Where Are We Now and Where Do We Go From Here?

In the past month, I completed my third type of cancer treatment, Car T cell therapy.

This cutting-edge therapy began with the collection of my T cells. These tiny cells were sent away to Vancouver. While my T cells were being re-engineered to become cancer-fighting specialists, I had some time with my family. I also had three days of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy was designed to knock down my immune system so it would readily accept the re-engineered cells. When the special ops CAR T cell forces were returned, they were reinjected in less than 15 minutes.

I spent the first 10 days in the hospital as a precautionary measure as the medical team wanted to monitor me closely for unwanted side effects. The team continually checked how I felt, logged my vitals, and assessed my neurological function. Around day 7, I spiked a fever, which was an expected side-effect of the treatment. Once the fever subsided, I was permitted to go home and continue my recovery there.

In the past few weeks, I’ve seen noticeable changes. My hair is growing back and it’s staggering how good one looks with eyebrows. LOL! Walking has been part of my daily routine whether I was in the hospital or at home. I truly believe it’s one of the secrets to recovery. Resuming my normal activities is a goal, but at the moment, I still require a fair amount of rest. Finally, I've learned that chemo brain is a very real thing and any tasks requiring brain power take longer than they used to.

One night, I tried making dinner for my family and found it to be a mind-blowing task. I texted a friend who has borderline ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). “Chemo brain…holy crap.” Chemo brain is the phenomenon where cancer patients experience disorganized thinking, difficulty paying attention, and struggle with decision-making. These side effects are all a result of the chemotherapy.

I continued my message, “I’m trying to cook dinner, with a recipe that I’ve made before and have printed in front of me. I’m failing miserably and I feel completely scattered.” I asked if I could have some of their ADHD medication to improve my focus.

The reply was, “I’m allowed to laugh, right?” We both had a chuckle as I proceeded to explain I was half serious and offered some of my anti-anxiety medication in exchange for their pills. I made it through cooking dinner without medication, but it did cause me to wonder if medicine for treating ADHD would be beneficial for cancer patients.

I’m happy to report that the bloodwork I’ve had to date shows promising results. The numbers are all trending in the right direction, and I’m feeling better with each passing day. We have another 60 days before I will have a scan that will give us a definitive answer. My fingers are crossed that the answer will be the cancer is gone for good thus proving that the third time was indeed a charm.