Share. Connect. Love.

Joanne Bethlahmy - Journal

Read Entries & Updates

 

Posted 2018-12-31T01:57:00Z

As the Chemo Turns

This week felt like a total soap opera. Every day was a new crisis (which worked out), ending with a cliffhanger on Friday.

Because I'm a good Minto Pyramid consultant and don't believe in burying the lead, here's the cliffhanger: I am now officially scheduled for a bone marrow transplant at Stanford on Feb. 4. Both good and scary news. This date is not set in stone and will still depend on the results of another biopsy this month, willingness of the identified donor to proceed, and stabilization of my health until then. But, the wheels are in motion, and I am now in a slight frenzy of figuring out the logistics of house sitters, Stanford apartments and caregivers (when I'm not exhausted on the couch.)[...]

Posted 2018-12-10T17:04:00Z

Biopsy results and next steps

Hi everyone. Just a quick update. I found out on Friday that, unfortunately, the biopsy results showed no change in my cancer after four rounds of chemo. Needless to say, this has been pretty depressing, and I’m still processing the news. The cancer’s not worse, but it’s also not better. Big next steps like a transplant are on hold until the disease shows that it is responsive to treatment.
 
The doctors have decided to change to a different chemo cocktail called Jakafi that focuses on the myelofibrosis rather than the myelodysplasia. From my quick Google search (of course), it looks like this will be a pill rather than an IV or shots. I'll find out more, and the new treatment will start later this week or next.
 
Please keep fingers and toes crossed for a holiday miracle.
 
Love,
Joanne[...]