Category: Test Results

All Good in the Neighborhood

Leave a comment

Long and busy day has worn me out so this probably will be short and sweet.

ShoeQueen

My gyn-oncologist has the raddest shoes

Everything checked out fine at my doctor appointment this morning. I am super grateful for my wonderful gyn-oncologist. She explained that with my CA-125 results a doubling of the value in a 3 month span would be a cause for concern, but the small increases I noted were normal. She reassured me that it was her job to CARE for me, not PROTECT me, so I should never worry that she has not shared everything she knows with me.

Reiterating that if she didn’t know something she would tell me and that when it came to difficult conversations she would deliver the news as empathetically as she could, but that she would tell me everything. I cannot emphasize enough what that meant to me.

She also pointed out, without making me feel like a complete goober, that I had an ultrasound when my gallbladder came out in July that was noted as being UNREMARKABLE. Something that would totally have eased my mind if I had taken a moment to think it through.  I left the office with a script for antibiotics to treat my UTI, lots of compliments on my knitting, and some new shoe goals. All in all a successful start to the day.

19Oct17Hair

I stopped by Salontology this afternoon to see my Hottie Scottie to catch up with him and get my hairs shaped up a bit. He has made ‘the great hair reboot of 2017’ so much more bearable. A clip here and another there and he’s made each phase of growth look like it was a choice and not just something I had to deal with after treatment.

img_4530

My last stop of the day was to see a pint-sized pal at Duke Children’s Hospital who had surgery to address a curvature in her spine on Monday. People have called me a warrior, but I have nothing on her! She walked around her unit yesterday and two flights of stairs today. She’s had issues with pain management, but she’s handling it like a champ. I’m super proud of how well that little rock star is doing. While I was there tonight she finally started to get her appetite back, enjoyed opening some presents, and was visited by Foster the Therapy Dog. When I left she was settled among her pillows and stuffed animals watching The Lion King 😉

What a day. I think I’ll be napping it up tomorrow!

no worries, I got this.

❤ P

 

How Will Numbers Be In The Future?

Leave a comment

I joined a Facebook group for ovarian cancer survivors so I could read about the experiences of others to help put mine into some context. One of the first things I saw was a post sharing a guide to CA-125 values prepared by the Foundation for Women’s Cancers . Another timely find as after I received my results from my 9 month post-chemo follow up appointment I noted that since I completed my treatment my CA-125 value has been creeping up. It is still well below the 34.9 cap on the “normal” range and my doctor seems pleased with how they are doing, but it still bothers me.

She stood in the storm

I can’t say that I found great comfort in what I read since it says that a increase in number over time is often an indicator of a recurrence. At the same time, there is still a great deal to learn about this test result and the guide does note that a gyn-oncologist is most skilled at interpreting the results for individual patients.

This result is just one more tool in the tool box so I shouldn’t give it more power than it deserves. I’ve noted a trend, but all that calls for is continued attention to future results and not a call to arms now. I guess I’m still recovering from being told that they don’t normally become concerned about an elevated CA-125 value in a “woman my age” until it hits 200 (when mine was 165). However, if I’m reading this guide properly it seems that it is not really considered an accurate screening test until it is determined that it is accurate for the individual with the value (clear as mud, yes?)…

Gratefully, it isn’t my job to obsess over these numbers and I have great faith in the abilities of the person who does have that job. Speaking of which, I see her tomorrow to determine what’s going on in my urinary tract so I can ask her then if I’m just being my hyper vigilant self or if there is any cause for concern.

Has your CA-125 value been a good indicator for you with regards to your diagnosis, treatment, and follow up or not? Let me know in the comments below.

No worries, I got this

❤ P

The Results Are In

2 Comments

Overall everything went great today. Dr. Gehrig was pleased with how everything looked, I was able to visit with some much beloved peeps, and CA-125 value just came back well below the normal limit.

09Oct17CA125

So, YAY!, right?

Then why did I burst into tears when my nurse, Olivia, asked how I was doing?

GREAT QUESTION! I was equally curious as to what that was all about.

On the surface, it seems that, despite my efforts, my weight continues to rise a little more each time I weigh in. Now there are plenty of reasons it could appear that way and sweet nurse and wonderful brother were right there with all of them to help me regain myself. Still, it is extremely frustrating especially after all of the sacrifices I’ve been making to help things move in the right direction. They are setting me up with a nutritionist to make sure I am eating what I should and not replacing those former comfort foods with even worse, but cleverly disguised comfort foods… THAT is quite possible knowing me like I do.

But Dr. Gehrig dug even deeper and determined that I’ve reached another stage in my treatment and recovery… SURVIVORSHIP.

k-91-chim-5782_1

The more we talked the more I realized that this is the reason for the MEH feeling I’ve been experiencing lately. Well, this and a touch of the Pink Stink as Dr Gehrig termed it. Or, as I describe it, the desire to scream every time I see pink or hear how more needs to be done to bring awareness to breast cancer. #NotAllCancerIsPink

SURVIVORSHIP

From the outside looking in, most people think coming to the end of treatment should be a time of joy and ease. However for many survivors when the routine of treatment ends it can be a time of mixed emotions – a time for celebration, yet also a time of more challenges. Many survivors often liken the transition to being cast adrift – they’re not sure what comes next and they feel lost about moving forward.

Thankfully, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is well equipped to help me, at least with the survivorship bit, I think I’m on my own to deal with the pink stink issue. They offer survivorship care plans, survivorship clinic visits, and cancer transitions classes/workshops. I was sent home with all the information I need to get rolling down the road to *really* surviving 😉

So, yes. YAY!

Halfway to the Finish Line (Part 1)

Leave a comment

Prior to surgery, my CA-125 was elevated to 165 and it was still relatively high afterwards (150), but Dr Gehrig reassured me that inflammation from surgery could raise things up. On October 24th, my levels had dropped significantly to 37.3 and were more in line with what she was expecting, but were still outside the range of normal.

Before they began my 3rd treatment on November 14th, they collected a blood sample to once again see how my CA-125 levels were responding to the chemo. According to Dr. Gehrig, she wanted to see my levels within the normal range (0-34.9) after my 3rd treatment and she wanted to see how we were doing on achieving that goal. Happily, the results were awesome and levels were found to be solidly in the normal range at 14.9!