Three years and 70 chemo treatments ago I received my diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer, changing our lives forever. We looked forward with fear, but also with hope. Right away there were many appointments, biopsies, pump installment, and my first chemo treatment within a week. Things I know now that I didn't know then...my main tumor was very large.  My doctor said right out that she couldn't cure this, but because I was younger and healthier than most with this diagnosis and they could keep me going for as long as possible. Now look at me, a 3 year survivor is a statistically small group with this kind of cancer. I'm still here and going pretty strong. 

I can divide my treatments into 3 segments.  The first 6 months were very tough with FOLFIRINOX at high levels.  Things were going well so they lowered the levels of chemo they gave me and took out the harshest one.  Things went well for a long time and I was a living pretty normal life,, sometimes feeling like I didn't even have cancer.  Last  spring tumors were showing signs of growth so I went back on FOFIRINOX, but at the lower dose than originally so it isn't as hard as  the first time out.  This has been very successful and most of my tumors have become inactive, but due to the length of time I've been on chemo my platelets and white blood cells have been low and I've had to cut the amount of treatments down, which them makes the tumor markers increase again.  During this time I was more lethargic than usual, mostly hanging around at home.  Luckily the tumor marker growth has not been a crazy amount, my platelet and WBC numbers have improved, and I'm ready to go back to the every 2 week chemo regimen once again.

So today is a day to celebrate my cancerversary and acknowledge how lucky I am that the chemo works for me and is continuing to do so!!  

At the end of my writings I always like to acknowledge my friends who are also fighting life threatening illness.  Tonight we will be going to a memorial MS charity event honoring our friend and neighbor Larry Thompson, who Twin Citians will know as Moon in the Afternoons, a well known DJ in the Twin Cities area.  Larry passed in January after a very long battle with MS, but as a man who did not let the disease define him.  His mind was aways going and he made a podcasts from home,  recently he was back on KS95 for a day and it meant so much to him.  As much as he loved broadcasting, he was first and foremost a family man.  His wife Cynthia was his angel, and he talked so proudly of his kids all the time. To Larry, my friend, it was so good to have you as a friend and we will miss you very much!!

To my other friends who're in the thick of it, fighting cancer while living your normal life, keep in touch.  I think of you often.

We continue to look forward with sometimes a little bit of fear, but mostly with hope and belief that there is much more to come.  Thanks to you all for your prayers and well wishes.

Kim