Health Updates

On May 15th, 2017, I learned that my relatively-innocuous "hip flexor strain" was in fact a hip tumor-- and so began our harrowing journey. First came the 3 months of testing, pre-diagnosis: I was slow-tracked (owing to the low likelihood of cancer at my age), which made for a whole summer of anxious waiting periods, insurance complications, long drives, and uncertainty. Then, as you've borne witness, came the 9 months of treatment: sixteen rounds of chemo with complications occasionally escalating to ER visits and a major surgery with extensive rehab. After all this, you can imagine my relief and thrill to share that my treatment is now O-V-E-R: Yesterday afternoon, coincidentally another May 15th, I was released from my last 4-night stay at Johns Hopkins; last infusion of chemicals straight to my heart; last bout of lousy side-effects, hospital food, and constantly-interrupted sleep; and most importantly, last of all my planned cancer treatments! Exactly one year a...

I just got home from my 15th round of chemo, which means just one more to go!!! And other than acid reflux and the usual low energy, I seem to be coping with this one pretty well. As for the next and last round, the exact admission dates are always pending (blood counts and bed availability) but I expect I'll be in and out by around May 16th - 2 weeks from now. The finish line is IN SIGHT. 

Chemo : Last week I finished round 12 of 16-- which, importantly, was the LAST cisplaten/doxorubicin treatment! This round was harder than usual, but I'm mostly recovered now and so thankful to have reached this milestone. C/D, as you may recall, is the more intense of the two treatments: responsible for my platelet and immune system deficiencies, hearing loss, hair loss, etc. Big concerns initially were also that C/D commonly causes heart and peripheral nerve damage; however, tests of my heart have been clear so far and I don't have any neuropathy (numbness and pain in the hands and feet). Hallelujah!! :) This leaves just 4 rounds of methotrexate, which will be more spread out than I thought. Current expected end date: ~May 15th. Mobility : As for my new hip, I'm still making gradual progress. At this point, I can shower and dress by myself (except the left sock and shoe), roll onto my right side, sit up for a couple hours without pain, and walk up to a mile with cr...

I'm feeling good! The only hiccup we've run into since my last update is that my blood counts (platelets etc.) haven't been recovering quite as quickly, which meant round 9 was postponed till two blood transfusions and about a week later than planned. Dr. Meyer didn't seem too alarmed, but did decide to adjust the schedule, prioritizing the cisplaten/ doxorubicin rounds so that I get those most essential treatments with as little delay as possible. Here's the adjusted schedule, roughly (and very tentatively, as always): Feb. 13th - C/D Mar. 6th - C/D Mar. 27th - Methotrexate Apr. 3rd - Methotrexate Apr. 10th - Methotrexate Apr. 17th - Methotrexate Otherwise, though, the last two rounds have gone quite smoothly, with minimal symptoms aside from fatigue. Thank goodness! I'm really hoping to sneak past those last couple C/D rounds, continuing to dodge some of the common symptoms (e.g., neuropathy) that I'd feared. As far as mobility, I'm ...

I'm officially now at the halfway point of chemo: 8 down, 8 to go! It's a little faster-paced now, which is intense, but also means getting through with it! With all as planned, I should be finished with treatment by around the end of April. Here's to health and peace for all of us in the new year!!

I'm happy to share a few very positive updates: We got the final pathology report and the tumor is 100% OUT, dunzo, gooooone! Dr. Morris was surprised by how clean the wound looked already and said this is the quickest she's ever seen a patient heal! (That was very encouraging to hear, especially from a seasoned surgeon like her) I was released early from rehab and get a little while now to enjoy home :) There's still a long way to go, but we really couldn't have hoped for a better outcome at this point. Thank you, thank you for the wide variety of support and good wishes you've all sent!! We're so fortunate to have you all, keeping us going through all of this. As for next steps, I have an appointment tomorrow with the plastic surgery team to remove my staples & also with Dr. Meyer to check in and set the next chemo date. Update (12/13): the tentative plan is to begin chemo again this Friday.

Hello! It's Jane again, writing from rehab where I've been doing much-needed, intensive physical therapy. I was transferred here, another unit of John's Hopkins, one long week ago. It's been grueling at times but thankfully I've made progress each day and had many lovely visitors to encourage me, as well as one of my parents by my side the whole time. At this point, I can get in and out of bed more easily and now almost independently; walk a fair distance with a walker and now crutches; and climb a few stairs with both rails or just one (as I'll have coming into my house). We just had a meeting today to discuss my anticipated release date and we've set it for this Friday--meaning if I continue to improve at this pace, that's when I'll be ready to go home; in just 4 days! Aaand Francis will be back from Ohio the next day... Oh boy!