Update 9/24/26
I wanted to share an update of where things are at with me after the latest scan. Sometimes we don’t get to choose the path we are on but must face what’s in front of us with faith, as if we did choose the path ourselves, as fate is what puts us here.
There are two parts of me that are lingering, one side is the frustration, anger, sadness of having another scan of progression, and then there’s the other side, the much happier one that is hopeful and grateful for this next opportunity to try something new. A new path, a new journey, one where I know I am meant to be on. In fact, I got my first tattoo the other day on the inside of my left wrist that says “hope” and it’s a reminder to keep living in that space for as long as I’m alive.
I’m actually writing this from Mayo clinic in between appointments as I have pre screening tests such as a heart scan, blood draws and an ECG I need to get before I start the trial. The plan is to start the trial on Friday Oct. 2nd, which is a couple weeks earlier than the initial plan for starting. Lately I’ve been having abdominal and back pain, which leads me to think it’s from the cancer growing in my abdominal lymph nodes. I’ve been having to take pain medication every day because the pain is just relentless. The initial plan was to start the trial on Oct. 19th, but because of my pain, I called the study coordinator to try and see if we can push for me to start earlier. I’m so glad it worked out to where they can get me in right before my trip back home to New Mexico which was scheduled Oct. 3rd to the 10th. The unfortunate part though is I had to cut my trip short and need to come back on the 8th to go in for cancer treatment on the 9th. Unfortunately with this trial, I have to get Eribulin IV Chemo on day 1 and day 8 of every 3 week cycle. So I will be at Mayo two weeks out of three weeks with only 1 week off in between. This will make it difficult with travel plans, but I need to do what I need to do in order to be on this trial and keep living. Being a cancer patient is my full time job!
So the plan is to get three drugs, Evorpacept, the new immunotherapy trial drug, Herceptin, the HER2 targeted drug and Eribulin, the chemo. All three will be administered through IV. I’m hopeful for these drugs to work. The trial I am joining is a phase 2 trial, meaning they are now testing the effectiveness of the drug. They did do a phase 1 and it seemed out of the 10 patients, only half ended up getting a response, so it’s not a guarantee. It all depends on how much CD47 expression I have, and the more the better. I don’t know how much I have as they need to test a tissue sample, but I don’t think I get those results. I just have to wait and see what the scans will continue to show, which I will get every 6 weeks. Hopefully by pairing this drug with the other two, I will have better response.
For now, I am staying hopeful, and taking in one day at a time. I don’t want to think too far ahead but I know the more lines I go on, the less effective they tend to become. I just had a thriver dinner last night and met a woman who has had stage 4 for 5 years and she recently just got told she has 4 to 6 months to live. She basically said she was doing just fine like the rest of us for so long and then just went downhill fast. She now uses a walker to get around and has so much pain. I just looked at her feeling both sadness and pain for her in my gut. But then I looked at her in a different way. I will be her at some point in my life. I am hopeful that it won’t be any time soon. Hearing news like this just puts things into perspective more. That life is short and not to take the days for granted.
Lately as I’ve experienced pain, I just tell myself, this is temporary and this too shall pass. I know with every bad day, there’s a good day around the corner. With every pain, there’s relief, with every tear there is joy, with every breath there is life. To continue to live and experience both the highs and the lows is what makes life, life. And I am grateful for every second of it.
And living is what I intend to keep doing. Putting one foot in front of the other, and handling this new journey one step at a time. I am not letting cancer keep me from doing fun things. It’s nice I can squeeze in my NM trip between my Oct 2nd and Oct 9th appointments, as I will be visiting family and riding in a hot air balloon. Then in early Nov I am headed to Austin with my friend Amber who I went to Costa Rica with. After I get back from Austin, I head straight to Michigan to attend my cousin’s wedding. It seems my new treatment schedule will work out with the dates I plan to travel. There’s no way I am missing time with my family!
In other news, I ended up calling MD Anderson down in Houston to see if I can get a 2nd opinion on everything. The earliest they can get me in is Nov. 10th. Now that I am doing this trial, I am debating if I still want to try and make that appointment, but leaning towards yes, since getting a 2nd opinion, especially what comes after wouldn’t hurt. And I would get in the door with this appointment for future. Nov 10th would be a day after I get back from Michigan, so lots of travel coming up! My parents will be visiting Nov 12th and staying through Thanksgiving so that will be nice.
As far as other fun things, my trip to Maine was so nice. I went to Acadia National Park, did some light hiking and got to watch the sunrise and sunset all in one day. It was a beautiful healing trip, minus the constant stomach aches and diarrhea! As far as dating goes, I’ve been entertained by the boys online, some of them clearly don’t have brains, but then also surprised by a few that I am slowly getting to know through texting. I actually went on one date this past week for a walk and it went really well. We plan to hang out again next week and just take things really slow getting to know one another. I have that date and then I might be meeting up with another guy I am talking to as well. So far so good, and going into it with no expectations or pressure, just getting to know each other and see what happens.
Coming up besides fun trips, I will be on Fox 9 news Saturday morning, helping to promote upcoming Pink Power Foundation events and podcast, and then on Sunday I am doing a “Fuck It Day, Granny Fiesta” with other stage 4 badass women. We are all dressing up as Grannies, going to brunch and then Mall of America to ride the rides. It’s going to be so much fun as we just say Fuck It to cancer and everything that comes with it. Later in October I will be going up to my friend Steve’s parents cabin, which will be beautiful to see the fall leaves. Also coming up in November on Nov. 14th is the Gala to raise money for stage 4 breast cancer. It is a beautiful event where you dress up and we recognize those we lost, those still fighting and hear from researchers and others to raise money for an important cause. Obie and I will be featured in a video they plan to share with everyone, where I talk about the importance of clinical trials. Would love to have people I know and love attend this incredible event. Here is the link to get tickets: The Gala by VraniCURE | Powered By GiveSmart
Just so much joy upcoming, I am not going to let cancer stop me from having fun. Yes I still deal with side effects such as fatigue, brain fog, weakness, stomach issues, etc., but I can manage them and not let them prevent me from doing what I love. Hopefully these new meds are tolerable for me and I don’t experience any horrible side effects. I’m hearing the side effects should be similar to my other meds.
As I wrap up this update, I just want to say thanks for following along in my journey. It’s been a bumpy road, but with every bump there is clear pathway, there is learning, there is resilience, there is hope. Hope is not lost on me.
Love, Stacy
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