My goal is to remember to talk to God first every day. Today I didn’t forget. God knows I don’t mean to forget but I get distracted. I talk to God throughout the day. It is my goal to make God first. I know God is busy. Today I know I can’t do this day without some help.
The cancer is back. Yesterday I found out that surgery is not an option. It took me several hours, but I finally cried when it was just me and Karen G Clemenson and it was almost time for bed.
On July 9th I found out that the cancer had returned after a trip to the ER. I was having severe abdominal pain, and I was afraid I would not be able to walk if I waited longer. From imaging, PeaceHealth St John said they thought the cancer was back. After my gynecological oncologist at Legacy Salmon Creek, Dr Westhoff, had seen the imaging and also compared it with the PET scan I had, she confirmed that endometrial cancer had returned in a different spot and was also in the lymph nodes. I have been taking Letrozole since then. This drug does not cause blood clots or weight gain, like Megestrol, which is the drug I took with my first bout. However, Letrozole does cause pain.
I have been struggling with my emotions quietly because I had just got my energy back from my 3-year battle and the one internal radiation treatment, that took a year for me to heal from. The experience left a lasting effect, mentally and physically.
I had a biopsy on my lymph nodes on July 22nd.
On July 24th I went back to PeaceHealth St John ER because the pain in my abdomen was so terrible that I could not stand up straight. Even with taking 5 mg of Oxycodone. After more imaging was done, they thought that I had an ovarian torsion, which means the ovary is twisted over onto itself and cutting the blood supply off. While there, they gave me another 5 mg of Oxycodone. Later they gave me some Dilaudid. They eventually gave me some Fentanyl. I don’t know why anyone would take Fentanyl for fun, even when I was trying to focus on breathing, they had to give me oxygen because I could not breathe enough while on that medication. Finally, they sent me home with a few prescriptions for pain, and also an antibiotic for a UTI, and told me to follow up with my oncologist and primary.
So, yesterday, Karen and my mom and I met with Dr Westhoff online to hear that after Dr Westhoff had reviewed all the imaging and labs, she does not agree that I have an ovarian torsion, but what the doctors at St John saw was the mass on my lymph node. She said because the cancer is in the lymph nodes and where they are located that it is difficult to get to them and I could bleed out by trying to get to them. Our best chance at success is to stay with the systemic treatment of medication first. We will stay with Letrozole for at least another month and do imaging to see if it is working. She would prefer to use Megestrol, but I have said no because it causes weight gain and blood clots; but it also kills cancer more effectively. I might have to take a larger dose of Eliquis and be more careful with my food intake, if we don’t have a choice.
Chemotherapy and Radiation are options. I don’t want radiation. She saw the look on my face and let me know that internal radiation is not an option this time. External radiation would be much gentler. That one radiation treatment was hell. But if we have to do it. I will fight.
Dr Westhoff said I will need to accept a lot more medications to handle symptoms. There is a lot of pain. There will be a lot of pain. Opioids cause constipation. Tylenol causes my body to make extra stomach acid, so I don’t use it. But that is a necessary supplement now. I need to go on an antacid. I need to use MiraLAX every morning. There are other supplements I may need to keep on hand when those don’t work.
I have not been doing my workouts since my last trip to the ER because I was afraid of hurting my ovary. But I am not afraid of hurting cancer. I will begin my workouts again today. This will help my body and mind. I need normalcy.
I told Jamie Holloway last night. She is having her own struggles right now too. I know she was trying to be strong for me too. She asked what she could do to support me. I am always amazed by her; she fights for every breath, and she asks me how she can help me. I told her to pray. I told her I will be ok. I have 14 diagnoses and cancer is the only one that can be cured. I remind myself of that. It got me through the first time, and it will get me through this time too. But if you got this far, maybe you could pray for both Jamie and I. Thank you.
I love you. Be blessed.
~
Feel free to leave your comments below!
My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
~
1
20
20
20
Please wait...
