Living Life
  • Blog: Living Life with Cervical Cancer
  • Living Life with Cancer
  • Erica's Story
  • Pictures
  • Media News

May Update - Live YOUR Life

5/23/2017

8 Comments

 
I have been waiting to post a medical update until I had some answers with what is going on with me.  I don't have all the answers but I feel like I have enough to be able to give everyone a heads up here.  I started a new chemo regimen, Topetecan, in March 2017.  The plan was for me to receive Topetecan once a week for three weeks then take one week off, do three total cycles, scan, and assess for future treatments.  I was able to get week one, then week two my ANC (absolute neutrophil counts) were too low for chemo, week three I was able to receive treatment.  I had my week off and headed back in April for my next round.  On my first treatment my counts were too low, the next week they were even lower.  So, we decided no treatment in April.  In May I my ANC was barely high enough to get treatment on week one and then on week two it was too low again.  It was at that point I asked to meet with my oncology nurse and develop a plan.

I should've received eight doses of Topetecan at that point and my body had only been able to handle three treatments.  I felt like this wasn't a viable option anymore.  I asked that we proceed with doing a PET scan and to assess our options.  Yesterday I met with the oncologist to discuss the PET scan results and assess options.  The scan results were not really surprising.  The existing areas had progressed and there are a few new spots.  The good news is that it didn't go any higher in my body, I have a real fear of it reaching my brain.  There is an increase in my left subclavicular/thoracic inlet region, retroperitenoel disease has progressed, pelvic disease has progressed.  Really all of that mean that the cancer is progressing, however, it has not gotten out of hand yet.  I don't have specific spots that I can feel externally and the largest spot is only about an inch at this point.  There will continue to be growth.  There are additional chemo options but at this junction we are not pursuing them.  My body is overwhelmed by all of this and is not recuperating enough to get my ANC high enough for treatment.  My body needs a break from the chemo.  There is not anything I can eat, drink or do to change my ANC.  I cannot reduce my activity level, or increase it, to change the ANC.  I have to wait.    

At this point we are actively pursuing clinical trial options and we hope to have a goal of which clinical trials are viable within the next week.

​Until next time...get out and live your life.  I certainly will be.
Picture
Picture
8 Comments
Tamika Felder link
5/23/2017 01:33:20 pm

You are incredible! I'm always thinking of you and your family. Keep living your life. xo

Reply
BONNIE THRASHER
5/23/2017 01:41:32 pm

Love you sweetness! You are brave and fierce!

Reply
Lisa Sullivan
5/23/2017 03:03:06 pm

Live, love, laugh...and so forth and so on. Big hugs

Reply
Tessa ezell
5/23/2017 03:41:02 pm

Hang in there as I know you will and thank you for reminding me to get out and live my life again.

Reply
Sandy Higgins
5/23/2017 07:14:49 pm

You are one hell of amazing lady. I hope in my life time to have just 1/3 of your determination and strength. I keep you and your family in my prayers. Keep living like there is no tomorrow.

Reply
Pamela Akers
5/23/2017 09:56:34 pm

You are one of the most amazing woman I have ever met and I appreciate your reminder for all of us to get out there and live life, which is exactly what you have been doing and what I am going to try to do more!! Thank you for all that you do for your Cervivor community and for just being you!! Take care and I wish I was going to Cervivor School this time so I could give you a big hug and have another all night adventure with you and the ladies!!!

Reply
Matt Sinclair Nathan
8/11/2017 08:03:08 am

cancer is one Dangerous disease that can kill someone in a silent way my wife has been diagnosed of cancer for more than two years i have looked for cure all to no avail until i saw a cure online on how rick Simpson cannabis oil cured a little girl on cancer then i quickly copied this email. ricksimpsoncannabisoil82@gmail.com i wrote to Mr rick and he asked few questions and then i placed an order between 48 hours the medication got to me in my home town please there is a cure dont let your loved ones die of cancer when there is lasting solution to curing it

Reply
Caillo Lisa
6/8/2021 04:04:57 pm

This is another testimony on how Chief Dr Lucky cured my HIV disease. Do you need a cure for your HIV disease? Do you want to be cured from your cancer disease? Or you want to be free from any type of disease. Kindly visit his website https://chiefdrluckyherbaltherapy.wordpress.com/ . He just cured my HIV disease and I’m very grateful to him, he is the only herbalist that can cure you.  
WhatsApp number : +2348132777335 
Via Email : chiefdrlucky@gmail.com
Thank you all for reading,
God bless"

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Erica is a 32 year old cervical cancer advocate who is out living cancer for the third time. When she isn’t advocating for cervical cancer and HPV awareness as a Cervivor Ambassador, she previously oversaw the STEM program at the school where she was an educator; she now helps coordinate the robotics program. Erica enjoys spending time with her husband and son in their Indianapolis neighborhood, as well as pursuing new and adventurous hobbies. She can most recently be found fawning over kayaks and daydreaming of returning to whitewater kayaking with First Descents, an organization for young adults impacted by cancer. 

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    Cervical Cancer
    Chemo
    Hospital
    Nephrostomy
    Photography
    Surgery

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.