Too Much of a Good Thing?

Living in a place of deep appreciation and gratitude, I find it hard to have too much of any good thing these days (especially since wine and pizza are NOT on my nutrition plan 😀).

For example, I can never get too much of our beautiful Sangre de Cristo sunrises . . .

 

I find it is impossible to say "too much" to Barton's beautiful floral arrangements, which Cliff brings me every week . . .

 

I believe a girl can never have too many heroes . . .

 

 

Or too many zebras trotting by with satisfying news of quiet (healthy) progress . . .  

 

And of course, it is impossible to exclaim too much (unless in celebration) about CEA marker tests showing no disease activity (four consecutive months as of last week) . . .

 

Turns out, though, that I may have had too much of a cancer-fighting drug in my body . . . . 

My recent sensation of "skipping a heart beat," resulted in a series of EKGs, an appointment with a cardiologist, an echo cardiogram and a 24-hour session with a Holter Monitor.  I was in a bit of a quandary about whether to blog this or not.  I've always been transparent on my blog, and I know I have more followers than I personally engage (possibly other warriors), so I decided to be upfront with this news.  It seems Avastin, a drug I took through most of my first stage of treatment, has caused an unhealthy structural change in my heart.  We understood this drug was strong and carried with it some high risks.   We took all the steps asked of us (daily checking of blood pressure, keen observation for signs of heart problems . . . ) when I was on the drug between September and March.  And during that time (as usual for me), all my labs were assessed as "perfect" by my oncologist . . . but we couldn't see the stealthy damage Avastin was doing until  that "skipping a beat" thing started us down a new road.  According the drug website, 11% of cancer patients whose therapy includes Avastin experience side effects that "may include blood clots, mini-stroke, heart attack, chest pain, and (a) heart (that) may become too weak to pump blood to other parts of (the) body (congestive heart failure)."  

If you or a loved one may be introduced to a treatment protocol that includes Avastin, I urge you carefully to review the literature on the drug's benefits and risks.  In 2010, the FDA ruled that Avastin no longer is approved for advanced breast cancer because the risks were assessed to be greater than the benefits.  Despite the risks, it still is approved for other cancers (to include colon cancer), and can be used "off-label" by physicians.  My advice: Be an informed patient and exercise your power of choice.  In our case, we assessed I was very strong and fit coming into the disease.  That, in the end, did not protect me from Avastin's side effects.  This new finding will, for me, lead to additional tests and a need to be closely monitored for additional changes to my heart.

And, I will just add this: The cardiologist with whom I am working plainly stated neither he nor his colleagues previously have seen the combination of changes as they appear in my heart.  To say this will get worse, then, is more cardiologist conjecture than science based on any established patient patterns.  

In fact, it may or may not get worse.  I believe the body is an amazing machine able to function and heal in ways physicians sometimes cannot explain (miracles).  I am committed to living in the present and focusing on healing this body -- Every. Single. Day.  I have heard doctor after doctor say that the thing cancer survivors have in common is a strong, positive belief that they (we) will prevail.  In this household:  We are strong.  We are positive.  We are filled with purpose.  We will prevail.

Quote of the Day:

I am realistic -- I expect miracles.

                                     ~Wayne Dyer

VIA FRANCIGENA!