The February 14, 2025, appointments

Note: There is good news and “not so good” news. I had written this out chronologically as I received the reports. Several friends had asked, “How was the Friday appointment?” and I was hesitant to give a definitive reply until all results were in for this very reason.

---

My quarterly checkup at Duke fell on Friday, February 14. How romantic, right? A date with a lab tech, a radiology technologist, and an oncologist.

For the first time, I chose to see Dr. Rossi at a Duke facility located in Raleigh. I am so thankful I found this location.

Macon Pond Road is in a great area, so not only was the office efficient, but getting in and out was much easier than at the main Duke cancer center. Hannah went with me, and we even had time to grab coffee (for her), tea (for me), and some gluten-free, “good ingredient” baked goods at Lucky Tree between my labs/CT scan and my appointment with Dr. Rossi.

We had the CT scan results before my appointment with Dr. Rossi, so we were able to rejoice together and start discussing what happens once I pass the 2 year post-surgery mark in May.

We discussed what would happen if I were still NED at my May appointment, including 1) moving from appointments every 3 months to every 6 months and 2) (potentially) going off Letrozole.

I was so happy to hope both of the above options were in my future. I was hopeful, an emotion I don’t generally allow myself the luxury in which to indulge.

Rick and I went to NYC for the weekend and had a great time.

But then came the lab results early today, Wednesday, February 19. For the first time since surgery, one of the numbers (inhibin B) is out of range. There is not much we can do with this information at this time, especially since I just had a clean CT scan. These lab results are more about trends than the actual numbers, so, for now, we’ll wait to see what happens. It would be appropriate to say, “Something is brewing.”

How thankful I am that the Lord has dealt graciously with me these last two years, and how thankful I am for all of you who have been so supportive. I have a feeling I’m going to be playing the following on repeat for the next few days:

Letrozole and Running

By and large, my experience with Letrozole has been much easier than anticipated. One of the side effects I had noted was an overly elevated heart rate when running. As this is not a common side effect of Letrozole, my oncologist referred me to a cardiologist who did an echocardiogram. (The results were normal.)

I have recently wanted to run more, and thanks to my daughters-in-law I have found that a run-walk method of running is working well to keep my heart rate in check, while still covering the miles in a timely manner.

We’re doing a half marathon together in just over a week. I can hardly wait, and I am thankful that this small change in how I run has made all the difference in my ability to continue to engage in an activity I love.

Whatever happens

“Whatever happens, stay alive. Don't die before you're dead. Don't lose yourself, don't lose hope, don't lose direction.

Stay alive, with yourself, with every cell of your body, with every fiber of your skin.

Stay alive, learn, study, think, read, build, invent, create, speak, write, dream, design.

Stay alive, stay alive inside you, stay alive also outside, fill yourself with colors of the world, fill yourself with peace, fill yourself with hope.

Stay alive with joy.

There is only one thing you should not waste in life, and that's life itself."

~Virginia Woolf

The November 13th appointment

This appointment was a bit different because for the first time, I had a midday appointment at Duke, and I drove myself. So the first thing I did upon arriving was have lunch in the adjacent food court - another first. I was happily surprised by the variety of options.

The next stop was the lab where I waited almost an hour because they were running behind schedule.

The blood draw itself was extremely quick and easy, and despite waiting an hour for it, I was able to make my next appointment without being late.

I was sure I would be waiting for a while to see Dr. Patel, so I put up my feet, ready to relax, but I was immediately called to the exam room.

The appointment with Dr. Patel was also quick and easy, and I was checking out minutes later.

The schedulers at Duke are amazing, and we were able to book my next appointment for February 14 with a CT scan, labs, and the actual appointment all at the same location spaced one hour apart.

I grabbed a Detox Island Green from Tropical Smoothie and was on the road back to Wilmington in short order.

Today I got the results of my lab work.

Glwa pou Bondye.

I just haven’t regained my stamina

This past week I saw an acquaintance I hadn’t seen in a while, and she shared with me that she had had abdominal surgery. I asked her how her recovery had gone and how she was feeling now, to which she replied: “I just haven’t regained my stamina.”

Those words resonated with me and summed up the way I’ve been feeling lately. I feel absolutely fine . . . but I am not the person I was before surgery in May 2023. I felt the same way after my initial surgery in 2019. I recovered quickly, I felt just fine, but I was never quite the same after that procedure.

I thought through that as I was run/walking around Wrightsville Beach yesterday morning.

I noticed groups of runners out together, a common sight on the weekends, and I thought back to the days when I ran every Saturday with friends. I remembered how easy 10 miles used to feel, how quickly a couple of hours on a Saturday morning could go by.

I have nothing to complain about these days. I’m thankful for the health I am currently enjoying, while always aware that the words “incurable” were spoken to me by my healthcare provider.

I go back to Duke November 13, and I am expecting a good report again. But, if I’m being transparent, I just haven’t regained my stamina.

And I miss it.

His glory and my good

I have seen my Father's glory

Revealed in Jesus Christ

And the more that I behold Him

The more He satisfies

When I gaze upon His beauty

When I see Him as I should

Then my eyes are lifted upward

For His glory and my good.

-CityAlight

Reclast infusion - Sept 2024

Yesterday I had a Reclast infusion. In July when the DEXA scan revealed significant bone density loss in just one year due to the use of Letrozole, I had a choice: stop taking Letrozole or do something to counter the negative impact Letrozole is having on my bone density. Since my August CT scan was clear (which we will assume is due in part of Letrozole), I chose to stay on Letrozole.

I then had another decision to make. Would I choose to take a weekly bisphosphonate, a monthly bisphosphonate, or a yearly infusion?
After careful thought and consideration, I chose the Reclast infusion because it seemed to fit in best with my lifestyle.

I was warned that this weekend I could potentially experience side effects, including:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Arthralgia

• Back pain

• Bone pain

• Dizziness

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Flu-like symptoms

• General weakness

• Chills

5:30 am The only issue I am really dealing with is back pain, which although significant, is not keeping me from going on my beach walk soon

7:30 am Back from the beach and not feeling great. Back pain. Shoulder pain, Abdominal pain. Nausea. My calves feel like they do after a marathon.

9 am I feel I have the flu.

---

I spent the rest of the day in bed and never finished this post, but I woke up today (Sunday) feeling basically back to normal, so I hope the worst is behind me.

I’ll know in a year if this infusion and the discomfort that came with it was worth it.

The August 12th appointments

I had three appointments at Duke today - 8 am labs, 9 am CT scan, 10 am oncology.

When I checked in for labs, the lady who took my information (Ashley) had cute gnomes on her desk. That was a fun way to start the day.

For the first time since I started going to Duke, the lab was well behind schedule - even at 8 am. I also learned that you can’t have a blood draw from your arm on the same day that you’re having a CT with contrast, so the blood draw had to be taken from my hand (which is a little uncomfortable).

The CT scan was relatively uneventful. This was the first time having a scan done at 20 Medical Drive, and it was quite convenient. I am not a huge fan of the contrast, but it is what it is.

The radiology technician who did my scan was terrific.

After the CT scan, I thought I had plenty of time before oncology, so I went down to Tropical Smoothie for a Detox Island Green, per my usual routine.

Although it was still early, I went to oncology, thinking I would just check in and hang out in the waiting area, but, again, Duke was having an off day. Seventeen people were waiting to check in at oncology, and it took a full 30 minutes just to check in. I was actually “late” for my appointment by the time I got through check-in!

I had a quick visit with a PA, Kimberly Nolte, and we discussed the benefits/downsides of Letrozole, both agreeing that it seems to be doing its job and that, despite the bone density loss, it is the best option currently. Further, after discussion, I have come to the conclusion that I am going to opt for an infusion therapy for the bone density loss, most likely Reclast. I would rather be ill for two days once a year than deal with weekly/monthly inconvenience of taking the pills.

CT results are back already, but blood work will take a few days. However, given there’s nothing visible on the CT scan, even if something were to show up in the blood work, there’s really nothing to do now but wait another three months.

My next CT scan will be in 6 months. My next labs and office visit will be in 3 months. I am incredibly thankful for another good visit. Thank you for all who continue to pray for me!