🎂 Birthday Month 🎉

June 1, 2024

It’s my favorite month of the year – mostly because it’s warm and sunny and summer; also because my birthday is the 26th. This year I’ve decided to celebrate all month, I deserve it! (Heck, we all deserve it!) I will be 55 this year. Next month is my 5 year anniversary of living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). 5 of 55 years with cancer. That doesn’t count the 6 months I dealt with it back in 2009.

Anyway, yay! The cancer is stable.

I have had 6 infusions of Enhertu and it seems to be keeping the cancer quiet. I’ve noticed that my hair is falling out a bit more, it’s quite thin. I’m also taking a fair number of medications to keep other side effects at bay.

I discovered that the steroid I get as a pre-treatment actually helps with the pain in my hip. So, for the time being I’m taking additional steroids daily to make moving about easier. It’s helped tremendously. My physical therapist says I’ve made great progress over the past month. Here’s to hoping that continues!

I have an appointment mid-month with my orthopedic oncologist to see if he can help with eliminating the hip pain. More on that later.

My CA 27-29 tumor marker is a way we monitor for progression. I get tested via blood that gets sent to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, every three weeks when I have my treatment. My numbers are still hovering around 100 which is not great but I’ll take it. If it is below 38 then the cancer is quiet and not active. I’m still doing wonderful overall though so I’m not too disappointed.

I’m still working full time with a very flexible schedule. My remote work makes for lonely days but a few wonderful friends make time to come by for tea or lunch which makes a big difference. Later in the summer we’ll do some traveling as a family. This month will be fun at home.