October Surprise

OK, since we're in a (heated) election year, I really couldn't resist today's blog title.  Still, I can promise you that all that follows is apolitical . . . 

Behold, the black rhino!

The surprise: 

It may seem that after 426 days on the trail, a trekker would have little left to encounter that could be surprising.  The Unexpected Journey, though, is chock full of unexpectedness -- and so, when running alongside the zebras, there appeared this week a rare black rhinoceros, we were surprised and curious.  We found her to be far less scary than one may expect.  Our black rhino sparked great interest, expanded options and created a sense of hopefulness and (as I explained to one tireless warrior) an undeniable ebullience that put a real pop into my tread hikes and HIITS!

How we found the elusive, stunning (though threatened) survivor: 

Saturday (3 October) was another scan to get a look at what is going on with my cancer (the alternative to my cellophane body musings).  Since the scan was on a Saturday, this time around (for the first time), I wouldn't be able preview the results before meeting with Dr. Rixe.  So on Monday (our only Cancer Center visit that absolutely precluded Cliff's presence in the room), Dr. Rixe shared with me face-to-face (and with Cliff on speaker phone) my latest scan results:

Dr. Rixe laid out the results as a “glass half empty / glass half full” finding (his French application of typically American metaphors can be comical).  But I digress . . .

Here’s what we learned: The remaining “appearance” on my liver did not wash away, rather it grew.  Bottomline: It was not necrotic tissue (in the glass half empty realm, I suppose we otherwise might identify this as the bad news).  It is, however, the only detectable lesion — there being no other signs of disease progression and nothing detectable beyond the liver (this being the glass half full / good news perspective).  Why something (a lot of?) what I am doing seems to be working and yet this lesion is able to stand its rhino ground (and grow) is at this point a mystery. So what to do?

Following the three-toed tracks:

To solve the mystery and extinguish the lesion ("with only one stone, we can get two birds," (another Rixe-ified metaphor . . .)), Dr. Rixe laid out a plan to take a local focus on this lesion with an interventional radiology (IR) approach.  Of course, he had started his day at 7:00 a.m. in consultation with radiology to review my Saturday results, discuss options, examine risks and benefits and coordinate a schedule to streamline action (same-day IR consult, next week procedure).  Again, I am so thankful for our shamanic, genius, seemingly indefatigable oncologist! 

The way ahead is to undergo two interventional radiology procedures over the course of the next month to eliminate the lesion (and simultaneously get a tissue biopsy).  The procedures both will be performed percutaneously (no open surgery, yay!) and are considered relatively low risk.  And best of all, in cases where there is no disease progression, the procedures can be curative!  I frankly never expected to hear that word again in relation to my cancer -- hence my jubilation.  Oh yeah, I'm a glass-half-full gal who still believes in miracles!

And we're trekking on:

Next Monday morning at 8:00 a.m., I’ll undergo the first of the two procedures to be performed by Dr. Shelby Bennett (click here for Bennett Bio): a transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), to shrink and dis-empower (my word) the resistant lesion.  About two weeks later, I'll have a microwave ablation (MWA) to zap the shrunken remains.  In the meantime, I’ll continue on all of my therapies (targeted and alternatives) exercising our “something is working” mindset.

So how am I feeling?  Positive, encouraged, supported, blessed and oh-so grateful.

Happily greeting the rhino!

Quote of the Day:

Don’t quit before the miracle! 

                                         Mom of Peloton Coach, Robin Arzon'

 Progress Report:

• My new energy boost is dancing on my tread at the end of workouts to U2's "The Miracle."
• Home reno continues apace -- we're hoping to be able to move back into our suite by Halloween.
• Plants are flourishing as the apricots are now inside and out, the poinsettias have retired to a less sunny spot (building their energetic holiday magic) and one lovely orchid remains in bloom.
• Got in only one pool session last week (hard to do with contractor comings and goings) -- love that neoprene jacket! 
• Have completed three months of twice weekly IV Vitamin C, starting once weekly IVs this week.
• KETO continues (ugh) as does mistletoe (ouch) -- but hey, something is working!
  
• And the medical stuff . . . well, I think you're on caught up on that! 
• Happy Hump Day!

 

VIA FRANCIGENA!