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Whirlwind...Avastin, Fevers, and Cervivor School

9/26/2015

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This week has been a whirlwind.  It has been challenging on two fronts.  First, I was suppose to get my 2nd round of Avastin this week.  Avastin is the medication, similar to chemo, which I am taking every three weeks to stop the five spots of cancer we have found in my body from growing and to stop any new spots from developing.  On Monday I went in for my blood and urine draws to send to the lab.  On Tuesday I received a phone call that I was good to go on Wednesday and could get my Avastin.  Great news!  Anticipated news!  There are conditions which can lead to me not getting Avastin, such as my blood pressure going too high or the protein in my urine being too high, and I'm sure a host of other reasons that I don't even know about.  On Wednesday I received a call from the nurse canceling my Avastin and asking that I call her back for more information.  It ends up, the protein in my urine is too high and I can't get my 2nd treatment as scheduled.  Talk about scary!  This medication is suppose to be what is stopping my cancer from growing.  If I can't get the medicine, what is stopping my cancer from growing?  Now, I have to do a 24 hour urine catch and they have to do another test to determine if I can get back on course with my Avastin.  More waiting.

Secondly, this weekend is an event I have been waiting to come for months:  Cervivor School.  Cervivor School is a fantastic event where cervical cancer survivors get together with a purpose.  Cervivor is an organization which focuses on advocacy and education for cervical cancer.  I have been looking forward to this for months.  When I got home from work Wednesday it seemed like the world was crashing in around me.  I had just found out no Avastin.  I am having swelling in my abdomen which my nurse suggested could potentially be a bowel obstruction and gave me instructions for what to look for and what signs meant and immediate trip to the ER, no matter where I am (thankfully I don't have any additional symptoms)..  Then, at 7:00 when my family got home I took my temperature and it was at 102.8!  What?  This can't be happening, is exactly how I felt.  I know if I went to the ER it is a five day stay, it is always a five day stay.  I quickly got my oncologist on the phone and explained the situation, his response, don't get on the plane.  I told him I wanted to try and break the fever with ibuprofen and talk to my husband.  Fast forward to 2:00 am, seven hours after I took my ibuprofen, and my fever was still not back.  I called the oncologist and he agreed I could go on my trip.  He said "maybe the fever was a fluke since it hasn't returned".  I am having a fabulous, educational, and empowering time here at Cervivor School.  Unfortunately my fever does spike everyday.  it is being managed with ibuprofen but I fear a hospital trip may be in my future when I land back in Indianapolis on Sunday.

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1 Comment
MELISSA MARSHALL
9/26/2015 10:39:59 am

Erika you are a very beautiful, strong, caring, loving, amazing young women. You are a wonderful wife to my nephew, you have added a really sweet nephew into our family. When I think of you
Erika I don't think oh poor poor Erica, I actually think God is on YOUR side and if anyone is going to survive this it will be YOU. I am glad that you are an advocate for Cervical cancer. I wish there was a support group back when my mother had cervical cancer. As I say my goodbye stay strong, continue to fight and love even more. We love you and Wylee and we are very glad you are a member of our family. May God bless you and continue to walk beside you.

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    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. 

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