Here it is, my shiny diploma for finishing three whole weeks of radiation treatment.

The main goal of radiation was to reduce my pain by reducing the size of the tumor. Unfortunately, I’m still in a fair amount of pain and taking a fair amount of pain medication as a result. But, the doctor said to give a few weeks, and I should be feeling much better. Let’s hope so!

So, radiation is over (as of today!). And now we’re all wondering, what now? Well, keep reading, ’cause I’m going to tell you.

Ordinarily, after radiation treatment, I would start chemotherapy right away. It’s the usual progression of treatment for metastatic cancer. However! My doctor, who is awesome, has come across a drug that might, just might, delay the need for chemotherapy for a while.

This drug is normally given to men with prostate cancer, but in trials has shown significant benefit in women with my exact diagnosis: triple negative breast cancer, metastasized, with a certain antogen receptor, which I have. So, my doctor and her staff are working right now to get insurance to approve the use of this pill on me, a pill normally given to men. With prostate cancer.

But she is hopeful, and so am I! Anything that can delay the start of chemotherapy is a good thing. If this pill is approved by insurance, and if this pill is remotely affordable, and if this pill actually works on me … it could delay the start of chemotherapy for up to six months! This would be amazing.

If you are of the praying sort, please pray with me that ONE: the pill would be approved by insurance. TWO: It would be affordable. THREE: It would work.

I’ll keep you posted!