Meeting My Gyn/Oncologist, Three Options

Today we met with Dr. Westin in Gyn/Onc at MD Anderson in Houston to discuss my case and plan of treatment. First, she was clear that my case is “weird”, yes, that’s a quote. The fact that this is cervical cancer in my neck is not ordinary.

Today I had chest X-rays and blood work as well as a GYN exam. The good news is she didn’t feel anything strange – no “bumps” i.e. tumors. She has ordered a full-body scan that is scheduled for Thursday. Next Tuesday I will have a bone scan and meet with Dr. Westin again. The scans and X-rays will give her a better picture of what’s going on inside.

Three Options For Me

The treatment for cervical cancer is chemotherapy and will more than likely start next week. There are three options right now for my cervical cancer. First, taxol & carboplatin – I will have it three times in one week, every three weeks. If this is the one for me, I will lose my hair.

The second option, topotecan & cisplatin – may have hair loss but not definite. This one is once a week every three weeks. Both of those I will have scans after every second or third cycle to see if the cancer has stayed the same or gotten smaller.

Clinical Trial

The third is Alimta & Cisplatin. These are 1 time every three weeks. This is a clinical trial for which I hope to meet the criteria. I will know next week. The reason this one would be my first choice is that they have seen better response rates than traditional chemo from this drug combination. However, it’s a clinical trial. The criteria are fairly cut and dry, and there aren’t exceptions. So, all of the prayerful people in my life, please pray that I qualify if this is the one that’s meant to be. Either way,  I will have chemo in Houston.

Dr. Westin will discuss my case at “conference” on Thursday. Conference is where many of the Dr’s from Gyn/Onc get together to discuss new patients as well as different cases. I will be discussed this Thursday. There are gyn/onc’s, chemo Dr’s, surgeons, radiology, etc. Slides and reports from my past surgeries have been requested. These won’t hold anything up but she wants to have them.

So Much To Digest

As some of you already know, I liked Dr. Westin very much. She had a direct approach which I appreciate and I think gave me all of the information I needed. I didn’t ask some of the questions I’m thinking I should have, but I will. It’s overwhelming to remember everything in the moment. I will make a list, but for now, I feel good. I’m not sure I know anything different than when I went in this morning but I feel good. I’m not sure filling your body with poison is the best thing, but for some reason, I feel like we are moving forward.

Prayer

We waited for the Dr for some time. I started feeling so nervous and sick. I was scared. The only thing I knew to do was to pray. I closed my eyes, was laying on the not comfortable table, and truly prayed. Harder than I have in weeks. I prayed for strength and calmness. I felt very calm talking with Dr. Westin. Very much at ease. Thank you, God. Honestly, I don’t know anything different than I did, but I feel strong.

The thing that makes my case so weird is that cervical cancer presenting in the neck is not normal. However, the slides that were biopsied were from my neck. I guess I’m prepared to hear changes but am ok if it’s cervical. Not my first choice, but ready to fight. I’m tired but calm tonight.

The PA from Dr. Clayman’s office who has been so wonderful came to meet us as we were waiting for the shuttle back to the hotel. She is truly an angel. Says she is just doing her job but a wonderful resource and looking out for me.

My favorite thing today is that both boys texted me after school. I didn’t ask them to and maybe their cancer moms told them to (which is fine with me) but I loved hearing from both of them. Think of your favorite thing today.