Update

I had a doctor appointment yesterday and it went fairly well. About 3 weeks ago I started taking a daily pill, which is considered targeted therapy. I have seemed to have had good results with it so far with nearly no pain, which has been encouraging. I still have days with fatigue and low energy but overall I’ve felt better. My doctor was pleased with my report of how I was feeling and wants to keep me on this pill for now.

He spoke of many different types of immune therapy that might be a possibility for the future. This is all kind of up in the air based on my symptoms and coverage for prescriptions.

He also talked to me about a study in Maryland that he would like to see me get in to. They collected blood work yesterday to see if I may qualify for that study. This particular study would remove my T cells, mutate them in some way so they were made to fight the melanoma and then put back in me. He was going to send us more information on this study.

My next appointment will be in a month. I will need another biopsy so they can do the gene mapping. I will get another scan the week of my next appointment for him to compare to previous scans. Unfortunately I also had to get the Xgeva shot this time. It is in my best interest because it is keeping my bones strong but for the next ~4 days afterwards I have a great deal of pain all throughout my body from it.

Overall things went well. It is so difficult to recap everything due to the shear amount of info given in a short time and so many things are up in the air at this point. I’m so thankful for the good past few weeks I have had though. Thank you again for all your help and prayers.

Don't Forget the Spouse

Throughout these last 5 months of my illness, Matthew has been there for me day in and day out. He never gets a break from my illness as he lives with it every day…seeing all of the good and ALL of the bad. Seeing me sick and tired; not the wife he was used to. He has been there by my side the entire time, even through my first battle with cancer in 2005 and stuck around knowing it could come back. His role in this is by no means easy. You know when your spouse is sick, how long those 2-3 days can seem! Imagine 5 months of that! He is the one I lean on the most. He is one of the only people that get my very worst day when I sob uncontrollably, yell out of anger or start crying randomly throughout the day. Meanwhile, having to answer to the question, “How’s Dori doing?” more frequently than not, with nothing good to report at times. He longs to switch places with me or be able to take the pain away but instead having to deal with the reality that those are not options. It’s all about me yet he is the one continuing to work full time, do extra house work, drive me 3 hours up to Columbus and back, sit for hours in hospitals, and listen to me complain. Not to mention having to contemplate potentially losing his spouse, his partner in life, and raising our son by himself. That is too much for one person to handle but he is doing one hell of a job at rolling with the punches as they come and being my partner in life through sickness and in health. In my point of view his position, in this whole situation, is much harder than mine. The purpose of this blog is to show you part of what the spouse goes through so that people don’t forget the spouse. Remember to show them some extra love and ask how they are doing instead of me. Don’t forget they are going through this just as much as I am, if not more. Don’t forget the spouse.