2022: Surprises

Life goes on with tests, scans, etc. Still working at my job while trying to navigate my life. My Daughter is excited for her NC State graduation in May. It seems she just started college but due to Early College in High School she had already earned an Associate of Science and an Associate of Arts prior to entering NC State. State accepted all her credits from JCC so this shortened her time there.

The first PET Scan of the year showed progression and new areas of activity in the Sternum and both Rotator Cuffs. I'm to the point that I understand this is still a Rollercoaster journey and as time goes on I accept this more. With this change comes another change in treatment. We are going to try another drug and test again next quarter.

Prior to receiving the new drug a nurse called to share side effects and usage details. We stayed on the phone for what seemed forever going over each side effect. At the end of the conversation I asked her was their any benefit to the drug? Anything with that many side effects had to be questionable. She answered all my questions and gave me examples of patients that had successes. I agreed to get the drug and she arranged shipping from the specialty drug company. I wish I could remember the names of the drugs and treatment plans I have had but I lost track a long time ago.

I received the new drug via UPS and started it the following day. As with all the treatment plans I have been on, there is a period of adjustment. Sometimes its a few weeks, sometimes it can be months. Fever is a symptom that is carefully watched in cancer patients. After two weeks of usage I developed a low grade fever. I contacted Dr. R and she said to alternate Tylenol and Motrin to offset the fever. I moved forward with this while still taking the new drug and tolerated the fever for two weeks until it spiked on a Sunday to 103.9. I spoke to the Doctor on call and he advised me to get to the ER for treatment. I felt awful and right away they began fluids and testing. I learned quickly that with the long period of fever and low blood pressure I had become septic. A strong indicator of sepsis is also infection so I was booked for an extended hospital stay.

Tests and more tests were administered to determine the cause of my illness. I knew, in my mind, this was caused by the new drug. An infectious disease specialist from Duke came to see me, he suggested I might have “Cat Scratch Fever”. I was insulted and still tried to tell the various Physicians my illness was related to the new drug. I have a sensitivity to medicines and especially drugs used to treat cancer. My Oncologist came to see me and she shared my same thoughts. Finally someone listened to me!

After all the tests it was determined that the new drug was effectively treating the cancer, but it also was attacking my lungs. The plan of action was to stop the drug and move forward with a trip to the operating room; flushing my lungs to get me on the road to recovery. It’s amazing that something meant to help you, the drugs, could also hurt you and put the body at risk.

Again I was in the hospital for a week. We were also two weeks away from my Daughter’s college graduation. Would I be able to attend? I can’t miss this important day in her life.