It Doesn’t Look Good

March 20, 2016
Hi Everyone,
Some of you may have heard the news of my PET scan results. It doesn’t look good at the moment. My breast cancer did metastasize to the ribs, pelvis, lumbar and thoracic spine. It happened very quickly and insidiously. We are hoping to get a compassionate assignment/move to Denver to be closer to family at this time. Recently, I have begun experiencing some pain in my lower left hip. I don’t know if that is cancer related or not.
Tomorrow I see the surgeon and will have a new port placed in my upper chest once again. Hopefully that will be done early this week and then my oncologist expects to start the chemotherapy protocol ASAP. There will be a myriad of 4-5 chemo meds that I’ll be receiving. We have looked online at many alternatives and other protocols just as alternatives, but right now we can tell from my blood work that my cancer markers have doubled since last month alone. It’s getting uncomfortable sitting down or even walking for long periods of time. I’ve also had some sudden shooting pain radiate down my left leg that I have never experienced before.
I can’t possibly respond to everyone as so much is happening day by day around here. I appreciate your prayers and notes of encouragement. Please don’t take my lack of response personal. Things just get a bit hectic and of course kids are true to themselves and don’t understand the severity of the situation. We have and are continuing to look into an experimental procedure in DC with immunotherapy and when we move to Colorado, the doctor and the practice I’ll be seeing also participate in this therapy. It uses your cancer cells as a form of vaccine.
My friends Chen and Nicole are creating a Go Fund Me and meal plan website in the meantime in case I need to fly to DC or Colorado or need meals for Jamie and the kids. We have spent a lot of time and money out pocket, and this is a way friends can help from far away. I will email those details if we need them, but for right now we are ok.
I want to thank you all for your encouragement. We are hanging in there. We even went to the symphony last night to see Pink Martini, one of the first bands we heard together when we met in 1996. It was an incredible show. We are trying to enjoy each day and we’re having some family pictures done later this afternoon with a friend.
I don’t know how this will all turn out, but my faith hasn’t wavered. I know God is good all the time, and I’ve had such a blessed life so far. I hope that continues for another fifty years, but I also know I am grateful for what I’ve been given, even if I don’t get my wish. Jamie is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I am so grateful he is walking by me side by side. I can’t imagine any of this journey without him. We remind ourselves often that we are very rich–rich in experiences, rich in relationships, rich in lessons learned and prayer. I’m so glad that I have many local friends who have already stepped up and offered to help where needed. I so appreciate our military life as I see neighbors and friends pitch in where there are needs.
We’ll keep you posted. My oncologist is hopeful and she said that they do treat this at my stage. There was no guarantee this would not happened had I done the regimen as prescribed from the onset. I’ve since met several women who had what I did, went through all the recommended treatment, and they still had it spread or worse. At least I feel so much stronger and ready to tackle what’s ahead.
Love, Allison