Nine Month Update

What an exhausting yet exhilarating day it’s been. I attended my nine month review this morning and was told that the cancerous blood calls have reduced further. Since my least PCR test (three months ago) my abnormal cells have gone from 0.156% to 0.053%! I’ve gained myself another zero – wahooo!!!

Remission is still a little way off. I need to get my results below 0.0032% for them to class me in remission. I will then continue on my treatment for two years and if I successfully stay in remission, I will be able to temporarily come of the medication to try for another baby. It’s a long way off at the moment but it’s my end goal. It keeps me going when doubt or negativity creeps in.

My consultant was thrilled with my results today and told me that the target for one year on Nilotinib was to get below 0.1%. I completed this in half the time and achieved it by six months. That sounds like I’m bragging doesn’t it? Can you brag about cancer results? Maybe but I don’t even care – this bloody cancer is going and I want to shout it from the rooftops!!!!

I feel so blessed and thankful that my body is reacting to the drugs and so far I haven’t had any results increase or plateau. That being said I can’t guarantee this won’t change in the future but for now I have a lot to be thankful for. May this positivity continue!

I always like to touch on how I’m feeling at each update to help raise awareness of CML and to hopefully help anyone else who is facing a similar journey to me. My fatigue is still an issue and I find it exhausting to go a whole day without a nap (usually when my daughter sleeps). I’ve learnt how to listen to my body and give it what it needs, which is something I use to be pretty rubbish at. Life would take over and I would run with it on a rush of adrenaline!

I still get the occasional headache and back/shoulder pains. I believe this is linked to tiredness and also the weight of carrying my 19 month old daughter. It’s hard for me to pinpoint CML symptoms because I found out I had the disease when my daughter was young. It’s hard to distinguish between the CML side effects and being a mum! Both can be exhausting and have huge impacts on the body and mind.

I thought I would end this blog with a piece of advice I gave to someone last week. A lady contacted me and asked what she could give to her friend who has just been diagnosed with Leukaemia. I messaged her back and said the best thing I ever received was love and support (as cliche as that sounds.) I don’t think I would be at this stage if it wasn’t for my incredible family and friends. They’ve been there every step of the way and it’s because of them that I’ve kept an open mind, healthy body and happy heart. I will forever be grateful.