This update is going to be a long one... I got lots to tell you all! Now is your chance to go grab a cup of tea or coffee and get comfortable!
Many of you have been wondering what is going on with me and my cancer recently. I have pretty much been off the radar with updates to give my family and I time to process!
I'm sure you all remember me talking about me having vertigo and just generally feeling extremely dizzy and light-headed etc. Well, I do not have vertigo. I have kept my change of health very quiet the last 3 weeks because I do not want a huge fuss.
Things here took a turn for the worse on Monday 1st April...
While we were in California visiting Jason's family, I felt really bad and called my doctor and she scheduled me a brain scan for as soon as we got home... well, that Monday we found out that the cancer has spread! The cancer is throughout my brain... there are lesions throughout my brain. I have one large lesion in the back of my brain that has been pressing on the tube that provides the brain with the fluid it needs. They gave me steroids straight away to relieve the symptoms and they really helped, within a few hours actually.
I have been having whole brain Radiotherapy for the last 3 weeks to help shrink the lesions and to stop some of the symptoms I am feeling. I feel so much better. I actually feel pretty much normal again. I am able to walk properly, I am not dizzy, I am even able to drive again! Yay!
We met with my new Brain Oncologist last Tuesday to talk about what happens now that I am done with Radiation. I will be meeting with her once a month to check in and make sure that my symptoms are still holding back and in 3 months I will have another brain scan to see what's going on. I know you are all thinking... 'What? No scan for 3 months?' but I don't need a scan... there is nothing to check yet! I had no idea, but the Radiation keeps working over time so once I reached my prescribed dose of Radiation, I just get on with things and let it do it's job and kick these lesions butts!
My doctor is already very encouraged that the Radiation is working because my side effects are so much better and we are already reducing my steroids dosage. I am already at a quarter of the original dosage. She also told us that there is a good chance that the Radiation could even kick the cancer out of my brain!
I will also meet with my normal oncologist in May so we can get my chemo going again to keep the lung lesions at bay too! It's all go, go, go here!
As you can imagine, the last 3 weeks have been extremely stressful and busy with daily trips to hospital, lots of sleeping and naps as well as just coping emotionally with the news.
We are extremely hopeful and encouraged that the Radiotherapy will help, but we are ultimately facing the end of our battle. Once the cancer gets to the brain, it is only a matter of time till our life changes drastically. We are planning on living our lives as normally as possible until things change... We have no idea what our time line is and I don't want to know... I don't want to live the rest of my life with a ticking clock.
We are heading off on a Disney Cruise in 3 days time and we are so excited... We can't wait for 8 days in the sun with each other, just relaxing and making memories together. We had the trip planned with some great friends of ours before we found out the news, but now it has turned into a very special trip. We invited my Mum and Dad to join us, as well as Jason's sister and her husband and eldest son. We also have some other great friends joining us now too... I can't wait!
I want to take a few minutes to THANK a few people for their support the last 3 weeks. Our families have, as you can imagine, been amazing beyond words. I can only imagine hearing this news as a mother or father... but my parents have been so strong... their support and love gets me through each day.
My friends, you know who you all are, have been my life line. They have driven me to the hospital every day, bought us dinners, looked after Kayle, watched me cry, hugged me, made me laugh and generally loved on me... words cannot express the thankfulness I feel for each and every one of you!
Throughout all of this, God has given me the most amazing sense of peace. I know that this is all happening for a reason, I may never know that reason, but I am OK with it... Jason is OK with it... we have accepted that this is the plan for our lives. We have always trusted the Lord with our lives and will continue to do so as we continue on this path.
Please pray that I continue to feel good, especially while we are on the cruise. Please pray that we have a great trip. Please pray for safe travels and good health while we are away. But mostly, please pray for healing and continued peace for me and my family.
