Key(truda) to my success

What a great week, at least in my mind.  As always had my chemo/immunotherapy treatment on Thursday – this was week one of a two week on, one week off schedule. Before I met with my oncologist and got my treatment I traveled up the day before to get a PET scan. This looks to see if any of the cancer in my body has recurred or found a new place to set up shop.  The last scan in April showed all spots resolved (ie gone).  This one was no different (yay) – my body (sans brain) is free and clear.  While sitting in infusion afterwards a gentleman that I have befriended also had his PET scan and meeting with what I am now calling the world’s greatest oncologist  (WGO) – Dr. Thumma.  He also has metastatic cancer (throat) that showed up in his lungs.  Guess what? His PET scan was clear and free too!!! So we both high fived each other while wearing our cold mittens (so we don’t get neuropathy) and sitting back with silly grins on our faces as we got our treatment.  The WGO and the WGRO (World’s Greatest Radiation Oncologist) both stated that Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug both myself and my chemo buddy are on, is quite the miracle drug.  I would say it is the “key” to our success. So after such great news I then had to ask my doctor, what is the long game here? Will it be possible to lengthen the time between treatments so I’m not driving West for 2 weeks straight with only a 1 week break? Answer to question one is that I will be undergoing treatment for a long time, even though it isn’t showing up on a scan (which can only find active cells), the cancer is still floating around waiting to get reattached somewhere.  In regards to question two, she was willing to allow me to have 1 week on and 2 weeks off.  So now I will take double my Abraxene (or a much higher quantity) and my Keytruda but then have a 2 week break.  This will allow me to get back into a semblance of normality. She is concerned that the higher amount of drug will kick me in the butt – and I will admit I am tired today, but I am tired everyday after treatment. So fingers crossed no terribly ill effects and I can keep this new schedule.

Overall things are headed in the right direction.  As an early birthday gift to myself I purchased a chromebook on Amazon Prime early access days.  That is making this writing much easier (rather than when I would do it from my phone), although I am still learning as I go on how to use this new fangled tool of mine.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  I am hoping to feel well enough that I can get out and maybe try to shoot a deer and sight in my muzzleloader in anticipation of November muzzleloader elk season.