Yesterday was Election Day - But for me, it will always be the day of my 24th and final infusion of immunotherapy for my Metastatic Uveal Melanoma. Yes, I did vote.
I am not cured. The cancer is not gone. Not in remission. Essentially lying in wait. But, yes, I am crazy stupid grateful. Right now, I am winning the battle. I made it through my 24 rounds of immunotherapy. Not all of my brothers and sisters have. It is a very aggressive cancer. I suppose I am something of a unicorn or perhaps a cockroach. A beautiful mystical animal or a lowly creature that you simply cannot get rid of. You decide. I am good.
My mind is all over the place. No coherent thoughts. I know. Nick - you never have and have not let that stop you. OK. I will carry on. Yesterday was such a Day.
I have made the majority of these ventures on my own and left to my own devices. Yesterday was my last day, and Mela joined me, for which I am grateful. It was raining the better part of the day. I like to think that God was washing away all of junk and creating a bright future. I am grateful to all those who have prayed for me over the last two years. They lift me up.
Mela and I got up at 0 dark thirty so we could make our way to Dr. Kim’s office in San Francisco. Despite a pretty good rain, we made our way to Peet’s Coffee for coffee and banana nut bread. Johnny’s Donuts was another two blocks and not worth it in the rain. But we needed the coffee.
Dr. Kim’s Office. Latrelle warmly greeted me as she always does with that smile in her eyes. She wears a mask most days. She checks my weight and all of my vitals. I asked what she was going to do without seeing me every month. She just smiled. She did take her mask off for our photo. One of so many amazing people that have been a part of this journey. (Starting to tear up as I write this - so many emotions).
Alya, my cancer concierge, has been on maternity leave. No, that is not her real title but will always be to me. What a beautiful person. So grateful to have had her help on this journey. And to see her own journey. From dating to engagement to married to mom of a beautiful baby girl. Life goes on.
Jasmine, Alya’s fill-in, took care of my EKG, parking pass, walking me down to the infusion center, etc.
But before heading for my infusion, I, of course, must see the good Dr. I really like Dr. Kim. I like oncologists. I suppose it might be nice if I did not know any. I have two. I also like my ocular oncologist, Dr. Tsai. While they can direct (no nice way to say you have cancer), I find them to be some of the kindest, most compassionate Dr’s. They are one of the few that are with you for the long— or not-so-long— haul.
The visit is always quite pleasant. After giving me the once-over, he outlined next steps to me and Mela. I am most fortunate that to date I only have the one lesion on my liver. I will be getting radiation treatment in the coming weeks to zap it and hopefully shrink, if not eradicate, the lesion.
I will get another MRI and CT Scan in January to check the success of the radiation and status of my cancer. Even if the radiation were to eradicate the lesion, many more can come back. Dr. Kim indicated that should I get any more one-off lesions, we would continue to use radiation. Should they come en masse, it will be a different game. The experimental drug that I did not get should be FDA approved early next year, which would in all likelihood be a good option.
This December will be the first all-time in over two years that I will not make a trip to SF. I am free to move about the cabin. But first, my final infusion. Jasmine walks Mela and me to the infusion center and waits just a few minutes to be called back.
Again, all of the oncology nurses have been so kind. The infusion itself is only half an hour, but it takes about an hour all told. Getting the IV, waiting for the drugs, etc. My nurse asked if I wanted to ring the bell. But of course. I started my infusions at the “old” infusion center and have completed most of them at the new— and much nicer— infusion center. Over the last two years that I have been going, I had only been privileged to hear one bell ringer. I like to think I rang it not only for myself but so many others. What a horrible disease.
The song I picked was “ It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi. “I don’t want to live forever. I just want to live while I’m alive”. Amen. They even had a bubble machine. I held back the tears. If I had started, it would have been all over.
Time for lunch. It had stopped raining, so the Woodhouse Fish Co. it was. It is the longest walk of the places I go. Since the rain was gone, I apparently need my warm, buttery lobster roll, creamy clam chowder, and some piping hot fries. Delicious.
Time to go home. Of course, it was raining. That’s okay. All the junk is gone. Mela commented she saw a rainbow. With the rain, traffic, and only one eye, I decided to keep it focused on the road. She did not say if a unicorn was bounding across the top of the rainbow.
My missives have always and will continue to be my therapy, but so grateful for the three of you that follow along. Thank you all!
Stay Strong, Be Kind, Be Humble and God Bless!