I was so excited when Dr. Krivak told me the Parp Inhibitor was in the U. S. ready for distribution at my last visit in January. Once I found out from my Erie oncologist that I would be receiving it, I was even more ecstatic. However, as I waited for a phone call from the one oncology pharmacy in the U.S. to call me and go over what to pest while on it, I began to worry. What's new, right?!
This drug costs $11,500 per month or $138,000. a year. What if my health insurance didn't cover it? Our daughter is getting married in July. Andrew is still in college. We still have a little over six years to pay on our house. So last weekend, Valentine's weekend, it was Danielle's Birthday. We went out to eat. We had cake and ice cream. I was pile driving food left and right compared to how I had been eating. Ohhhhh! That's right! I am an emotional eater! However, all it did for me was give me a stomach ache. Fat Tuesday came and went with no need for me to pig out. I was still cleansing from the weekend.
I was also worrying, as anyone would, about whether it would work, and if it did work how long would it prolong my life? I wasn't one to think like this. However, when it keeps coming back, it's hard to keep those thoughts out of your mind. I needed to get to a better place. None of us know when we will die. We don't know God's plan for us. So I told myself I would continue to be positive. Crying and worrying about what will eventually happen to all of us one day was not worth ruining the time I had now.
Then, on Tuesday, the pharmacy called to tell me it would arrive at my house on Friday. I was ready to get this party started! Enough waiting, worrying, and wondering. On Friday after I got home from work, the package arrived. I tore it open to see four big bottles of pills and a huge pill case. Wow. Dr. Krivak, Dr. Marsh, and the Cancer Pharmacist, Amy, all told me I would be taking 16 pills a day.
They weren't kidding. At least they are more like capsules and not horse pills! I officially feel old at
age 49. I have a humongous pull case for a.m. and p. m. pills.
Meanwhile, I had been doing my own research on the Parp. These little buggers actually enter my body and find my BRCA gene. They turn it off. This causes the remaining cancer cells and tumors to die. That's my understanding from what I had been reading. Amazing! How can a pill do that? Eventually, my body may figure out how to reverse it, but maybe it won't. I have to hold onto hope. God has a plan for me. According to research, it can keep someone in "remission for 3-4 years. I'm praying for at least that long. Heck, I want more time than that. Medicine has come a long way! However, we still need to find a cure for the 5th leading cancer nemesis.
There are potential side effects that come along with any meds you take. Just turn on the T.V. any time of day and you will hear all kinds of commercials that list these awful things that could happen to you if you take them! I don't have a choice at this point. Some of the side effects sound just like
chemotherapy. Back pain, constipation, decreased appetite, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, heartburn
or upset stomach, joint or muscle pain, nausea, nose or throat irritation, stomach pain, taste changes,
tiredness, vomiting, or weakness. The scarier side effects are bone marrow problems, acute myeloid
leukemia and fatal lung problems.
So far this weekend I have taken 4 doses worth and I have had decreased appetite, nausea, tiredness, and a little taste change so far. I hope I do not end up with nose and throat irritations! From past chemo and Avastin treatments I have a very raspy voice now. I can't imagine it any raspier. Especially since I am a teacher! I need my voice!! But you do what you have to!
I've had a low key weekend relaxing on the couch, reading the Dr. Oz magazine and a good story on my Kindle. Pinterest has kept me busy as well and papers were corrected. I even enjoyed a four hour nap yesterday afternoon as I adjust to this new medication. My husband Rob made steak and Danielle sautéed fresh vegetables. I baked a spaghetti squash but couldn't eat it. So I made a
smoothie with some banana, blueberries, almond milk, and natural peanut butter that I sipped on most
of the night.
Corey is Danielle's fiancé. He is doing his final internship in Erie at Health South as he earns his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. His parents are taking a ride up to visit today since it finally stopped snowing for today.❄️(We live near the lake in Erie, so snow is something we get a TON of!) Then it will be time for dinner and preparing to head to school tomorrow.
There is always a reason things happen. Most of the time we don't know why. I know the reason. When I was diagnosed, they did a simple family tree asking if we had certain cancers that ran in our family. My Mom is a breast cancer survivor, my Aunt Gerry is an ovarian cancer survivor. I had several great aunts that had breast cancer. Dr. Richard did a simple blood test that has been available since 1994 to see if we carried a hereditary gene. We do. The BRCA1gene. This happened so that we could identify the others in our family that may carry it. My daughter, Danielle carries it. My
Aunt Marcia and cousin Barb carry it. They haven't had cancer yet. They were able to take precautions so they don't get it! Even my boys will be tested to see if they are carriers of the gene in case they have children some day; especially girls. More on this at another time.
So a lot of good has come out of my experience. It isn't like I found the cure, but I have been able to help some family members that mean the world to me. They won't have to go through this. That's worth it for me. I will continue to update once a week or so on how I am feeling as I continue LIVING while taking the Parp inhibitor. Have a great week!
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