Changing Directions

May 16, 2011 - I haven't been blogging about my health much lately as there hasn't been a whole lot to tell medically speaking. The disease has pretty much stayed in check and things have been status quo for a while. Last Friday I had a CT scan and the doctor revealed the results to us today. Essentially there has still been no change. A couple the tumors have slightly increased in circumference (0.1-0.3 cm); however, the areas seem to be less dense.

The goal for chemotherapy is to stay on it until the patient has reached maximum benefit with the drug. Since the tumors are no longer shrinking, it appears that point has been reached with Alimta. I have been on my current it for eight cycles. The oncologist stated that most patients are on it for six or seven cycles. Since maximum benefit seems to have been reached I have several options:

1. I could continue the current course of action with Alimta
2. I could take a break from chemotherapy
3. I could switch to a third line of chemotherapy drug

I ruled out continuing with Alimta for the now because I'm to the point that there is no appreciable benefit at this time. It has done it's job by shrinking and then holding the tumor sizes at bay since December. I also ruled out switching to a third line drug for now because there are only so many drugs available to treat bronchoalveolar carcinoma. I don't want to burn through all of them at this point. So that leaves choice number two, taking a break from chemotherapy for a while. I'll continue to see the oncologist every four weeks and after eight weeks I'll have another CT scan to see where I stand. Since Alimta hasn't failed outright yet, it is an option to go back to due to the fact that I tolerate it well.

I am not really viewing this as good or bad news. It still feels neutral to me. The cancer isn't metastasizing any further, my symptoms aren't getting worse. I think it may be a good time to take a little break. The first part of the summer is going to be really busy with Miranda graduating from Clintonville Academy, I have a trip or two I'd like to take if possible and these things may be easier to do without chemotherapy thrown into the mix.

Taking a break is not throwing in the towel, it's just taking things in a different direction. There's an ebb and flow to the whole process of this disease. It's not a time to panic or get bummed out. I'm coming up on the one year anniversary of being diagnosed. At the time I thought I'd have one foot in the grave by now. My big goal was to make it to Miranda's graduation. Not only am I going to make it but aside from fatigue and shortness of breath I don't feel terrible or that I'm at death's door. That in and of itself to me is a big victory.

I think the most important thing to do right now is not get wrapped up in it emotionally, take the information as it comes, and make decisions that I believe are right for me and my family and given today's information I think that's exactly what I've done. I feel like right now that what's important is the quality of life that I have, not the quantity.