Journal entry by Susan Smith —
I was finally able to get my bloodwork done after being rescheduled due to the snow and I am happy to say that all looked normal including my white and red blood cell counts! I am on the road to recovery and officially in remission! This is great news!
But.......it is not all over yet. I have just started taking a maintenance drug in pill form that is a PARP inhibitor called Lynparza. This basically inhibits any cancer cells from multiplying so the cancer will not return. It is a targeted therapy. Unfortunately there are some possible side effects with this medicine also which include nausea, vomiting, GI issues, fatigue and low white and red blood cell counts along with some other things. I am hoping I don't have any of these since I am scheduled to be taking this for the next 2 years. Yes, 2 years. And here I was thinking this was going to be done. It still feels good regardless to be done with the chemo and hopefully getting back to some kind of normal soon.
I do have to go in to have my blood checked every 2 weeks to start and then monthly to make sure my bone marrow is not negatively affected and my liver and kidney functions stay normal. Although this seems like a lot, it is much better than my previous schedule for sure.
I am feeling better every day and the only thing really bothering me right now is the neuropathy in my feet and finger tips. I am told this most likely will improve but may take up to a year to regenerate my nerves. Of course I am hoping it will be much sooner than that!
I am also getting ready to have my second COVID booster shot and hoping we can all start to live a much more relaxed life in the near future. It sure has taken much longer than anyone expected to work our way through this pandemic and I'm sure I am not the only one wanting to live a more "normal" life. Soon I will have a grandchild and I am looking at every day as a blessing.
xoxoxo
Susan
But.......it is not all over yet. I have just started taking a maintenance drug in pill form that is a PARP inhibitor called Lynparza. This basically inhibits any cancer cells from multiplying so the cancer will not return. It is a targeted therapy. Unfortunately there are some possible side effects with this medicine also which include nausea, vomiting, GI issues, fatigue and low white and red blood cell counts along with some other things. I am hoping I don't have any of these since I am scheduled to be taking this for the next 2 years. Yes, 2 years. And here I was thinking this was going to be done. It still feels good regardless to be done with the chemo and hopefully getting back to some kind of normal soon.
I do have to go in to have my blood checked every 2 weeks to start and then monthly to make sure my bone marrow is not negatively affected and my liver and kidney functions stay normal. Although this seems like a lot, it is much better than my previous schedule for sure.
I am feeling better every day and the only thing really bothering me right now is the neuropathy in my feet and finger tips. I am told this most likely will improve but may take up to a year to regenerate my nerves. Of course I am hoping it will be much sooner than that!
I am also getting ready to have my second COVID booster shot and hoping we can all start to live a much more relaxed life in the near future. It sure has taken much longer than anyone expected to work our way through this pandemic and I'm sure I am not the only one wanting to live a more "normal" life. Soon I will have a grandchild and I am looking at every day as a blessing.
xoxoxo
Susan
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