Start of Enhertu Treatment - 1/17/25

It’s been a few weeks since my last post, so just wanted to share an update on how things are going.  The start to the new year has been filled with ups and downs, but mostly ups, and so grateful for it.  We are also knee deep into winter here, and while the snow isn’t quite knee deep, there have been some cold days where both Obie and I bundle up to brace the cold – I end up looking like the Michelon man and Obie looks like the most handsome dog with his fresh new booties, ready to pick up one of the lady girl dogs next door. 

I know last time I mentioned I was starting Enhertu on January 2nd, so at this point I am into my first cycle, as the cycles last every 3 weeks.  The start of this treatment brought me a lot of anxiety about the unknowns, of how it would go, how I would feel, terrified about how I would respond.  Basically, all the normal feelings one should have in going through this.  My mom joined me for my first infusion, and shout out to her, she was my hype woman.  Before we went into my appointment, she goes, “You got this. We got this.”  Love you, mom.  The first infusion was 90 minutes, but future ones are going to be only 30minutes I believe.  Before the infusion, they have to pump me with a load of drugs, the drugs before the drugs, as I like to say, just to ensure I don’t have a reaction.  I got Zofran, Tylenol, Benadryl and Steroids.  All to prevent your body from going, “hey, what’s going on here, you are not welcome, time to attack and make you feel like crap!”  The Benadryl was given through an IV this time, and if you have ever had this done, you know what a weird feeling this is.  The drugs beforehand were definitely the worst part of the appointment, as getting the infusion turned out to be just fine afterwards.  But I took it all in like a champ, and off we went on our way. 

I was sent home with the same steroids that they gave me at my appointment and had to take them each day after for three days.  The steroids are helpful in preventing any nausea or reactions to the newer medication.  While I appreciate that, the steroids kicked my ass.  I mean, I was wired mostly and very, very restless.  I thought I would be resting, sleeping like a baby, you know, taking it easy after my appointment.  But no, I was up at like 3 or 4am each night, working out, massively cleaning, refusing to sit still, etc., etc. But nonetheless, I was just happy that was the worst of how I was feeling at that point.  But then came the 4th day, and I was off the steroids.  My side effects hit me like a ton of bricks.  It felt as if I had a bad cold with nausea, but without the cold.  I had pressure in my head, horrible brain fog, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite and even a low mood.  I definitely didn’t feel like myself. I had no motivation to do anything!  Thankfully, each day got a little better, and about day 8, I started to feel a little more back to me.  Since then, I haven’t had any horrible side effects.  Actually, I feel pretty good, which I am SO thankful for.  I hear that the first couple of infusions can be tough, but then it gets easier.  I am hopeful that is the case for me, and I will just need to prepare my life for that first week after just in case.  Heck, I am going to make sure I am giving my body the best care so that I can help prevent myself from feeling those side effects in the future.  Continuing to be mindful of what I put in my body and how I think.  I’ll always believe in caring for my body that is doing what it can to take care of me.

As far as huge wins go the last few weeks – It’s amazing, but I already can feel the lump on my breast going down significantly.  It’s only been a couple weeks and the lump is so much smaller!  This is proof that the Enhertu is working, and it is working well.  Two weeks is all it took.  It has a little ways to go before it’s not there, but I am amazed at how quickly, and by how much it is working already.  It probably also helps that I reaffirm to myself every night, that this drug is working for me, and it will keep me alive a long time and I even say, “cure me,” as there’s always hope.  Cancer cannot take my hope.  And in no time, I won’t have any cancer showing up on scans, so suck it, cancer!

In other news, I mentioned last time I wanted to get a biopsy of the two new lumps on my breast to confirm they are still HER2+ or something else.  I was able to get in for a biopsy just this week on Tuesday thankfully.  When I met with the doctor there, they said they were going to only biopsy the big lump on my right breast and not the small ones.  Hold up, the only reason I wanted this appointment was to look at the two new ones, and not the big one as that had already been biopsied before.  If there is anything I’ve learned, it’s that you need to advocate for yourself and get your damn self what you need.  I mentioned, obviously politely enough, that there are two new ones I want to biopsy today.  I have to give a shout out the nurses there – Tasha and Kristin at M. Health Fairview Breast Center were incredible.  Both of them pow wowed with the doctor to make sure I was getting done what I needed to done that day.  The ultrasound beforehand had confirmed that one of those smaller lumps was actually biopsied previously, which I didn’t know, but there was one small one I was feeling that wasn’t, so that was the one they decided to do on Tuesday.  I left the appointment feeling relieved I got what I wanted.  I ended up getting the results back this week and am happy to share that this lump is benign!  A small benign tumor called a parachyma that is a bit of inflammation.  It’s just inflammation.  This hard lump was all that? Who knew inflammation can create hard lumps that feel like cancer tumors.  Does that also mean all these “lumps” in my body are just inflammation?? (only half joking).  But this is great news and a win I will take!  What this tells me though, is that my progression produced no new tumors at all, unlike I originally thought as new ones popped up in my breast.  Maybe if we just tame the beast in the current areas and keep them asleep forever, I will be good right?  I know that is not how stage 4 cancer works as the doctors say there is no cure and cells are still there and they can wake up at any time, yada yada yada.  I get it.  But let me have my moment.  It’s still possible and I will take that.

With these wins lately and me feeling decent the last week or so, I’ve been feeling pretty good.  Lately I’ve been getting into some good books, one which I loved called “I’m not a Mourning Person” by Kris Carr – amazing book, highly recommend.  She is such an inspiration, and her energy gives me energy.  We need more people like that in this world.  I proceeded to buy her other books, “Crazy Sexy Diet” and “Crazy Sexy Kitchen.”  Recently, I’ve been making a lot more meals with a ton of veggies and no meat.  Thought I would try to cut out a lot of meat in my diet and see how I feel.  I’ve only been on this train for a few days or so, and I must say, it’s all true what they say about veggies.  The last three days I have had maybe 6 cups of veggies a day in various meals one way or another and I have so much energy, I feel happy, I’m more content, I’m sleeping well and I just feel good.  At the gym I was able to run for a whole 30 minutes today, and I haven’t felt like that in a long time.  Either it’s eating all these veggies, cutting out gluten, dairy and eggs, reading these inspiring books, the positive news, or all of it combined, I just know it all helps. Every single one of these things helps.  It’s what we put in our bodies and how we think, that determines how we are going to feel day to day.  It’s not easy, but it’s so damn worth it.  Investing in our health is the best investment we could ever make.

As most may know too, if you follow me on social media, is that my mom went back to NM for a little while until about the end of the Feb.  We decided it was time, and for things to feel back to “normal” as they can.  While I love having my mom here, I also enjoy my alone time and independence.  While my family is not physically here, and all over the country, I know that they and everyone one of you are with me in spirit and always with me, I can feel it in me.  There is also something about going through stage 4 cancer living alone that is quite empowering as well.  Having the space and freedom to just be, in all aspects of the word.  Living each day being presently aware of what I need and having the space to do it, without anyone else around to tend to, respond to, etc.  I know I will always need support here physically, but my soul screams independence. Although I am aware that support from others and independence are two different things.  Support I will always need.  Independence is what I crave.

Since I’ve had a good chunk of “me” time, I have been going to gym for long workouts, hanging out with friends often, creating a list of fun things I want to do this year and finding my next vacation spot.  I booked this week a solo trip to Puerto Rico in early Feb!  I am going a couple weeks in after my next infusion which will be a good time, especially if I feel how I do currently at that time.  I make it a point to schedule a solo trip every year, and since this winter has been quite wintery, I wanted to go someplace warm and different than the usual Florida.  I also have added to my to do list for this trip to find the nearest urgent care and hospital – just in case anything goes haywire while I am away.  This trip will also be different for me of course.  My life and how I look has changed drastically.  I don’t drink so it’ll be different going to bars to hang out, I have no hair, will I get weird looks, do I just go bald, etc. But you know what, I am not going to let these thoughts, and my new life deter me from living my life and having a darn good time!  In fact, I am just going to live it up even more and show the world that you can have a stage 4 cancer and still be sexy, fun and adventurous.  So all that to say, I am really excited for this trip.  I will be able to handle it alone and my soul will say thank you.

To end this week, I just want to say thank you for all the continued prayers, support, care packages, cards and love I keep receiving.  I am reminded every day of the countless blessings I have, and the biggest one is having so many loved ones who care about me.  Life can be hard, but it’s a lot easier with loved ones by your side.  Life can also give you reasons to be grateful, and loved ones are one of many.

Love, Stacy