I had my eighteenth infusion of Perjeta/Herceptin antibodies towards the end of February; it was the last one, 18 of 18. I have been having these three-weekly very routine infusions for almost exactly a year and while I’m very happy not to have any more regular appointments I was sad to say goodbye to all the lovely, kind and very supportive staff at St Martha’s Oncology Unit, Mount Alvernia Hospital. I expressed my gratitude to them and kept saying, “You’ve been great, but I never want to come back!”
Actually, I still have to have the bisphosphonates infusions every six months for three years, but compared to what I’ve been through those are a doddle. The bisphosphonates help to strengthen my bones to counteract a side effect of my continuing daily medication, Letrozole tablets.
I’m posting a bit later than promised because I wanted to wait for the result of a further MUGA scan, the one that checks the heart for any left ventricle damage that can be a side effect of the Perjeta/Herceptin antibodies treatment. I finally got the result yesterday and thankfully it was satisfactory; my heart function is pretty much the same as it was at the last scan three months ago
During my last antibodies session I received a visit from my Consultant Clinical Oncologist and the Breast Cancer Support Nurse and they said they were delighted that I had coped so well with all the treatment. I asked the Consultant some questions about the continuing side effects and he said it will probably take about three months for the antibodies to be clear of my system. Hopefully then I will be able to dispense with the antihistamines and quinine because I will be free of the itchy skin and leg cramps. Also I am hoping that normal feeling will return to my toes and finger tips as I have suffered some peripheral neuropathy (otherwise known as numbness!).
I have an appointment in May for the minor surgery needed to remove my Port-a-Cath but with everything that’s going on at the moment I’m thinking of delaying it by a few months. Actually, it wouldn’t matter if I kept it, some people choose never to have it removed.
The next appointment with my Consultant Oncoplastic Breast and Skin Cancer Surgeon will be on 2nd June and it’ll be a tense moment for me as the antibodies will be more or less out of my system and it will be my own body’s defences (plus the daily Letrozole) that I will be relying on to stop a recurrence.
Then I am due to see my Consultant Clinical Oncologist on 3rd September, hopefully for the last time, and it’ll be annual checks and a mammogram from there onwards.
Normally Amy comes to visit me during my treatment (I think just for the free coffee and biscuits) but at the last antibodies session the unit wasn’t busy so I was finished in record time. Instead, Amy said she would meet me at our house. When I got home, what a welcome I received, not only from Amy but from Mark and Barney too!
Lots of balloons, champagne, a banner, flowers and an amazing home-baked cake (it was so good I honestly thought she had bought it!). Also four amazing cards, one from each of our children and their families. I had no idea you could get cards like this! What a lucky person I am; such support from all the family.
I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to follow my progress through this blog and to get in touch with me. It has meant such a lot to Colin and me.
I would also like to thank Colin for all his caring support and understanding. He has often had to be chief cook and bottle washer! I am so grateful for his blog editing skills and for sourcing all the photos shown here.
Thanks too to Amy who has been just amazing with all the visits, cards and organising various intermediate celebrations at the completion of each stage. Of course, all of our offspring have been incredibly supportive for which I am so thankful, but Amy happens to live closest, just ten minutes away.
So I think that’s it for now although I may post again after my next appointment. Otherwise, the blog will be available for a while but at some point in the future it’ll go offline and hopefully will never be needed again!