Finally, Maintenance!

Hey everyone! I wanted to share that, as of today, I am offically in my maintenance phase of treatment!!! This means that I'll only have to go into the clinic once every month as opposed to once every week, which has been our life since my diagnosis (outside from a couple weeks off here and there). Even better, I'll only be receiving IV & IT chemo once every three months. I will have to do oral chemo daily, but that hasn't been too hard on me and I haven't had many side effects from it in the past.

I'll be in this phase until March 15th, 2023, which will mark the last day of treatment. You can trust we'll be counting the days until then. (464 if you're wondering)

Last week, I started radation therapy which will finish on Friday of this week. The appointments are super quick, and so far, only side effects have been nausea and a slightly decreased appetite. Oh, and I can finally understand what Luna is saying ("more food, please"). During the appointment, they put a mask over my face which locks it into place. Definitely wouldn't recommend if you were claustrophobic! The doctor didn't expect for me to have very many long-term side effects, which is an increased risk with radation therapy in particular. Hopefully, that holds true.

Earlier in my diagnosis, I was able to get connected with someone who had been diagnosed a couple years before me and was in the maintence phase. At the time, I was in induction and my head was still reeling from how my life was turned upside down. I took great solace when he said "my cancer isn't the first thing I think about when I wake up". I think that comment has been the light at the end of the tunnel for me and I'm looking forward for when I can say the same shortly.

P.S. Please excuse any typos (or failed attempts at humor), as normally, I'd have Anna proofread, but she's enjoying some wine with friends at the moment and I couldn't wait to share the news.