Heather’s Story

Site created on December 4, 2021

I lived in NYC on 9/11.  It was a day that was unreal and I learned what it meant to be truly scared.  In the weeks after 9/11, we moved to Indiana as planned and then 17years later a move to Massachusetts.  It has been 20 years since that day and I thought the fear of it had faded.  That was until it brought a new and very unexpected twist to my life.  After an incidental finding on a chest xray, and a few tests later, several masses were detected and biopsied to reveal that I have mesothelioma.  Mesohthelioma is a very rare cancer of the lungs from asbestos exposure.  There is a latency period of many years from exposure to the time of detection.  There are only about 3000 cases diagnosed every year, and only about 1 in 100 people exposed will develop this.  I am not in a risk category for exposure so this diagnosis came very unexpectedly.  The mostly likely root exposure would be on that frightful day.


Since 11/19 when I received this news, I have been trying to process and make sense of this.  9/11 has now brought a whole new fear into my life that I would have never expected.  Yesterday, I met with the staff and doctors at the International Mesothelioma Program in Boston.  I am grateful that I live close to this world renown facility and will receive the best treatment I could hope for.  Tuesday I will have a lymph node biopsy to get a sense if it has spread and stage the cancer.  If it has not spread, I will be looking at having lung surgery after the first of the year.


Thank you for all of your love, support, prayers, and good vibes!  This is what my family needs most right now.  I am sure in the weeks and month ahead there will be things we will need.  Asking for help is not something I am used to doing.  So please feel free to be pushy and make me give you the blessing of helping me.


XXOO
Heather

Newest Update

Journal entry by Heather Carson

Hello from Harrington Hospital!
I apologize for not updating on cycle 2 of chemo but it was a rough go for a few week. But nothing of what cycle 3 had done to me. I received cycle 3 two weeks ago and Monday it finally kicked me! First few days after chemo with some new drugs I felt great!  But then the drugs wore off and the sickness began. Eight straight days of misery.  It tricked me into thinking it was passing and I had a few hours of feeling well. As quickly, it turn to weakness like I’ve never felt before.  I was sitting in the bathroom trying to convince myself I could stand long enough to brush my teeth. Over the next hour I was able to get pants and a tshirt on trying to get to my blood draw appointment. Fast forward and I’m in the ED with a quick admittance to a room. 
As of today my levels are improving with a blood transfusion, platelets, potassium, etc. There has been so many I’ve lost track. I should have counted the bags being hung!  My hope is to be discharged tomorrow. 
It remains to be determined if I will have cycle 4 next week. 
Please continue to send your prayers, love and good vibes!  The end of chemo is near!  I’m determined to continue being a Bad A$$ B$@%# and win this fight!
XXOO 
Heather

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