If Brain Surgery Wasn’t Enough

The good news is that my brain surgery recovery is coming along really well. I’ve even been approved to start driving again, so Jason is taking me out for some driving practice this weekend.

However, life with metastatic lung cancer continues to keep me on my toes. I’ve been in seemingly endless doctor appointments, and the plan now is to do targeted radiation to the area surrounding what was removed from my cerebellum. I am also moving to a new targeted medicine, Lorlatinib. Hence, the endless doctor appointments.

I had my penultimate appointment for the Entrectinib trial, and I am currently going through the washout period in preparation for the Expanded Access Protocol trial for Lorlatinib. As you may recall from my Crizotinib washout, the withdrawal from these powerful meds is remarkably painful. Every muscle in my body is aching, even muscles I didn’t know I had.

On Monday I have the radiation planning appointment. There will be 5 radiation sessions, every other day, beginning the following week. The main side effect is fatigue (but I’m not even over the fatigue from the surgery yet!).

I am due to begin the EAP of Lorlatinib on Tuesday or Wednesday, with all the side effects that come along with that. One of which is fatigue. Oh my!

Don’t get me wrong - I am immensely grateful to have treatment options.

I am grateful there is another targeted med for me to switch to. (And another in trials after this one.)

I am grateful that I am well enough to withstand all this treatment.

I am immensely grateful for more time with my family.

But I have to admit that this has been a lot to deal with. I know that every day I am in treatment is another day I get to live, and for that I am grateful. But some days this is almost overwhelming.

I am very grateful for the support of my community - support that I am going to have to lean on again over the next few weeks.

Thank you so much to all the folks who brought meals to my family during my recovery. It is such a comfort. I can’t help but share this particularly adorable themed meal we received. Great work, Jennie, and it tasted great, too!

In other news, November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The ROS1ders are raising money for more research into treatments for our rare cancer. I started this fundraiser back in 2016, for my 40th birthday - and we raised over $6,000! I am reviving it, and hoping we can hit $8,000. Here is the link to donate: https://www.supportalcf.org/ros1/ToriTomalia

Also - make sure you get out and VOTE on Tuesday. As a naturalized citizen, I take voting very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that I voted absentee and mailed in my ballot at 4 am, just before we hit the road for my surgery. I didn’t know what kind of shape I would be in on November 6, and there was no way I was going to miss voting!