The New Drug & Surgery is Planned...

Well, I began taking the new drug on August 19th.  I take 2 pills a day of the Veliparib--one in the morning & one twelve hours later in the evening.  From the very beginning it caused kind of a headachy feeling & some pretty good stomach cramps.  The study is for Veliparib in a time-release capsule, so I had to spend over 12 hours at Huntsman on day 4 of the drug, having them draw blood through my port every 1-2 hours so they could check how it was releasing & breaking down in my bloodstream.  They told me not to expect to see any results with my CA-125 levels or the size/shape/color of the nodule in my chest wall for a month or two.  The headachiness (is that even a word?) has gotten much better, but I'm still having issues with the stomach cramping.  This week we discovered why that is still a problem for me....I also have a fairly significant tumor in my abdomen...again.  At my first appointment with Dr. Werner, she told me that she wanted me to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dodson, the gynecological surgeon/oncologist that was partners with the Dr. who originally did my de-bulking surgery.  I went to that appointment just this last Tuesday, thinking it was going to be no big deal.  Unfortunately, during his exam, he found another tumor in the abdominal area that didn't show up clearly on any of the scans.  I'm thinking that Dr. Werner suspected this because she sent me to him & called ahead of my appointment to talk to him about it.  Dr. Dodson gives all of us a very good feeling, & did a great job of explaining my options.  They are:1) Do nothing...and it will get worse.  2)  Do radiation on the tumor.  This would shrink it & decrease the discomfort I'm feeling, but it won't fix things.  He's pretty certain the tumor will just return & that I'll want surgery down the road.  Trying to do surgery on tissue that has already been irradiated isn't a good thing...things just don't heal well after radiation.  3)  Do surgery now.  From what he described, this surgery is going to be pretty similar to my first one. Then again, they don't always know what they're getting into until they open you up--it could be worse. Although, the prospect of this doesn't thrill me, I feel that it's my best option & Dr. Dodson felt confident that it's the right choice for me.  He frankly said that some of the other physicians that sit on the "tumor board" are probably going to tell him that he's crazy & thinking too optimistically.  But, he felt that,my overall health is pretty good....despite the darned cancer...& he was hopeful that I could still have some good quality time ahead of me.  Vern, Mom & I had a good feeling speaking to him, & although I would love to receive visions and/or have angels speak loudly to me telling me exactly what I'm supposed to do....I feel that the still, small voice of the Spirit was whispering through Dr. Dodson's quiet, confident one as he spoke to us. That feeling has continued to be with me these past few days, so we are going ahead with plans for the surgery on September 18th.  It helped that before we left his office, Dr. Dodson called both Dr. Prystas & Dr. Werner to speak to them & get their opinions on the subject.  They both agreed with him, for which I am grateful.  They know me much better than the other Dr.'s who sit on the "tumor board".  They know what I'm fighting for...the wonderful support I receive from my family & friends...& they know the faith I have in my Heavenly Father & Savior.  I know there are some more difficult times ahead in the next few months, & I am counting on the faith & prayers of those close to me to sustain me during those low moments.  I am still continually mindful of, & grateful for, the fact that I know my Heavenly Father & Savior love me & have a plan that is perfect for me.  Thank you for your continual faith, prayers & sustaining service to me & my family.  Love always, Kim