On last week’s exciting episode, Maggie’s OBGYN found a lump in a place it didn’t belong. Since then, she’s had both an MRI and a mammogram, neither of which showed any signs to worry so we aren’t. Nonetheless, she’s scheduled for a meeting with the surgeon on Tuesday to confirm the lump and discuss options for removal. I’m suspect that this meeting is a continuation of some sort of scam in the medical industry whereas as many people as possible get to handle her breasts. We also had a PET scan on Tuesday. The results: the tumors are inactive. Fantastic!
Having inactive tumors begs the question “ok, so what next?” Maggie and I both suspect on the next visit with Dr. Loukas he’ll stop doling out the chemo punishment, leaving her with just an every-two-week visit to get Avastin while we wait and watch for changes. Of course, we could be wrong. Avastin, by the way, has none of the side-effects you’d attribute with chemo treatments. It does, however, have others – ones that are much more rare but more serious like sudden gut perforations. We’re planning on not getting any of those.
No one really knows how long the bastard tumors will stay inactive. Maybe a month. Maybe a year. But we’ll keep watching. Insurance only allows us a new scan every three months and, unfortunately, that’s really the only way to tell what’s happening. And it’s a pretty gross measurement at best. Kind of like using Google Maps to find where you parked your car. But it’s what we’ve got.
So, BRING ON THE CHEMO BREAK! If it comes, it will transition us to the closest thing we’ve had to a “normal” life since the end of 2006. Wow!
Congratulations guys that’s awesome news. No one deserves it more than yall do!!!! 🙂
Woohoo! Great news! (But the prayers will continue in North Texas.) Love you both!
Magnificent! This is so wonderful! This is such a 180 from last January…it just goes to show you the power of attitude and prayer (along with some of that nasty chemo stuff). But the indefatigable, indomitable spirit that is Maggie will NOT be defeated, not even to a Stage IV cancer. We must continue praying and supporting others that are suffering the same fate, so that they too may be encouraged by Maggie’s faith, hope, and love.
Oh, what happy, happy news. It’s what we have been hoping and praying for. Prayers continue. There’s new hope with this kind of news. Love, prayers and support continue.
Hi from El Paso,
I got an email from another Maggie, and I couldn’t help but wonder how you were. It is so great that you still blog the scary, symptomatic and good news so candidly, and allow us to respond.
Everyone that is touched by your experience goes away imprinted in a different way. For me it has been educational, romantic, sometimes sad, sometimes joyous.
Life is like that; it comes with major bumps. Last year I replaced four aircraft engines (two of which were in crashes), and I was in one of them.
But we pick ourselves up, fix the aircraft, and go fly.
You two have remained so very positive – that it’s truly an example for all of us who like to whine about minor stuff.
May you continue to find the blessings in they days you have together. There are a lot worse ways to live your life.
Love you both. Suzie Azar