Not What I Planned

My plans came to a halt today. Jarring words, spoken quietly, left me stunned.

This is stage 4 metastatic triple negative breast cancer. Rogue cells have moved into the pleural fluid around my lungs. No curative treatment exists. There is only palliative care (life extending, symptom control). An optimistic prognosis is for one, maybe two more years.

The treatment plan, if Medicare covers it, is Trodelvy, which is a newer targeted immunotherapy for triple negative breast cancer. Intravenous infusions lasting 5-6 hours are on a 21-day schedule. Here’s how the cycle plays out in October: infusion on October 2 and 9. Rolvedon injection (to help produce white blood cells) on October 10. Take a week off and then start the cycle again: doctor appointment and labs on October 22, infusion on October 23 and 30, Rolvedon injection on October 31.

How long will the treatment last? For the rest of my life.

Multiple nasty side effects are possible. Naturally, I hope they will be minimal so that I can some quality of life. If the side effects are too rough on me, a lower dose can be tried. Eventually, I may have to decide on quality versus quantity of life.

I am still in shock. My only hope is in Jesus. I count on him to sustain me through the hard times, as he has in the past. I still believe Jeremiah 29:11. My ultimate hope is in eternal life with him.

                                                                             “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11