My trial of 150 mg Verzenio

First off, if you are a Believer I ask that after you read this post, please say a quick prayer for me. I believe in the power of prayer and am so thankful for those who are praying for me. It means a lot!

What a week! I feel like this cancer thing has almost become a full time job. Between all the natural treatments, blood work, appointments, research, phone calls to doctors, potential treatment facilities, emails and more, it takes up so much of my day!! I have been trying to do some of my phone calls and research outside in the sun by our pool. It's so therapeutic! All throughout the day I'm still drinking my juices that Drew makes for me in the morning. I feel like those are helping me so much.

I feel like I am eating okay, although I definitely admit I should consume a lot more calories. Cancer itself uses a lot of energy and my metabolism at rest is increased due to the increased inflammation caused by my immune system fighting. So I definitely need more calories. I'm just trying to figure out how to get those calories. This morning I weighed 94.8 lbs. I really don't want to lose any more weight. 

As far as conventional medicine, you may recall my oncologist wanted this first line of treatment to be the combination of exemestane (aromatase inhibitor) and Verzenio (CDK inhibitor). You may also recall back in 2012-2013, my body didn't handle medicine (and chemo) well. In fact, we had to stop early, not even completing their regimen, due to my immune system tanking. In hindsight, I believe it was a good thing to stop. I honestly wish I had taken a completely natural approach to cancer treatment at the beginning. But, in 2012 I didn't know what I know now. After all, it was my first time to go through something like that I never had cancer on my radar at such a young age. However, I also have to trust God's orchestration in all of it, because I did feel led at the time to do what we did, which ended up being a combination of allopathic medicine, with natural integrative approaches as I learned along the way. My regret for not going all natural has to do with the lifelong effects of that treatment that I still suffer with today, almost 10 years later. I just feel like it wasn't good for MY body. Anyway, all that just to say I was very concerned about taking the Verzenio from the start. I know my body very well and better than anyone else and I should have trusted my gut, which I also believe is often the Holy Spirit's guidance. This time, Drew had the same feeling about Verzenio as me--so it was probably definitely the Holy Spirit nudging us. The medication comes in 50mg, 100, mg, 150 mg and 200mg doses. The dosage for me was going to 2 pills of the 150 mg dose each day. To ease me into things, she was having me do one pill only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Last week was my first week. I decided to take the dose at night. So, on Monday night I took the dose. Not long after I became extremely nauseous and pretty much didn't sleep that night, as I awoke every hour feeling like I was going to vomit. The effect lasted a full 12 hours. I was so thankful when the effects went away and I started to feel more normal. I knew my next dose wasn't until Wednesday night, so I had a break and was able to get some sleep on Tuesday night. I just couldn't imagine following up with another dose when I awoke on Tuesday morning! On Wednesday I took my next dose (a little earlier in the evening, around 8:45p) and didn't even sleep a wink all night, although the nausea was not as bad. It was complete misery though. I suspect somehow the drug counteracts the effect of Melatonin on my body: if that is the case though, it would not be good as Melatonin has antiestrogenic and antioxidant properties and studies indicate it is recommended as a supplement for breast cancer (and other cancers) for that reason.  I really need my sleep so my immune system can fight the cancer.  On Friday morning I had blood work.  I waited there for the results of at least the CBC part, so I would know where I stood before taking my next dose that evening.  After all, we are doing the bloodwork weekly because of the Verzenio.  It can cause some nasty side effects to Kidney function, liver function and immune system for some people.  Y'all-it made my immune system tank!  And that was just from two doses spread apart.  Just for perspective, if it was 2012 when I was receiving chemo, they wouldn't have even given me chemo due to my weak immune system.  My white blood count was low, my LY% high, my neutrophil count was low, and my platelets low. I haven't received the Kidney and Liver function results yet.  But, based on those numbers the oncologist said she is going to lower the dose to 100 mg.  Still, I don't know how I would be able to two of the 100 mg doses per day since one 150 mg pill/day on only two days caused those negative effects.  The prescription won't be filled until Monday, and we have some time to pray about it more. 

In the meantime, I found one local MD who will run the onconomics RGCC test on my blood.  I have researched and absolutely love her approach.  You can see her story here.  At her naturopathic clinic I can also get many of the treatments I am wanting, like IV Ozone, high dose IV vitamin C (which I actually have already been getting elsewhere) IV Curcumin, and various testing.  I found a great place to get Infrared Sauna treatments.  In fact, I had one this morning and it was amazing!!! I am really looking forward to my next session. I will do another post at some point when I have more time about why I want to do certain treatments and how they are beneficial for my cancer eradication. I am still considering some alternative treatment facilities as well, but seeing what I can do locally in the meantime.

Abbey watching the fireworks on the 4th with friends at Dell Diamond.  They were amazing fireworks!

On a very happy side note, we had such a wonderful 4th of July weekend at home.  Also, Drew and I had a double date last weekend!  Some good friends of ours suggested that we go grab some dinner while our kids, who are all old enough, responsible and the same age stay home and play some board games and watch a movie.  It was amazing and life giving.  What a wonderful distraction from everything going on--I felt so amazing after.  And our children had a blast as well.  Thanks for suggesting that Christy and inviting us!

Prayer Requests for this week:

1.  That the Lord continues to make the perfect treatment plan path for me known.  

2.  That I am completely healed from this cancer.

3.  That I can get good sleep and feel physically well so I can wake early and workout.

4.  That I can figure out how to consume more food (the food that is good for cancer fighting).  I don't want to lose any more weight.

Thanks so much prayer warriors!  You are so greatly appreciated and loved!!!