As we enter the new year Kay
and I look back on the last 8 2/3 years of living with cancer as time we had
not expected, but are grateful to have lived and loved together. Although there have been challenging periods,
most of Kay’s days/weeks/months/years since her diagnosis have been lived
comfortably and fully. We are especially
thankful for our family and friends.
From the beginning when the prognosis was grim, through her three major
courses of chemotherapy and surgeries, in the 4+ years remission off treatment,
and in the last year of sometimes frustratingly minimally effective treatments
you have been there for us. Sometimes it
has been a phone call or letter, and sometimes a date for tea or lunch. Sometimes a visit, a trip just together or
with friends or family, and sometimes prayers we have palpably felt
supporting us. Everyone’s love has been there for us without fail.
Now things are looking like
we are nearing the end of effective treatment options for Kay’s ovarian
cancer. At a recent visit she told Rob
McCrosky, her oncologist, that she felt like the time was approaching when her
cancer was going to take over. Kay has
asked both Rob and Elizabeth Swisher this question many times, whether she was
near the end. Always the reply was
certainly not, and that there were effective treatments ahead. This time Rob
honestly told Kay that he agreed that the time of holding the cancer back may
be past.
In the last year Kay has gone
through numerous types of treatments. She has tried experimental studies with
immunotherapy, as well as new and established types of chemotherapy, and none
have proved effective for any prolonged period of time. For 8 years Kay was a chemotherapy superstar,
tolerating treatments well and avoiding complications. This year has been different. Kay had little response to treatments, then
she had the bowel perforation complication from Avastin. Since then the cancer has progressed despite
continued Taxol chemotherapy, and Kay is battling a partial bowel obstruction
which is causing unacceptable symptoms
when she tries to eat much at all.
Although Kay is not ready to give up hope of some more time with
palliative chemotherapy, we understand the options are not promising.
We are going to take the next
few weeks to see how the cancer responds to a bit of additional
chemotherapy. Last week Kay received the
first dose of Topotecan, a new drug for her, that she will get as weekly
infusions. Although we are hopeful that it will be
effective, the odds are not in her favor. If as is most likely these treatments are not
effective in stalling the progression of the cancer, Kay and I plan to work
together to figure out the best way to live her remaining time as enjoyably and
fully as is possible.
The good news today was that
despite having to get new insurance when Regence dropped everyone on their
individual plans, and having limited options available due to “market
uncertainty” our new carrier, Kaiser, agreed to let Kay keep seeing Dr.
McCrosky for 6 more months to allow transition to their system. We are going to not worry about things more
than 6 months ahead right now, and are grateful for that much of a reprieve.
We hope you all had a Merry
Christmas, wish you a Happy New Year. Keep
the prayers for Kay going and live 2018 with vigor and joy.
