In good times, I’ve been able to go months without answering the phone. That’s no longer an option with active cancer. So many appointments to schedule, and they’re mostly by callback. The pharmacies call me. The insurance company nurses call me. Today I’ve answered five calls. Five too many!
One of today’s calls asked me to confirm my date of birth before they would tell me why they were calling. I enunciated as best I could, but the AI understood me horribly both times before passing me off to a human who started by asking “Why are you calling today?” Ugh!
In worse news, last week I had a brain MRI that showed new infarcts that I wasn’t even expecting. This means two things. First, my anti-platelet medicines were no longer effective enough to prevent stroke events. Secondly, I’m already too messed up to notice when blood supply to a part of my brain is cut off. I feel a little bit off all the time.
In the end, though, I’m now on Eliquis to hopefully prevent future stroke events. Just in time as I start treatment tomorrow. I have to take my first Lenvima pills in the morning and then head to the hospital for my Keytruda infusion. Then for four days my oncology team has a long weekend. Please, please let me avoid any urgent effects this weekend!
This treatment can take a couple of months before it shows effect. Fortunately, my ca-125 is a good marker so I may see some effect before I get my next scan. It’s already at about 800–a number that terrifies me more than the treatment. To me, every point increase in my ca-125 is an extra bit of clotting factors released into my blood stream for potential strokes. I know it’s not that direct but, well, it’s close enough for me anyhow.
Wish me luck for tomorrow!
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