Well, it’s been a total of 162 days since I last posted on my blog so let’s get back to where we left off. I had just completed a 5-day course of radiation and we were waiting for another review to decide on the next step moving forward. After a lot of deliberation between the oncology and haematology teams, it was decided that they would consider treating me with an autologous stem cell transplant.
Autologous Transplantation: In an autologous transplant, the patient is their own stem cell donor. The patient’s stem cells are collected in advance and then returned to them after they receive high-doses of chemotherapy.
Autologous transplants aren’t routinely used in unique cases like mine, however, both my oncology and haematology teams advocated enough for me to be given the opportunity. So, off I went and completed all the elements on the ‘pre-transplant workout’ - including x-rays, an MRI, heart and lung function tests, PET-CT scan, dental examination, blood tests and, of course, the stem cell collection itself.
The stem cell collection process was relatively straightforward as my stem cells were harvested peripherally via my central line. Leading up to the collection I needed to give myself G-CSF injections twice daily to help mobilise the stem cells into my bone marrow. Regular blood tests were taken over this period to help identify the best day to start collecting cells. When it was time for me to collect, I was connected to an apheresis machine that separates the stem cells from regular blood and collects them. I was continuously on the machine for five hours, repeated on two days. These cells were frozen and stored until they are needed for infusion. Phew! All the hard work is done until transplant day, BUT WAIT… for me, it’s never been that simple.
The final step before going ahead with the transplant was down to the result of my MRI. Unfortunately, the MRI revealed new spots or active cancer so therefore the transplant was a less viable option until the cancer was in a stable state. This news destroyed me and a part of me felt like I had disappointed everyone, that my body had let me down again and my life would be put on even-further hold yet again. These roadblocks along the way have only reminded me of the reality that nothing ever works out the way we want it to. The best way to sum up that experience is in what someone once said to me early in my journey and has stuck with me since; nothing is ever impossible, and I am proof of that.
Moving forward we prepared for my third chemo regime, hoping it would knock the cancer back and prepare for a re-boot before having the transplant in the near future. The proposed chemo regime was 4 cycles of Temozolomide (oral) and Irinotecan (IV infusion) that ran over 5 days which was repeated every 3 weeks. It was a tough few weeks getting back into the swing of chemo, managing the chemo hangover and re-introducing myself to all the medications. Although embarking (and then enduring!) chemo has its obvious limitations, I tried to stick by my mantra and not let cancer stop me from doing anything and being anyone. It may sound crazy, but in keeping-on-living-on and undertaking new life experiences and challenges I have been able to prove so much to myself, as well as (I hope) inspired others around me that sometimes it is as simple as ‘you can do anything you set your mind to!’
It’s fair to say I’ve had a busy five months starting with:
1. Welcoming the fluffiest member of our family, Mr Otten (and then undergoing puppy potty training!).
2. Being selected as an ASB Marathon Ambassador. Unfortunately, I was unable to participate after only having chemo two days prior to the event, but I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to hand out medals at the finish line.
3. I can now say I’ve white-water rafted the Kaituna River that includes the highest commercially-rafted-waterfall in the world. I had an absolute blast as you can tell by my face!
4. Numerous graduations for friends were celebrated and I even attended the Medical graduation ball which was the first time I had dressed up in A LONGGGG TIME and boy did I love it!
5. I launched Cancer Chicks NZ - a group for girls to support each other and help strengthen the community of young women dealing with cancer.
6. I completed 4-cycles of chemo and was then told I needed to do an extra cycle to get me through the festive season. The last one completely took it out of me, proving to be one of the worst cycles yet.
7. Continued to make the most of summer and even managed to celebrate another Christmas with my family in between hospital admissions. However, New Year’s was slightly less lucky, but in many ways, it was the luckiest New Years as I got to share an epic evening on Ward 64 at Auckland Hospital surrounded by some of my favourite people - absolutely no complaints there!
January 2020 marks the six-month milestone since my world became a fight for my life (again). It’s fair to say this cancer journey throws in a few curves balls now and then, some you will be aware of and expecting, whilst others catch you completely by surprise. I’m not sure which ones await me in this next phase but living through a very turbulent five months has only added to these times being some of the most fulfilling months of my life! I now type this blog post as I begin my stem cell transplant treatment. For the next wee-while you will find me at the Motutapu Bone Marrow Transplant Ward at Auckland Hospital, in a room decorated by fairy lights, nearly the whole isle of the organic foods from your local supermarket in my fridge and pictures of family and friends (and Otten!) plastered on all the walls.
I have made this place home as I settle in for an intensive regime of chemo followed by my autologous stem cell transplant. I am warned and reminded daily that this is going to be the most difficult phase of my fight yet - but here I am, doing it, and setting new benchmarks for cancer treatment in New Zealand. If the last five months are anything to go by, I am going to make the most of each of these days and show cancer what I’ve got!
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