October 27, 2020 - When Pink is Just Another Color

Someday

Pink will just be a color

Not a ribbon to remember

A best friend or a mother

It is so appropriate that the One and Only Dolly Parton and her friends (Monica, Jordin Sparks, Rita Wilson and Sara Evans) dropped a wonderful music video 7 days ago. It is simply titled, "Pink". I would encourage you all to give it a listen. You can find it on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music or Pandora. I have included the link to the song and the video. Bonus: A portion of proceeds from the song generated by each song play, stream or download benefits Susan G. Komen.

When Pink is Just Another Color

When I heard this song, I wasn't in the best place emotionally. Let's just say that when I heard it the timing couldn't be more perfect. If you recall, my last update included a FANTASTIC brain scan and a suspicious PET Scan with a spot on my liver. We had to investigate.

So, this past Sunday, Jamie, Mason, and I visited the Mayo Clinic for my Abdominal MRI. It was kind of crazy to have a procedure at 7:30 Sunday morning, but it was also nice, uncrowded and quiet. I had one of the first appointments, so we were in and out fairly quickly for MRI standards. We were out by 9:30AM.

The doctor wanted a detailed closer look of my liver via MRI. Based on those results, we would know if a biopsy would be in order. Well, I do have good news to report! The chemo cocktail that I am currently taking is working (Xeloda, Tukysa, and Hylecta). We know that Tukysa is working to keep my brain mets quiet. Xeloda is a powerful drug that attacks liver cancer (among other cancers).

And...

It has already shown effectiveness against the spot on my liver from 2 weeks ago. Winning! I wouldn't believe it, but I have the pictures to prove it! The Mayo Clinic uploads your scans to your patient portal, which is so transparent. I can't tell you how refreshing it is! So for now, my doc wants us to stay the course on the current meds until my next PET Scan and Brain MRI in January. This is wonderful news!!

Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers. You have lifted me up and prayers have been answered. How powerfully blessed am I!

I am resigned to the fact that my life hangs in the balance in 3 month increments. Every 3 months, scans are taken, and news is given. As horrible as the side effects are with my current meds, at this time they are fighting the cancer gremlins. It's a trade-off that I will happily take. And, when this chemo cocktail becomes ineffective, we will move on to the next. As time goes by, I am hopeful that the brilliant doctors and researchers will continue to discover new meds and treatments to keep this disease away and allow me to continue more trips around the sun! Hopefully one day, pink will just be another color.

Oh, and give the song a listen!

You gotta believe without seeing

You gotta keep going, keep breathing

When you face a day that feels like you're gonna break

Lean on the ones that love you

The guardian angels above you

And think, about when pink

Was just another color

Someday and it's coming any day