Sorry for the delay in posting. In November and December we were busy exploring the possibility of gene mutation testing to try to pinpoint a new therapy available through a clinical trial. We visited with Dr. Alice Shaw of Mass. General Hospital who is involved in clinical trials for lung cancer there. See Genotyping at Mass General The mutation we were hoping for was called ALK for short. The woman in the video above had that mutation with amazing results using the trial drug. In mid December I had a biopsy to discover if I the ALK mutation as well as many other possible mutations that may be useful for future trials. New discoveries are being made all the time.
I had a few complications after the biopsy which caused me to require a 5 day stay in the hospital. Because of my lung not wanting to stay inflated I had a Talc procedure done that was a little on the painful side. Thankfully all that is over. I was able to be home in time to enjoy a wonderful Christmas with my family. Mom and Dad, Bonnie’s family and Dave’s family were able to gather with us in Bon’s inviting lake house to celebrate Christmas together.
Sherri (in red) and Bonnie (in green) just crossed this bridge over 100 feet in the air. Brave huh? or Crazy!
It was a little bit of a low time as the Talc procedure set me back a little. When you are feeling well it is easy to be up. The opposite being true…it is easy to be discouraged when you are not feeling well.
Time passed and we received the news that I did not have the mutation we were hoping for. I took a few minutes to be sad and disappointed. It was time to cross the next bridge. We had been preparing ourselves for that. With the new year I started a new chemo regiment. I seem to be handling this one even better than the last two. I do not get sick, or tired (maybe 2 or 2 naps in the days following the chemo) and my thin hair seems to be filling in from the last chemo.
So to the bridge picture in this post. Bonnie and I took an adventure last week to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Our theory being that we would have to take matters into our own hands. Since I didn’t have the mutation we were hoping for we would scare the cancer out of me. We decided to take a Canopy Zip Line Tour. If you know my sister, Bonnie, you might think this is more of a ‘Bonnie Thing’ and you would be right. I did not sleep well the two nights before the tour. But I survived no worse for wear. It was beautiful to make our way through the snow covered trees in the softly falling snow whether on the ground, zipping through the air or crossing between tree platforms on a rope bridge. Along with zipping, Bonnie and I enjoyed four hours of cross-country skiing helping me to realize I had recuperated from my hospital stay.We were royally treated at the Mount Washington Resort Hotel. I especially enjoy the waffles at the breakfast buffet, the Victorian Afternoon Tea in the Princess Room, a night swim in the heated outdoor pool and relaxing in front of the many fireplaces scattered throughout the hotel. (THANK YOU Bonnie and Frank for a mostly relaxing break!!!)
