My test results are in. I have a couple of new spots of cancer in my bones, but my lung nodule is the same, and my liver is still clear. Not great news, but it could be worse. Because my pain level has been increasing, along with elevated tumor markers and new lesions, my doctor advised me to start the Taxol chemotherapy again. I would be back on weekly treatments for 3 weeks, and then a week off like before. His belief is because Taxol worked before, it should work again. The hope is that the cancer is still receptive to the Taxol. I would stay on it until my bone pain is gone, and my tumor markers are back down.
My thoughts are that my quality of life is better right now, with my pain managed by meds, than what it would be if I was back on weekly chemo. After being so tired, sick and miserable last summer, I wanted to have a normal, active, fun summer this year.
My doctor would have had me start the Taxol yesterday, however I am not ready yet. My desire is to delay the Taxol until after the kids go back to school. I would feel more inclined to start the Taxol again if there was significant progression, or new lesions in my vital organs. But because there is only progression in the bone, I am going to wait.
It is a risk, but I figure that if the cancer is going to spread, it will spread regardless of whether I start aggressive chemo now, or in 6 weeks. Plus I am not ready to lose my hair again!!!!!!