Posted 2020-08-25T21:20:50Z

Quarantine Update #3

Should I share the good news first? Okay...

My most recent MRI was yesterday, and I had been doing a lot of manifesting positive results. Maybe I was being greedy because I really wanted to hear about improvement rather than stable yet again. Well, that's what we heard! And this scan, my oncologist was able to compare to the April 2020 MRI, saying that the areas that were "lit up" (or previously enhancing) were enhancing less than my scans from 4 months prior. My doctor was very excited to see this. Dan had a lot of great questions about the lasting effect of the chemo I finished in March 2020. My doctor thought that there might have been some "treatment effect" or inflammation from the radiation treatment from four years ago that was finally subsiding. She also took into consideration that I've been feeling more energetic and stronger, and felt that given the improvement, we could increase the interval between my regular scans from four months to six months. And, I have surpassed my 4 year "cancerversary"! For those of us battling cancer, we all are probably familiar with the term scanxiety. I don't think I need to explain what that means, but less frequent scans is a good thing, in that respect.

My new UW rehab physician gave me my first injections of Botox in my left arm and leg, directly into the muscle. That was weird feeling! Really! There are a few things at work with the nerves and muscles on my left side which I won't bore you with. Occasionally my knee or elbow will lock out completely straight. The theory is that Botox should prevent the muscle spasms from causing that locking out and loosen things up a bit. I think it worked for the first few days. My next injections are scheduled for late October (every 3 months). With this transition to UW rehab, I am now working with a new PT and OT. The new PT is giving me new exercises that are really challenging. That's exciting because I really feel myself getting stronger and using muscles that I haven't used in awhile-like the small muscles in my ankle and foot. I will start seeing my new OT this week.

Besides that, we've been bouncing more between Seattle and our beach house, and getting to know our Port Ludlow neighbors a little bit better, seeing them out on the street when we go for walks. We've also been doing more socially distanced dinners with friends on the weekends. Besides that, we're just trying to stay sane like the rest of the world.

Until next post, stay healthy.

And remember: Mask it or casket

Stay in the know. Sign up to receive email notifications the moment new Journal entries are posted

Eden Zasloff 37 Comments

Previous Update

Next Update

Quarantine Update #3

Comments (37)