Thursday, July 1, 2010

I Think I Might Be Winning!!!!!

I wanted to start everyone's holiday weekend off on the right foot. Get the champagne out, people. Put away the Big Girl Pants and put on your prettiest pair of Party Pants because I am winning this battle.

That's right, you heard me. After months of set backs and pain and side effects and trying oh-so-very-hard to keep a smile, I finally got one piece of good news!

Yesterday, my scans showed that the cancer in my liver had SHRUNK!!!!!!!!!

This TDM1 really might be that silver bullet I had hoped for. Now, it isn't a cure, but it is clearly working.

For the past four years, one liver spot had been there, lurking. It hadn't changed size or shape in four years. It hadn't grown, but it certainly hadn't shrunk. Then, a few months ago, a second little bugger in my liver showed up. The scans yesterday showed that, after only two rounds of TDM1, both tumors had shrunk visibly. One went from 2.8mm to 1.3mm. The other had shrunk from 1.6mm to .8mm.

My Doctor was gleeful and I take my cues from her. I'm not planning for dozens of little pants babies quite yet, but I could have the year of quiet that I had hoped and prayed for. I might even have a couple years of normalcy and quiet. The goal is that these suckers keep shrinking and that the side effects remain manageable. My heart function dropped slightly, but it was still above the 50% mark, so we are not going to worry about that today. I am going to exercise and try to keep the ol' tinker in Lance Armstrong-style shape so that this drug can continue working its magic.

My cancer had been humming along in my body for the past four years and now its been hit with a new drug and it doesn't know what hit it! Here's hoping my little silver bullet keeps killing and keeps shrinking. But let's not hope for too much.

Today, I am going to take this news and stick it in my back pocket. I am going to enjoy a fabulous Fourth of July weekend. Big Man and I are going to let our hair down and let our breath come out in a big sigh of relief. We are going to start planning our futures as all 26 and 30 year old's should do. The world is our oyster today, and I must say, we earned it.

Cheers!

17 comments:

Jennifer Rosenberg said...

Woohoo! Such great news to start out the weekend. When you watch the fireworks just think that is what the TDM1 is doing in your body...just busting out those cancer cells and replacing them with beautiful fireworks.

Unknown said...

YAYY!! That is so AWESOME!! :-) Go silver bullet, GO!! Hope you and Alex have a wonderful holiday weekend!! Love you!!

Unknown said...

YAYY!! That is so AWESOME!! :-) Go silver bullet, GO!! Hope you and Alex have a wonderful holiday weekend!! Love you!!

Unknown said...

Bridget! Yes! Yes! Yes! The Yoder house is so excited to hear this news, even Big P is jumping for joy. And you know he doesn't just do that for anyone:).

Erica said...

So happy to hear your news. Hoping for ongoing shrinkage!

lolacooks said...

omg what great news!!! sooo happy to hear this! love you! b

Anonymous said...

Yahooooooo...I can just feel your joy in your words...embrace this moment and your big man....you have earned your independence this weekend....Sheila V

Shop Without Money Sisters said...

That is amazing! Those are big shrinkages! Wow! Wow! Wow! I am so happy to hear this news...enjoy your life this weekend as you truly deserve to! I love Jennifer Rosenberg's analogy to the fireworks and the TDM1 in your body! Awesome visual!
Heather

Laura said...

Love it, love it, love it!!! Such wonderful news!! Have a great weekend with Alex and can't wait to see you on the 9th.

Gina said...

Cheers to you Bridget! What fabulous news and I hope you have an awesome weekend. Hugs!

Gayla Cruikshank said...

I know that it's therapy to get your thoughts, fears, and celebrations down on "paper". I started a blog when my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor (www.bdcshank.blogspot.com).
Keep doing what you're doing. You're a great inspiration. I love your writing and am constantly praying for healing and and a long, happy life with your Big Man.
Love sent from Texas,
Gayla (Dallas 3-Day PT FC)

Lauren said...

I love reading your blog--thanks, so much, for sharing your experience! I work at DFCI and you sharing your story reminds me it's all worth it. And, most importantly, congrats on your fantastic news!!

Kristen Sager Cincotta said...

Bridget, that is wonderful news!!! My mom got similar news about her liver cancer in May on her birthday and it was just amazing. I am so happy that you are doing so well!!

~ Kristen

Liliana Holtzman said...

Angel-girl,
you deserve every bit of joy and delight that you are experiencing.

I hope your weekend is the best, ever.

I am so happy for you!
Liliana

Anonymous said...

Wooo! That's AWESOME, go celebrate, go indulge on some shopping and desert!

Erin Lears Richardson said...

Cheers!!!!!!

Kristi Thomsen said...

That is fantastic news! I am so happy for you and the Big Man!