Cancer Treatment HIPEC surgery & recovery

March 12, 2024:

Yesterday was a big day. I met with my oncology surgeon and discussed treatment thus far, the results, the lingering questions, and what comes next.

Treatment thus far: I've completed 13 rounds of chemo - the first 11 with oxaliplatin and one with cetuximab and oxaliplatin.

The results: The nodes in my lungs are stable with no growth. The tumors in my liver cannot be visualized and "appear resolved." My primary tumor is virtually gone. The cancer spread throughout my abdomen is "greatly reduced."

The lingering questions: Has chemotherapy made an impact on the peritoneal metastasis? We'll know more on April 5.

What comes next: Laparoscopic procedure on April 5 for my surgeon to have a preview of what the cancer looks like and whether or not the metastasis has decreased with treatment. This will guide some big decisions with Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) with Hyperthermic (or Heated) Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) on April 19.

Surgery on April 19 is major. Some refer to this as "The Mother of all Surgeries." The procedure itself will be up to 14 hours long, with a minimum of 10-14 days in the hospital before I am discharged home to complete the remaining three-month recovery. The goal is to clear out as many mets (metastasis) as possible, hoping to eliminate it all. I'll know more about the probabilities after the procedure on April 5th.

My surgeon is a spitfire and has fought for aggressive treatment and a chance for me to live many more years where others did not. She's advocated for the possibility of me being here to see my youngest son graduate high school in four years - which was not a possibility at the start of my treatment journey. I'm so grateful she's not only part of my team, she's rallied an entire tumor board to support this approach. My job is to keep doing my hard work and show up at my scheduled time ready to fight for each year ahead of me.

And I need help.

My employer has an incredible short-term disability program, that provides 6 weeks' pay at 100%, then up to 6 months at 60%, plus intermittent leave that provides 160 lifetime hours within the 12 weeks of FMLA per rolling calendar year. I have now used all but three hours of my 12 weeks of FMLA until that time begins to reset on July 5, leaving me eligible for short-term disability at 60% of my base income when I start my leave in mid-April.

While I don't need to offset the full 40%, I do need to meet at least 20% to ensure all the basic needs are covered. My expenses to date have surpassed 100% of my income, leaving me without additional savings to cover my upcoming expenses. In factoring the goal amount of this fundraiser, I have not included any of my higher costs relating to treatment in that total. Those costs include dietary requirements, copays and coinsurance, prescriptions, and an array of supplements to support my body's healing from the side effects of chemotherapy.

Any help towards my goal will be greatly appreciated and will help lighten the weight on my shoulders. I'm here to give my all to come out of this round of my fight battered and bruised, but ready to embrace the next years of my life. I am determined to be here to watch my youngest reach adulthood and graduate high school while loving my older two as they embrace who they are as adults. And with a little luck and support, I can return to adventuring and exploring this place I call home.

Thank you for reading this far, for sharing this GoFundMe, and for your support.

12/29/23:

Today ended FOLFOX round number 8. It's been nearly 6 months since diagnosis, and 5 months since discussion of palliative treatment began. I've had nearly a dozen sets of labs drawn, and just as many conversations about how I'm managing treatment side effects. We've added to and removed from my treatment regimen.

I've had incredibly difficult conversations with family about the future, while holding out hope for what treatments may come available. I've celebrated a fourth line of treatment, and good news within my labs and scans. To say this journey is a roller coaster would be an understatement - It's one that leaves every aspect of life in juxtaposition of another. Yet, somehow, there's routine and normalcy that seeps in as the days turn to weeks and months.

I weigh future treatment, including HIPEC with the potential gain and loss. I consider where I experience joy in my daily life, and whether hasty options are worth the potential loss or increased stress. Mostly, though, I hone in on making a positive impact on the lives that cross mine - both regularly and less frequently.

I am grateful to be surrounded by family, friends, colleagues, and strangers who are willing to hold space for the moments when the weight of cancer treatment comes spilling from my eyes when asked "How are you doing?" Somewhere in it all, I'm surviving and living, coasting and thriving, suffering and striving. And tomorrow, I'll rise to do it all again.

As 2023 comes to a close, thank you for your support and encouragement. 2024 appears to hold possibilities and hope intermingled with grit and perseverance.

August 2023:

Hello. My name is Mysti. I have been asked by multiple friends and some family members to create a GoFundMe to support my cancer treatment journey. Thank you to anyone who happens across this and offers support.

Any donation made will be greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to the other side of the intense treatment and being able to hike and photograph my local mountains again with my children.