As I've said in the past, cancer is all about not letting you get too comfortable with your situation. The key to living with cancer is dealing with the constant sense of uncertainty. Just when you think you've got a nice rhythm down, cancer will throw you a curveball, just to remind you that it's there. It is my belief that, no matter how the disease turns out it in the end, it's important to take these curveballs and try to incorporate them into your life. It doesn't do any good to bemoan the many challenges of cancer. It's also not necessarily possible or useful to stay constantly positive. It's tiring and not always based in reality. But it helps if you can take the challenges in stride. Deal with whatever news you get, formulate a plan, implement the plan, and monitor the effects. When the plan stops working- as it always does, eventually- start all over.
Anyway, we got the word today that the tumor markers are rising faster than we'd like. They went from 200 last month (already up from the month before) to 356 this month. We were waiting for this number as it will impact the decision on whether to take out Marye's gall bladder. She is still on the fence about that (balancing the risks vs. the uncertain benefits). Well, it may be that that shipped has sailed. We're going to see Dr. Vitale on Thursday to talk about the surgery. Our first question is, what is the best-case scenario for Marye being strong enough to start chemotherapy. Dr. Riley says that if it's two weeks or so, that would be ok. But if it is much longer- say, six weeks- she'd rather put the gall bladder on the back burner to get the chemo going first. So, the aromatase inhibitor doesn't seem to be working well, and Marye's break from chemo is going to end within the next week or two.
Again, we're still waiting to decide on the gall bladder situation, but it looks like the cancer is going to take top priority for now. I'll post again on Friday after we see Dr. Vitale and talk to the oncologist again.
-Chris
