My Own Personal Journey
These
are my personal thoughts written about my journey through cancer. Even if you
pick up a writing tablet and use it as a journal, imagine what a huge weight of
concerns you can let go of when you set your thoughts to paper. On the links
page, you will find other places to write through grief or write with healing
in mind.
#writethroughgrieforwritewithhealingmind
#writethroughgrieforwritewithhealingmind
Recurrence of Liver Cancer
I have an
extremely rare form of liver cancer called hepatic adenoma. I was first
diagnosed in 2012. I had a grapefruit-sized tumor that was removed, along with
3/4 of my liver and gallbladder. I was told the tumor wasn't cancerous. I went
for years without any sign of cancer until a diagnosis in January 2019 of
hepatic adenoma on what was left of my liver.
They counted seven tumors at the time of the second diagnosis. My day-to-day living is nothing like when they cut my chest open in 2012. I had months of recovery back then, but, living through treatments of this disease is more difficult. At least with the surgery, recovery was swift and my liver pain was relieved right away. With the cancer eating away at my liver this time, the pain is harder to get through because it is constant.
They counted seven tumors at the time of the second diagnosis. My day-to-day living is nothing like when they cut my chest open in 2012. I had months of recovery back then, but, living through treatments of this disease is more difficult. At least with the surgery, recovery was swift and my liver pain was relieved right away. With the cancer eating away at my liver this time, the pain is harder to get through because it is constant.
In order to get through this cancer, doctors will need to shrink the tumors, now there are at least ten. The goal is to get the tumors down low enough so that a brand new liver transplant can replace the cancer infested liver that is currently inside of me. I can't wait to start my life all over again without any liver issues.
#WritethroughGrieforWritewithHealinginMind
Radioembolization
I've been in treatment for my liver cancer for months, now.
For my first treatment, radioactive beads were shot through an artery in my arm
that lead down to what is left of my liver. Blasts of tiny beads tried
penetrating the numerous tumors that have taken over my liver.
Before treatment even started, I
had lived with liver cancer since my diagnosis in January 2019. I used tramadol
for pain. I had learned to live with the pain that the tramadol didn't cover.
The pain in my lower back was the worst.
The after effects of the
radioembolization treatment was difficult. The nausea, vomiting and loss of
appetite would never let up and fatigue took over my body for at least six
weeks. I was hoping the treatment had done what it was supposed to, but my
tumors hadn't shrunk with any significance. Except--my biggest tumor had shrunk
to the point where I no longer felt pain in my lower back. After six weeks, I
finally started feeling better and I could eat again. I knew this was my one
and only radioembolization that was going to be part of my treatment. I was
glad there was not going to be a repeat performance on the after effects. I
wanted to go back to living, at least until my next treatment of
chemoembolization.
#WritethroughGrieforWritewithHealinginMind
Chemoembolization
I'm two weeks into my second treatment of liver cancer. For
the second treatment, chemotheraphy beads were shot through the same artery in
my arm that was used for my first treatment.
The after effects of the
chemoembolization treatment are easier to handle than when I went through the
first treatment. I have an appetite with no nausea or vomiting. However, the
fatigue is still hard to recover from. I am hoping for good news on how well
the chemoembolization did to shrink my tumors down.
UPDATE:
8/16/2019
My hopes that there would be
no after effects from the chemo were short lived. I am losing my hair. For now,
I am waiting to shave my head. I also found out I had sinus and bladder
problems and the doctor has put me on antibiotics. When I am on antibiotics,
nausea and vomiting occur.
#WritethroughGrieforWritewithHealinginMind
Second Round of Chemoembolization
I'm two weeks into the second round of chemoembolization. For the most part, this time has been easier than the radioembolization and the first round of chemoembolization. I finally shaved my head before the treatment. My sinuses are giving me problems and I dry cough frequently. I have no signs of vomiting, and the nausea is minimal. My fatigue keeps me in bed for naps between 2pm and 7pm. My sleeping patterns at night have not been disrupted, however.
