Which do you want first? Let’s start with the bad.
The pain I’ve been experiencing in my knee the past several weeks has turned out to be cancer. It’s extremely unusual for metastatic cancer to show up in a place like my femur, which is why the doctors didn’t find it sooner. But they’ve found it now, because I insisted on an x-ray. Treatment will consist mostly of radiation, which starts tomorrow (Friday, February 26). I’ll have ten treatments in total. The doctor is very confident that radiation will not only shrink the tumor, but relieve my pain tremendously. As you can imagine, I am very anxious to get this treatment started.
The good news is that the oral chemotherapy I have been on for the past couple of months is working! The tumor in my lower back has not returned, doesn’t even show signs of trying to return. Yay! The doctor is going to start scanning me every 3-4 months, to make sure it’s still working. But for the time being, we have found a very tolerable treatment for my cancer. This is a huge blessing.
The bad news that goes with that good news is that since the tumor shrunk it left an extremely weak vertebrae behind. And this bone has begun to collapse, causing some fairly intense pain in my lower back. There are some options for treatment of this collapsed bone, but there’s also a distinct possibility that this pain is something I’ll have to learn to live with.
The collapsed bone is also affecting some nerves, which has made the neuropathy (nerve pain and damage) in my left foot and lower leg much more intense of late. I am constantly tingly (think of the feeling you get when your foot has fallen asleep, and then starts to “wake up” – my foot feels like that, only much more intense, all the time). There are some options for treating that as well, all of which we will pursue. But again, there’s a real possibility that nerve pain is something I’ll have to learn to live with as well. Such pain can be very difficult to treat.
I’ll tell you this though … I can live with pain. As long as cancer is being handled, I can live with pain (with the help of some fairly strong narcotics, of course). Today I’m praising God that we found the trouble with my knee, that it’s treatable, and that the medication is effective in keeping my other spots of metastasis in check. After these appointments, even with their bad news, I find myself mostly relieved. God is good. He continues to look after me, walk beside me, and give me all of you wonderful, caring, loving, prayerful people in my life! Thank you for your prayers over these appointments this week. Thank you for your encouraging words, your hugs, and the scripture you’ve shared. I have been truly blessed and encouraged by you.
Please feel free to ask questions if you need or want clarification on anything. I’m more than happy to share.
Just wanted to say I’m praying for you every day and my family is too. I hope you’re having an amazing time in Colorado with your Sis!
Hello Heidi,
I have been using the herb horsetail for my bones for about 6 months. It seems to be an herb that doesn’t have much recognition. I am going to just put this here for your considerations and personal research. I have found the horsetail to be very healing for my bone/osteopenia issues. Also again for your consideration I am adding this other person’s experience, https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/791569
I wish you love and strength.
Dianne
Thank you for sharing, Heidi, and encouraging us with your strength and amazing spirit. God bless and keep you relaying good news! Love you!
Heidi, I’m not sure if we ever met, but we have a lot of mutual friends and I feel like we know each other – sisters in crime – the Stage IV Breast Cancer version. I just want you to know that I pray for you every week when I pray for my other cancer partners in crime. Thank you for your updates. I’m sorry for the bad news, rejoicing for the good! My verse for this year is: John 1:16 – For from His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace. Praying out of His VAST fullness, you feel His grace upon grace in every way you need it each day. 🙂
♥️ Bonnie Saucy
You are an amazing women. You have a way of lifting people up & giving God all the credit. I continue to pray for you & the family. Will also bring our Life Group up to date on you.
I’m thankful you have an answer. You have such a joyous heart and a faithful God. You are a shining light and your bravery and attitude are such a beautiful testimony. I don’t know you very well but I’m very blessed that I got to have you in my group that one retreat. I pray for you, when I see you pop up in my stream on FB.
Care for you and the famil. Praying every day!