Reading Between the Lines

     Earlier this week I had my monthly appointment with my oncologist, Dr. O.  Since things are going well for me, the appointments over the past several months haven't been very news worthy.  At this appointment, however, I told Dr. O. about my mom's recent stroke.  All of her testing results are telling my mom's doctors that her elevated cholesterol level is likely the greatest contributor to her event.  I have the same lipid profile as my mom and up until I was diagnosed with cancer, had been taking a cholesterol lowering medication, a "statin," for over 20 years.   

     Cholesterol is a fat, a lipid, manufactured in our bodies.  It's necessary for normal body functioning, such as cell membrane growth and maintenance, and it plays an important role in the manufacturing of hormones.  Most of the non-dietary cholesterol in our body is made in our liver.  Most cholesterol lowering medications work on our livers to make them produce less cholesterol.  Sometimes, however, the medications can cause liver problems.

     Back in December of 2012 and January of 2013, when I was first diagnosed, all of my liver labs were really abnormal.  I looked back at my initial lab results while writing this blog.  My heart fell to my stomach as I noted how abnormal the values were.  My poor liver.

       In the early days of my cancer diagnosis, I was told to stop taking my statin because I needed to do my best to preserve my liver.  Reading between the lines, I got the message that...
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#1...high cholesterol was the least of my problems, and 

#2...it was unlikely that I'd live long enough to ever have to worry about any cardiovascular problems due to elevated cholesterol.

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     Earlier this year I had a fasting lipid profile, which included cholesterol testing.  As expected, my cholesterol was pretty high.  In discussions with my internist and oncologist, I decided to stay off of a statin, fearing it would still be too much for my liver.

     Fast forward to August of 2014.  My liver labs are normal and have been for over a year, (What a come back!  Thank you, Xalkori!,) and my mom has had a stroke.  I feel like I need to re-think a few things.  What if I really live longer than anyone expected?  I'd sure hate to look back and wish I'd taken a cholesterol lowering medication.  
     
     So, I brought this up with Dr. O.  He thought for a minute and decided I can start back on a low dose statin.  I'll continue to monitor my liver enzymes and lipid profile and adjustments can be made, if necessary.  

     This time, reading between the lines, I'm getting a different message:
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Writing a prescription for a statin for me is a greatly appreciated show of confidence from my doctor. 

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      It made me feel like I may live long enough to have to worry about a stroke from elevated cholesterol.  My mom's almost 86 years old and living that long still feels unlikely, but no longer like a total impossibility.

What Your Cycle for Survival Donations Have Done:

I received this, (below), in an email a few days ago.  It's addressed to me, but I want to share it with my friends, family, friends of family and friends, acquaintances - anyone who was generous enough to make a donation to Cycle for Survival for my team, TEAM SHEADE, and me.  Look what you've helped make happen!  Across the nation, the 2014 Cycle for Survival event raised $20 million...let me repeat that a little louder...$20 MILLION!
 

Luna, You rode at Cycle for Survival in 2014 because you wanted to fight back. Thanks to your passion and dedication, we’re excited to announce that every dollar of the $20 million raised by Cycle for Survival has now been allocated to pioneering research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Click here to learn more about these efforts Following a record-breaking year, this funding allocation represents the largest impact Cycle for Survival has made to date. Not only are we able to continue to support groundbreaking research initiatives and clinical trials, but also we’re now able to contribute significantly to large efforts that are changing the way cancer is studied and treated. On behalf of all of the cancer patients around the world who will benefit from these advancements, we truly cannot thank you enough for all you do to beat these diseases. JOIN THE BATTLE Katie (Kotkins) Klein #CycleforSurvival P.S. We sent an email about these projects to all of your donors, but we encourage you to follow-up with your network of supporters directly in-person, over e-mail or on social media. It takes each and every one of us to move research forward!

cycleforsurvival.org  •  888-72-CYCLE Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 633 Third Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017 Financial Disclosure  •  Unsubscribe

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You have no idea what this means to a person who is certain she's still alive because of advancements in cancer research that can only happen because there are research dollars to support it.  I know I've said it many times before, but please allow me to say it one more time, as loud as I can...

"THANK YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!"

                                         With much love and gratitude, 
                                                                                
                                                                              Luna

Good Thing I'm OK Right Now

It's been a challenging week.  A little over a week ago my 85-year-old mother experienced a stroke.  Actually, it's unclear if she had a TIA, (transient ischemic attack), or a small stroke because her clinical course and brain imaging are inconsistent.  I suppose it doesn't matter much.  Either way she's facing a recuperation time.  Following a short stay in the hospital, there has been a steady stream of appointments, small setbacks, more appointments, and lost work time for me. 

My mother immigrated from Japan in her 20's, following my father's dream of working as an architect in the U.S.  I've gathered, over the years and through her stories, that she never wanted to leave her family in Japan.  When she did, she did not expect to be here permanently.  The year I started elementary school, she got a job and worked straight through retirement. She's always been independent with a "can do" attitude about life.  This spirit served her well as she resigned herself to living in America and raising two daughters...American daughters.

In her senior years she's remained independent.  Even up to last week, she drove, grocery shopped, cooked for herself, and did her own laundry.  Her health has been (relatively) excellent and only recently have I noticed some age-related memory decline.   

A few months ago I had an appointment with my internist.  One of the many background questions he asked me was, "What's your biggest stressor?"  To his surprise, I didn't say cancer.  My greatest worry was/is my mother.  She lives near us and, for years, helped Wynn and me with our children.  Now, I struggle with how best to make her elderly years good ones. 

I know that dealing with aging parents is nothing new.  The fact that there are so many resources for senior care and assisted living options speaks to how common these issues are.  We are fortunate to have access to good services.

Although she is very tired and weak, she seems to be slowly recovering.  It doesn't seem like she has any permanent loss of function of one side of her body, so the physical therapy is going well.  She's been very sweet about trying to minimize her needs.  

The good news for me is that right now I'm doing well...I'm strong and healthy enough to juggle my complicated life.  I can't imagine how this would be if it happened a year ago.

 

If you have any extra GOOD KARMA hanging around, maybe you can send it my mother's way.  We'll be happy to return the favor sometime when your life gets complicated. 

Thanks :)