April 27th to June 30th, 2023 - My Third Anniversary

 

Three Years Later

Three years ago, I went to the hospital to have a malignant lump removed from my right breast. I started writing this blog so I could remember what happened -- the triumphs and challenges. It was a different time. You can read about it here.

It was a time when Covid was ravaging our country. They had very strict Covid protocols and I was only allowed to have one person accompany me to the hospital. Bill and Liz agreed that Liz would be the one. 

With my history of surgeries, I knew what to expect and wasn't anticipating any problems. The surgery actually went quite well. Unfortunately, they discovered that it wasn't just a "lump" that needed to be removed. It was apparent that the cancer had spread to my chest wall. An additional, and much more extensive surgery was going to have to be scheduled.

I came home the next morning feeling great. It was Liz's 42nd birthday, and with the rest of my support system in place (Bill and our dog, Adie), Liz was able to head home.

So it has been an "exciting" three years. Here is list of what I've experienced:

• A second surgery on my chest wall with three outstanding surgeons. Details
• 30 radiation treatments
• Hospitalized with multiple blood clots
• Hospitalized with heart failure
• Frequent visits with my cardiologist and oncologist.
• Innumerable scans
• Treated for the most part with fulvestrant (monthly shot) and Ibrance (a life-saver).
• Had a TAVR procedure for aortic stenosis to replace a defective heart valve. (May 22, 2023)

The TAVR procedure went incredibly smoothly. It's like getting a stent placed in your heart by way of a vein in your groin. You spend the night so they can monitor you carefully. If all is well, you are discharged in the morning.

Five weeks later I've had my followup with the surgeon, including an echo. It's amazing how much my shortness of breath has improved post TAVR. They suggested that I follow up with 12 weeks of cardiac rehab, which I just began. 

I've also been able to take my bike out for a couple of rides -- once on the Little Miami Bike Trail and once to our Saturday meet up at the Italianette. It was great to feel "normal" once again.

If someone told me that I'd still be here three years later, I don't think I would have believed it. I doubt my doctors would have believed it either. But here I am, feeling strong and grateful. We'll see how long we can stretch this out.

Oh, and by the way, my lovely daughter turns 45 tomorrow. I am so blessed.

Kathy

Update:

I'm suffering from a terrible cold. A few days ago, Cincinnati was enveloped in smoke from forest fires in Canada. The air quality was horrendous. See below. I developed difficulty breathing (no surprise there) that has progressed into a pretty bad cough. Thankfully, rain has come through and cleaned up the air to an acceptable level. Hopefully, my breathing will be back to normal soon.

March 6th to April 26th, 2023 - New Challenges

 

The Good News

In a few days, I will celebrate my three-year "cancerversary" -- a date I originally thought I would never see. I feel pretty good. My last three CT scans have shown that my cancer is "stable." But I've got complications.

The Not-So-Good News

I mentioned in my last post that I had been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. My cardio-oncologist referred he to a valve clinic to see if I would be a candidate for valve replacement. Both my cardiologist and oncologist did not think I would be a candidate for an open-heart valve replacement as I have a lot of scar tissue from my chest cancer surgery.

There is a procedure called (TAVR) where they send a replacement valve to your aortic valve by way of an artery in your groin -- similar to what happens with stents for clogged heart arteries. After undergoing a cardiac CT and visiting with their thoracic surgeon, I got the word that I've been approved. Surgery is scheduled for May 22nd. This should really help with shortness of breath.

My visit with my oncologist presented me with an additional concern. The cardiac CT showed that I had some "ground glass opacity" in my lungs. This just looks like a shadowy overlay in my lungs. She explained that this is caused by one of three things: 1) infection, 2) inflammation or 3) cancer. She quickly added that it didn't appear to be cancer. This condition is a rare (about 2%) complication of taking Ibrance, so I've had to stop taking it until further notice.

So I started on a round of antibiotics to take care of the possibility of infection. (I don't think that's the problem). On May 10th, I have to get another CT to see if there is improvement. I see my oncologist on the 11th. The goal is to get my lungs healthy before the valve replacement. At this point, I'm just glad that I'm still on the list. 

I also have a history of Afib, that may or may not be related to the aortic stenosis. I have a referral to an Afib clinic this Friday. I hope all of these developments keep me on track for replacement. I was told by both specialists that I have less than a year if the valve can't be replaced.

I Am Not Depressed

As the surgeon said, your treatments may have contributed to your complications, but you've had three good years -- and they are going to try to mitigate these issues as best they can. I can only hope for a few more good years. Enjoy what you've been given.

Kathy