Who Needs Medical School? I Don't

Yeah, it is not pretty.

Once again, my Holiday Inn Express stay, coupled with 5 years of having scans, has made me qualified to read a scan.  Under the right circumstances.  And this time I was right.  But a little less correct.

I spoke with my oncologist today and she confirmed that things are spreading.  I basically had another big bloom The one thing I missed, however, is that one tumor is now close enough to my airway to be of concern.  (There is another one running a distant second in terms of being something of concern in terms of structural issues.)

She is now checking with the radiation oncologist to see if it can be radiated.  The location, size and potential scarring may make that a non-starter. 

Additionally, the third and fourth line chemos will not shrink anything, if they work at all.  Five years ago I had FOLFOX, and I asked about that.  Normally you do not go back on a cocktail once off it due to lack of efficacy.  But enough time has passed that it could be worth a shot.

One of the other issues with FOLFOX is that the oxaliplatin (“OX”) of the mix causes neuropathy.  By the end of run with FOLFOX I had trouble picking things up or feeling my feet.  I still have residual neuropathy 5 years later.  My oncologist thinks enough time has passed that perhaps the neuropathy may be at bay a bit.  But otherwise I recall FOLFOX being easier to deal with compared to my recent FOLFORI treatments.  I do not recall feeling as sick.

FOLFOX will be two week cycles – no three week cycle to make it “easier.”  I need to do an all out press to see if it works. 

Got into the pool yesterday. Hoping to get
into the pool one or two times more before
 shut down.

I am not looking forward to going back on chemotherapy.  I have been through it twice.  I know what is coming.  But I know once I get back into the routine I will get through it. 

A two week cycle is going to make #triathlontraining a bit more challenging.  I am pretty sure I can still get enough training in to be able to do sprint triathlons, though swimming may have to be dropped for awhile due to the coronavirus.  Due to the conditions of my lungs I am already “at-risk’ and chemotherapy will exacerbate it. 

The FOLFOX is kind of a long-shot, but at least I have a plan coming together for the first time since I was told that the FOLFORI stopped working.  It feels good that I am not just sitting idly by.

If things go well, I am also guessing I will get on a triathlon relay team or two. I am lucky to be surrounded by some great people :)

#iTRI4aCure  #EmbraceTheSlow