Too Busy Living Large!
In the Beginning
I have lived my entire life on the ski slopes. Not only have I enjoyed skiing as a hobby, but I also worked first as a ski instructor but then as Marketing Director for more than 40 years for Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, New York. I ev...
Keeping Calm and Carrying On
During the chemo treatments I felt yucky and nauseous. About three days later I would start to feel better. I had my treatments every other Monday and by the next Sunday I could ride my bike again with my friends. I was even able to participate in the Empire State Ride across New York State at the end of July. I made up my mind that I was going to get better. I never looked on the internet to read about how terrible pancreatic cancer was. I was determined to make the best of every day and not worry about what the future may bring. Why waste your time worrying about what might never happen?I was lucky that Dennis and our two daughters were able and willing to help so much. They researched all things pancreatic cancer, nourished my body and soul, and took care of everything that needed doing.
Genetic Testing Made a Difference
I am also lucky to have been treated at such a welcoming, comfortable, and progressive facility like Roswell. My medical team encouraged me to check out relevant clinical trials. While I didn’t end up participating, it was reassuring to know that these trials exist and that they help so many people. My doctor also encouraged me to have genetic testing on my tumor, which I did through PanCAN. The results revealed actionable mutations: ERBB2 (HER2), MSI-H, and TMB-H high. This meant that I was a candidate for immunotherapy. Wow—that was good news!My doctor and I agreed to complete chemo as planned and then switch to the immunotherapy drug Keytruda. My experience with Keytruda was amazing! There were no side effects and I felt great. I was able to do all the things I could do before—like eat ice cream and ski in cold weather—and I was not nauseous anymore. In fact, I felt so good on Keytruda that I was nervous to stop taking it after my two years were up! But when Dr. Fountzilas no longer saw evidence of cancer in my CT scans, I was happy to quit!Going forward, I will have scans every three months. If anything comes back, I can start the treatments again . . . which I hope never happens!
Other Things That Helped
In addition to my excellent care at Roswell, there are some other things that helped me get better. First, I can’t say enough how much my family and friends (and even people I didn’t know) made a difference by supporting me, praying for me, and helping me believe I could recover. I’ve taken really good care of myself throughout my life. I eat (mostly) good food, get plenty of exercise and fresh air, and hardly drink alcohol.I’m even more mindful now of the beauty in my life—nature, the wind, my family. Adventure still leads me to new things. I’m trying to practice yoga and meditation (but I haven’t nailed those just yet!).
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