June Updates

 I can't believe we are already in the month of June, and already one year into my stage IV cancer diagnosis. It's been a very busy time for us lately. We've wrapped up school-year activities (including an overnight stay at Moody Gardens Aquarium for Science and an overnight stay in San Antonio to see the Alamo and other fun sites for our history co-op), the kids had their spring piano recitals, Abbey had a surgery to remove two rods from her right arm, Abbey was "Dorothy" in the play "Dorothy in Wonderland" and performed in a musical at church, Luke finished up a spring basketball season, we celebrated my Mother-In-Law's birthday in the Houston area, we all finished up VBS at church, Luke went to CG Victory camp and then off to Church youth camp for a week, while Abbey attended a day camp here locally and Drew went to California. Last year at this time, it was during VBS at church, our wedding anniversary and CG Victory that I was going through testing and found out my cancer was Stage IV. So, going through these activities again this year definitely stirred up some painful memories. But, I am also celebrating a year of good health. I know that sounds strange considering my diagnosis, but I really do feel very well. And, I know back when I was first diagnosed with stage 3c breast cancer in 2012, many of my friends who had similar diagnoses as me moved to stage IV and then their health declined very quickly (several of them passing just after a year or so). My heart was broken for these young women and their young families, and I definitely do not take for granted my health for these past 11 years!! Before I jump into my PET scan results, here are just a few snapshots of the past month or so...

Abbey starred as "Dorothy" in "Dorothy in Wonderland"

Piano recital

Abbey helped lead worship at VBS

Luke and his buddies that helped with recreation for kids at VBS

Luke demonstrating the obstacle course for the kids at VBS

Abbey participating at VBS with her group

more VBS

Drew, taking a picture of me, taking pictures at VBS. We were part of the media team.

Luke at CG Victory

Celebrating Mimi's birthday--sock hop style

searching for crabs at our overnight in Galveston for science group

Abbey and I played at the museum of Illusions one night while Drew and Luke were gone last week.

I spent our 15th wedding anniversary getting a PET scan, while Drew was in California. Not the best way to spend the day, but honestly, we aren't big on celebrating specific dates. Any day we get to spend together is a great day and I am so thankful to be married to my best friend. I am praying for many, many years to come!!

This morning, I had a follow up with my oncologist, who revealed the results of my PET scan to Drew and me. My PET scan showed increased uptake in my bones (Left L2 vertebra, left L4 (this one showed an increase in SUV max from 2.7 previously to 9.1 now,) superior left acetabulum (hip) and mid sacrum.) I didn't see any mention of ribs, which WERE mentioned a year ago, so that's good. 

I also had an increase in uptake in my lymph nodes (4 of them showed uptake, whereas I believe there were more in my PET scan a year ago) and my liver showed two areas increase slightly in uptake and one decrease. 

The oncologist's opinion was considering it has been a year, it is fairly stable (aside from my l4 vertebrae) but heading in the wrong direction. So, she wants to switch some things up and I will research those things over the next couple of weeks while we are awaiting insurance approval. (She wants to switch from the aromatase inhibitor I have been on to a different estrogen receptor antagonist, Fulvestrant, and a different targeted therapy, the CDK4/6 inhibitor Kisqali.) In the meantime, I have been doing testing with a functional medicine doctor and I am hoping to find those results out within a couple of weeks. I am trying to figure out what is going on with my immune system. 

What is crazy is I feel great! I would never know I had cancer had I not gotten these PET scans. I know probably diet and exercise help me feel so well and have so much energy to Go, Go, Go! The only thing I have noticed is a little more back pain (I always have back pain, it's just gotten a little worse. But, I think I am fairly immune to the back pain since I have had it for so many years due to my scoliosis.)

Anyway, we would love your continued prayers! I know with stage IV cancer, things can change for the worst in an instant. But, I keep telling myself, "I am healthy, I am healing, I am well!!" Thank you Jesus! This is how, specifically, we would love prayers.

• That we can figure out how to get my body in tip-top shape so it can fight the cancer itself (with specific natural healing modalities, supplements, foods, etc. This is why I am getting testing with a functional medicine doctor.)
• That we can make the right decision in whether to increase high dose Vitamin C infusions, keep it the same or drop it. It is so hard to know if they are helping. If I stop them, and see an increase in my cancer, perhaps they work? But, that is risky. Perhaps they are keeping me somewhat stable? I need wisdom here, because they are EXPENSIVE!
• That my cancer just goes away! I do believe in miraculous healing. 

Thank you for reading!