these two infusions for a full year). These drugs do not have severe side effects like the big chemo drugs. I will also be getting an injection of the drug Neulasta the following day after the infusion. Neulasta is a bone marrow stimulant that helps promote the growth of white blood cells in the bones. They say some people complain of bone pain with this and I can’t help but think of Harry Potter when he had to regrow he bones 🙃 (I mean that’s kinda what it is). So I will be channeling my inner wizard and Harry Potter strength…I mean this gives me faux wizard status right?
“Phase 1” consists of 6 treatments. I will be receiving all 4 drugs during these rounds plus the Neulasta the following day. I wont lie, I am nervous about how my body will respond to them and how severe the symptoms will end up being. It’s hard not to worry or think about these things when you have two little ones depending on you. They say most people start feeling bad a week to two weeks after the infusion, so, just in time for the next treatment. If everything goes as planned, I will be receiving treatments every three weeks.
During this phase there are a few things we will be monitoring. We will be monitoring the tumor size in hopes that the big chemotherapy drugs will shrink it, hopefully all the way! I will also be getting an echocardiogram periodically to check my heart’s ejection fraction since one of the side effects of the Herceptin/Perjeta can effect the heart. Every day before infusions, I will be getting bloodwork done to make sure my levels are safe for the treatments.
So things to pray for this week: 1) that my anxiety stays low amidst this first treatment 2) that the side effects stay minimal and I can still maintain a somewhat ‘normal’ at home life, caring for my husband and kiddos.
Thank you again and again and again to everyone who has supported us, reached out, donated money, delivered meals, etc. It has been amazing and so touching to both Blake and myself. If I am being raw and honest, the financial generosity of so so many has touched us immensely and helped soothe some of the anxiety we have going into this about managing and paying for these treatments. Its daunting and the support we have received has been above and beyond what we ever could have expected.
Some of our family in Florida had t-shirts made and sent me a picture of them all together on Christmas Eve. Talk about a Christmas surprise! So thankful they are apart of our army. See the picture below and if you are interested in a t-shirt, please contact Britt (my sister) via messenger on social media.
For those continuing to ask, here are the links to the meal train and the gofundme. Don’t forget about the New Years Day raffle for a stay at our friends’ OBX beach house CJs Getaway. You will receive 1 ticket for every $20 you donate to go the gofundme.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/alysas-breast-cancer-treatments
Love always,
Alysa & Blake
‘Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28
Alysa's Army 