Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Just a Quick Update

April 4, 2017

Lately I've had several people get a hold of me and ask how I've been doing with my new treatment, which made me realize I haven't updated any of you since I started the Opdivo/ Yervoy combo. 

I started the treatment on February 16th and the next day I had a low grade fever, body aches and chills so bad they made me shake. I was also exhausted and having horrible headaches. This went on for about two weeks after the first and second infusion which was three weeks later. During the first two infusions I was also still taking my previous medications Tafinlar and Mekinist. Those of you that know melanoma medication know that this is an arsenal of very powerful medications! Any one of these medications alone can cause very severe complications, so you can imagine how I was feeling while taking all four. I'm finally off the Taf/Mek and this third infusion went a lot better! It was five days ago, and I've felt great since then. I have the infamous "ipi rash" on my ankles and very slightly on my hands, which doesn't really itch or bother me. Some say that the rash is a sign the meds are working... but I don't know how much data there is to support that claim. 

In March I had a follow up MRI of my shoulder, where that one little tumor is hanging out. It was too soon to see if the meds were working yet, but the goal of the MRI was to see if the tumor had grown to a size where it was necessary to remove it. I've never had any pain from this tumor or even felt it! I forget it's there most of the time. Well the MRI showed that the spot is exactly the same size as it was about six weeks ago when we first found it. This is a good sign, it can mean that the meds are already kicking in and slowing down or stopping the growth. Now we just need it to start KILLING it. I'm hoping on my next scan it will be undetectable. I'm still having headaches so I'll be having a brain MRI soon. It's possible it's a side effect from treatment, but we just want to be sure. 

I know that most of what I write about it scary and unsettling, but please remember that my life outside of the cancer is amazing. I'm in love with my life (almost) every aspect of it. Life in between doctor visits feels very normal and blessed. I'm working in a career I fought hard to achieve, my husband is adoringly sweet and supportive, and life is overall very very good! We have a vacation planned soon for Mexico, and we plan on escaping reality for a while and getting some much needed rest and relaxation.

I was feeling good enough to make it out for a nice hike this weekend. The sun was very bright so we were squinting heavily =)