October 31, 2023
Happy 🎃 Halloween!
Today I had a couple hearing tests done and met with the audiologist. My fears were confirmed, the chemotherapy medicine caused damage to my inner ears that is unlikely to improve. It was disappointing news to hear (pun intended). The ringing may not ever go away but sometimes the brain maps differently over time to ignore it more. I’ll go back to the ENT doctor in two months to monitor.
On Thursday, I have my next Oncologist appointment. Most likely the decision will be to skip the last three chemo treatments. The risk of further damaging my ears, hands and feet out weigh the benefits since I’ve completed 13 sessions. I’ll know for sure then but likely we’ll move straight to lymph node surgery in 2-3 weeks. They need to give four weeks from the last session to give my body time to recover enough before having my body go through the stress of surgery. I meet with the surgeon on Friday morning to firm up a plan. After surgery, I’ll heal for about four weeks then start daily radiation for three weeks.
I should be real excited to likely being done with chemo but it’s with mixed feelings. I am happy to give my body a break. It’s been a hard five months and the month before that was healing from the mastectomy. In all reality – the hardest is over!
I’m just bummed to hear about the ear damage. However I’m already getting kind of used to the finger tips and toes being numb, and that aspect has not gotten any worse so I think I’ll adjust to the ear issue in time too. I think I was mentally prepared for all the physical scars I’ll have at the end of this from my chest to arm pit as well as stomach but I wasn’t prepared for the other stuff so I’m still adjusting. But it’ll all be ok, as of now the hearing loss is not bad enough to require hearing ads.
With any luck I’ll be able to share the news of ringing that bell 🔔 come the end of the week once I know for sure. I appreciate all of you coming on this journey with me. There are ups and downs and I feel many more up days coming my way soon.
My Journey 