Written by Mary
”I’m ready.” That’s what Julie told me today when I tossed out another, “Maybe you could ask your doctor about...” She doesn’t want to go back [more]
First off, I'd like to begin by apologize for the length of this post. Obviously, you can just choose which part(s) you'd like to read and ignore the rest. I'd also like to [more]
Last Thursday, I went to the oncologist to get the results of my most recent abdominal CT scan. My stomach tumor has grown by almost 50%. That came as no surprise to me [more]
Scan results and some tough questions
Since my last blog post, I've made yet another trip to the hospital for Samsca. This was my fourth hospital visit since late July. Otsuka is making the process of getting the [more]
The ongoing battle with sodium
After my last Tecentriq treatment, I went to the hospital again to get more Samsca. I'd had my sodium checked that morning at my nephrologist's lab, and it was 123.
Once [more]
On Monday, I went to the cancer center for my PET scan. When I got there, I had to go upstairs to get my port accessed, then back downstairs for the scan. The technician injected me with a radioactive substance, after which I sat in a small room alone for an hour waiting to become “radioactive.” Continue reading »
Every time I go for my Keytruda, they do what’s known as a BMP (basic metabolic panel). It’s a group of labs that includes (among other things) my sodium and my eGFR. I also have a BMP done once a month for my nephrologist. Anyway, every time I have one done, I call within the next few days to get the sodium and eGFR results. Continue reading »
On February 28, I went to see my oncologist to get an explanation as to why I wasn’t told about the liver “lesion” on my last two CT scans. Last I heard, I didn’t have any tumors. I also wanted his take on what my nephrologist had told me about the Keytruda causing my kidneys to fail and the possibility that I may need to get off it.
Last week, I went in for my quarterly CT scan of the chest and neck. I scheduled it at the hospital so I could have the IV team bring the ultrasound machine to find a vein and I wouldn’t have to be stuck repeatedly. That turned out to be a good call. The woman from the IV team got the IV in on the first try. Continue reading »
When I was initially diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015, my five-year survival rate was only 2%. Right now, I’m about halfway there. Continue reading »
Every time I see my oncologist, he says something like, “The consensus seems to be that people who are on Keytruda should stay on it for at least a year after they’re showing no signs of disease…” So this time before he could say anything more, I asked, “Am I even there yet? Continue reading »
You may (or may not) be wondering why it’s taken me so long to come back with the results of my CT scan. I couldn’t get in until the 24th.
In the meantime, I got a letter from my insurance company saying my PET scan had been denied because that test isn’t the standard of care for monitoring my type of cancer. Continue reading »
Last Wednesday, I received a call from the place where I was to get my PET scan. They wanted to confirm my appointment for Friday and to go over the pre-scan instructions. Continue reading »
You may not be familiar with the word “scanxiety,” but it’s one with which most people who have cancer are well acquainted. There’s no official definition, but I’m sure the word itself gives you the gist of it. Continue reading »
I wasn’t looking forward to August 3 this year. On August 3 of 2015, I was initially diagnosed with cancer. I had no idea what was in store for me, but I was terrified. Had I known the full extent of what I’d have to go through, I’m not sure I’d have had the strength to face it. In case you’re wondering, cancer’s not as bad as you think it is. Continue reading »
