A Bump on the Journey

The clinical trial I have been on has done an excellent job of keeping my lungs and brains free of growing tumors.
It's been a while since I've had any complications, except for the annoying side effects.
However, yesterday we found out that there are several tumors on my bones. Specifically on my skull, my spine and my hip.
While tumors on the bone can be a nuisance, if it does not cause pain or grow too large, they are usually left alone and just treated with the regular chemo or clinical trial.
Unfortunately, the one one my skull is causing pain and also protruding on the jugular vein.
So while I will stay on the trial because I have had a great response to it, I will additionally have radiation to my skull.
I will meet the radiation oncologist soon and hopefully zap this tumor quickly.
I will keep you all posted.

Thanks again for all your prayers and good thoughts.

Update

I apologize for not posting for three months, but two people very close to me reminded me of how long it's been, so here I updating my blog.

It's funny how our mind works.
When we are healthy, we take our good health for granted.
When I first got sick, I learned to appreciate every breath I take and every anatomical function that works. Walking, talking and breathing were all skills I was suddenly acutely aware of. I praised God for every moment of each day. I realized it was a gift that was not owed to me, but one that was graciously and generously handed to me.
As my scans came back repeatedly clear, I fell into a trap of taking these gifts for granted.  Sure, I continued praying for continued good health and thanking God for granting me each day, but it started becoming routine and my prayers were said by rote.
How foolish we can be that we often need a reminder that everyday is a gift from God. Everyday and every breath is to be cherished as if it is the first day of our life. It's ironic that good health is what makes us foolish, and through the grace of God we are sometimes blessed with a needed reality check.

Back to my health.
My recent scans continue to show the lungs and brain clear of any progression of the cancer.
My fatigue is less and I am able to enjoy spending time with my family and friends.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and good thoughts.

Transitioning

It's been totally amazing. My scans which I've faithfully have every six weeks, continue to show that the clinical trial medications are doing their job. My scans continue to be clear and the side effects are manageable.
I apologize for not updating more frequently but I now find myself transitioning from a 'lung cancer patient' to a 'person with lung cancer'.
It might seem trivial but it is wonderful to go about my daily activities and enjoy life, without the immense gray cloud of disease.
I am still under treatment and I am a regular fixture at MSKCC, but  I can plan activities for a month from now, without thinking will I actually be able to....

Thanks for the continued prayers and good thoughts. May they continue to keep working and may you all be blessed for you kindness to me.

I will try to update with good news more frequently.

A Chanukah miracle

Chanukah is a holiday that celebrates miracles that occurred a long time ago.

There is the military victory of the Jewish Maccabees against the huge Greek army and a seemingly insignificant miracle of one small cruse of oil that lasted eight days. 

We commemorate the miracle of the oil by lighting the menorah. True it was a miracle, but it was just an extension of nature, similar to your cell phone battery almost dying, but lasting until you find your charger.

Often we think of miracles necessarily being against nature, a small untrained army victorious over a huge military presence, but most miracles occur everyday. 

They are an extension of what happens naturally, and are often taken for granted by us. We must work on recognizing the miracles around us and viewing then as a gift from God.

This week I have had my own Chanukah miracle.

On Wednesday, the first day of Chanukah, I had an appointment to get my latest test results.

As the previous scans in November by lungs and brains were totally free of any tumors, as were all my internal organs.

An additional test, called a blood biopsy was done. My lung cancer was not only present in the tumors but also in my blood, causing gene mutation that helped pinpoint treatments. In May of 2017 my blood contained three tumor friendly gene mutations; EGFR, MET-C, and TP53. After being on the newest clinical trial for six months, I have had a 100% response to the gene mutation. My newest test results show no cancer loving DNA mutation in my blood.

I might not have explained it correctly or clearly, but this is truly a Chanukah miracle, an extension of a natural occurrence. With the help of my oncologist, research team and all of your prayers and good wishes I have truly experienced my own Chanukah miracle. 

I hope to continue with this clinical trial and hope to continue seeing miracles everyday.

Continued Great News

My latest scans, done ten days ago showed that there was absolutely no metastasis in the brain.
All the previous tumors in the lungs have also shrunk into oblivion.
This means that the clinical trial medication is working well.
The bones of the skull and spine show unchanged osseous metastasis, but the doctors feel it is just  the bone metastasis healing. In either case, they are not increasing nor causing any pain, so we are on the right track.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and good thoughts.

Great New Year

I just returned from the doctor to get the results of my most CT scan and MRI.
Thank God since starting my clinical trial on June 27th all the tumors on my brain and lungs have disappeared.
The only cancer remaining is a little on my bones and skull and those thank God do not give me any pain.
The side effects are manageable and I am thrilled with results.
Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.
This being the eve of the Jewish new year, I wish each and every one of you a year of blessings, joy and good health.

It's working

I started the new clinical trial meds on June 27th.
AZD9291 and AZD6094. I am on this specific trial because the new biopsy showed a new mutation of a gene called MET-C and the AZD6094 is a MET-C inhibitor.
I had a CT scan and MRI to se if the new meds are working and all the tumors have either decreased in size or remained the same. 
They will continue to do scans every six weeks to make sure these drugs continue working.

On another note, the old clinical trial meds caused me to have constant tachycardia and I was put on beta-blockers. Now that I am off the old trial, I was able to get off my heart medication.
The only side effect of this regimen is fatigue but I am already used to this new normal. However I do miss taking advantage of all New York City has to offer.

Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes.