Diagnosed with Serous Endometrial Cancer (womb cancer)5 years ago (Stage 1B, Grade 3), I quickly realised I was dealing with an aggessive little blighter. Hysterectomy plus on 7/12/18, no adjuvant therapy given - recurred 4 years later - October 2022. Chemo (Carbo-Taxel) for 6 sessions in 2023 - reduced the tumours and all was well, but only for a few months.
I realised it had come back yet again around early October. I knew what those niggling pains were about. I tried to pass them off for a couple of days as bowel issues - I do tend to get bunged up fairly regularly, but I knew, deep down, that this was it. The blasted cancer was back. So annoying! And scary! I had read earlier in the year, that a new treatment had been approved by NICE for my type of Cancer - an Immunotherapy called Pembrolizumab, given alongside a Cancer Inhibitor called Lenvatinib. The clinical trials looked positive. I read of a 33-yr-old with recurrent womb cancer (Stage 4) who was put on the treatment and led a relatively normal life. She was said to be NED (No Evidence of Disease) after 2 years. I remember reading it and being fillled with hope, but also had hoped the Chemo would have blasted my cancer anyway and I wouldn't need it.
I knew and thought I understood what "incurable" meant. I understood that I was "treatable". However, it hadn't really sunk in just how life-shortening this was going to be. I had prayed that the cancer would stay away for years - even 2 or 3 - but preferably 10 or 20 please! So when it cam back after mere months it actually devastated me. It's liek I was expecting it, but had pushed that expectancy into a place in the future. I wasn't ready to deal with it. It was made harder really by my lovely husband saying to people "She'll die with it, but probably not from it." He says he did understand, but refused to accept.
All I know is that I don't want to die. I will try anything. So when I was back again with my fabulous Oncologist - who was so, so sorry and said she hated sharing this awful news but that was the case; it was back and it was growing fast - and she suggested we try immunotherapy if that was possible, I wanted it, of course. My markers had been 42 at the end of Chemo (having been almost 5,000 at the end of '22), but by end of October were 495. I had a CT scan - and more blood tests and by 3/11 my Markers were 1,600. I had rather hoped I might nip to Tenerife in early December for lots of sunshine before the hard winter of cold and treatment. Not wise, she thought, to delay starting treatment. Rather than think of that in a negative way, I am actually thinking that might be quite positive - it means she thinks it's worth it. Otherwise, she'd ahve said "Go, do the holiday and enjoy it" But no, treatment might help - it might get it back into a longer remission. However, it does seem as if now it is spreading, it will keep on growing. Who knows? It certainly doesn't look very hopeful if we just leave it.
So we're trying it. The Pembrolizumab is given by IV and takes around 30 minutes to go through. The Lenvatinib if given by oral capsules and I take those daily. The idea with the Pembro is that it makes my immune system fight the cancer off itself. The Lenvatinib goes after the cancer directly by attacking its ability to grow. I'll say more on a another blog as I read and understand it better myself.
The drugs are meant to be kinder than Chemo and I get to keep my hair. Last time, when on Carbo-Taxol, I prepared by getting organised. Sorting out dog walkers and support with the house etc. This time, I am determined to live life as normally as possible. It's the only way I have of fightitng the beast! I can't kill it myself - but I can stop it having any power over me. Stop it defining me. Stop it from damaging my relationships.
I had my first does of Pembro yesterday lunchtime and all was well. Nurses at the Unit had seen Pembo before for breast cancer, but had not heard of the Lenvatinib, so new to them too. That's the one my Oncologist has said might be more likely to feel "icky". I am writing the Blog to help others who get this treatment - to share my experiences of it. So far, I just feel a little "yucky". I have kept busy all morning and am off out at 1pm to help a team plant up tubs and baskets round the Village ready for our Chistmas Lights Switch on at the weekend. My motto is alwasy to keep busy - take my mind off things -- but rest in between.
Wish me luck! Pray if you believe it helps! (I do, as a matter of fact)
Here goes
