Hello,
Although some of you are aware of my illness, I have held back a bit on talking about it here. There have been a few casual mentions imbedded in posts about other things. Today is different, though. Today I want to shout from the roof tops.
This is a quick catch up for anyone who doesn't know and wants to: In November I was diagnosed with inoperable stage 4 lung cancer. I have been undergoing chemotherapy since then at my local hospital. I also requested a second opinion at a large Boston hospital (Mass. General). The rest of the Mass. General story below is what I sent to my 'all-about-rita' mailing list this afternoon! I am VERY happy!
Rita L. in MA
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*What you have all suspected for a very long time...
...has now been proven in a lab at Mass. General Hospital.
I AM MUTANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, only half mutant but that, as it turns out, is a good thing. In a post to this list a while back I mentioned that the doctors I saw at Mass. General back in December had asked for tissue samples from the biopsy of my lungs. They wanted to test for a genetic cell mutation that responds well to a newly developed drug. Later I mentioned that they were testing for two different mutations. I was a bit confused there, thinking that there were two drugs - one for each of the mutations. (This is where being half mutant is good.) One of the mutations can be successfully managed by the one drug. The other mutation rears its ugly head at some point and negates the effect of the first, causing a relapse. I HAVE THE GOOD MUTATION and I DO NOT HAVE THE BAD MUTATION. Did you hear that? I can shout it again, if you want :-) :-) :-)
I don't have any detail on next steps because my oncologist is away this week. It is certain that any further decisions about my treatment will be done in collaboration with the doctors at MGH. One of them called me on Tuesday, thinking that my doctor had told me the results already and asking if I had any questions. She could not, ethically, tell me too much but she just couldn't hold back. She told me about the positive result and then talked about possible treatments, including clinical trials which I would need to go to MGH for. Well (any four letter word you like), I will go to the MOON if that is what it takes! So, I am walking on air this week.
Thank you for all your caring and support!
Rita