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May 31, 2016, I opted to have a lymph node removed from my neck (a month before our son, Jordan, was to get married). It had been swollen since early January and I was concerned about it possibly being cancerous. The biopsy came back "reactive lymph node," non cancerous. Whew! No worries. Moab, Utah, here we come! Less than two months later, I noticed a lump in my left breast, along with some soreness. However, I shrugged it off to being "that time of the month" and, besides, my doctors seemed confident that my symptoms since the lymph node removal were menopause related (because of my age). After a strenuous backpacking adventure in August with my husband and then a moderate hike in September, with our eldest son, I noticed the lump was still present (thanks to the positioning of my backpack), and the burning pain was getting a bit more prevalent. My husband advised me to tell my doctor about my findings at my next follow-up appointment. Sure, I thought. It is just menopause related! Anyway, I did finally mention it to my doctor, right before he was about to leave the room. Thankfully, he stopped and listened to me, checked the area, tried to assure me that "cancer doesn't hurt," (which gave me a few days of peace) and sent me to a radiologist for a diagnostic mammogram and follow-up ultrasound (my last mammogram was in November of 2015). From that day on, our lives have been forever changed.
On March 5, 2018, I received my last dose of chemotherapy. It had been 16 1/2 months since I had first been diagnosed with TNBC and I was so relieved to finally be done. During my treatment span, I had received five different chemotherapy drugs, thirty three radiation treatments and underwent a total (single) mastectomy. Finally, on March 19, Dr. Blau, Oncologist, gave us permission to begin counting my days in remission. On June 8, after noticing a lump at least two months prior (appt with Dr. McConnell, Oncology Surgeon, April 20), I was told that the lump tested positive for TNBC. My particular type of cancer is apparently resistant to both chemotherapy and radiation. On July 18, I will have surgery to remove the current tumor. It is unknown what type of treatment I will receive thereafter.
The lumpectomy surgery on July 18 was followed by another surgery on August 7, in order to get clear margins. Trying to stay ahead of any other recurrence, Darin and I visited the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to find out if I would qualify for any trial studies. The trip proved to be fruitless, with exception of a PET/CT scan which revealed a small tumor. The following Friday, several more small tumors were noted during a visit with Dr. McConnell back home. A week later, Dr. Blau diagnosed me with regional metastatic TNBC. I started an oral chemotherapy called Xeloda that very day, followed by an Immunotherapy drug known as Opdivo on October 15, 2018. God had interceded on my behalf by closing the door to a potential clinical trial at Swedish Medical Center (with a wait time of up to a month) and allowing for Opdivo to be approved through “compassionate care” by the Bristol-Myer Company, thanks to a letter written by Laurie Dahlke, one of Dr. Blau’s staff, on my behalf.
After trying three other chemotherapy drugs, along with Opdivo, I received twenty more rounds of low dose radiation (1.5 gray, twice a day), in May of 2019, in order to shrink the once again growing tumors on my left chest. It was a gamble, but my radiologist, Dr. Sanders, was willing to give it a try, believing that it could potentially help long enough for me to begin a trial I was approved for up in Seattle. Thankfully, it worked and the tumors shrunk. Unfortunately, they also began growing outside of the radiation field, which was something Dr. Sanders warned us could happen. On May 31, I received my final infusion and awaited my arrival date for the ROR-1 Immunotherapy Trial at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). (But not before taking a cruise to Alaska with my family.) My check in date is June 26, 2019.
On June 26, Darin and met the doctor at SCCA. She notified us that the Brain scan I had the day before revealed I had brain Mets. As a result, I was no longer eligible for the ROR-1 trial, nor any other trial unless the brain Mets were radiated and stabilized for a minimum of four months. Later that same day, we met once again with Dr. Sanders in Puyallup, to set up a treatment plan for radiating the tumors in my brain. I only went a few times before realizing that the cancer was causing the pleural space around my left lung to fill with fluid. This became more important in my opinion than radiation, so I underwent surgery to have a catheter placed within the pleural space to help make drainage at home an option. We also decided that it was time to call in Hospice for assistance.
It has been a difficult time for us at the Hanson home. If you have sent a text message to one of us here and haven't heard back, please be patient. We are feeling overwhelmed with everything going on at this time and will try and get back to you when we are able to. Your outpouring of love and support has been felt and we are grateful for every one of you.
Cheri's celebration of life service is being held at the the South Hill Baptist Church on Saturday, October 12th at 1:00 pm.
The address is: 7914 112th St. E. Puyallup, Wa 98373
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