Hi Friends,
As promised, here are the results from my recent PET scan. You can watch my full conversation with Dr. Matt Lederman right here on YouTube—we go into all the details live.
The results aren’t devastating, but they’re not quite what I was hoping for either. Neither the primary tumor nor the metastasis has decreased in size. However, the SUV—a measure of metabolic activity—did decrease by 24% after three rounds of Keytruda. That means the cancer appears stable, less active, and thankfully, there are no new lesions or signs of progression. So while not the outcome I’d dreamed of, it’s still somewhat encouraging.
For now, I’ll be delaying my next round of treatment until my pancreas has fully healed.
The scan also confirmed that I still have pancreatitis. While the most intense pain has passed, I haven’t had a completely pain-free day since April 2. As you can imagine, being in pain that long is utterly exhausting. From what I’ve been told, the fact that I got pancreatitis is actually a sign that the immunotherapy is doing its job. Still… as my mom used to say, “The old gray mare, she ain’t what she used to be.”
These days, I feel drained more often than not. I spend most of my time horizontal—either out in the sun or now, at the movies. (Tuesdays are just $6!) I recently saw Thunderbolts and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Even though I’m sleeping well (eight hours a night, thanks to melatonin and magnesium recommended by both my oncologist and integrative doctor), I still wake up feeling depleted. What little energy I have goes toward walking Bailey and doing my daily hour on the spin bike… and then I’m done for the day.
I’m incredibly grateful for the weekly support I receive—massage, Reiki, acupuncture—all of which I can do from home, thankfully, since I’ve been having some dizzy spells. And no matter how poorly I feel, I never miss my weekly improv class. It’s truly the joy of my life right now. Because honestly, if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry. I had no idea how hard this would be. 😞
This week inside the Chef AJ & Friends community, we had a blast with Dr. Alan Goldhamer, who really let loose—something he can’t usually do on YouTube. Next week, Dr. Matt Lederman, joined by Mark Ideta, is back with an interactive demo on Nonviolent Communication. (It’s a powerful and surprisingly practical tool for any relationship… despite having a terrible name for a modality.)
And finally, I’m looking forward to three special live shows this week: one with my dear friend Chuck Carroll, who’s bravely opening up about his own health journey; another with the fabulous Date Lady, who’s unveiling a brand-new product; and one with Heidi, a lung cancer survivor I can’t wait to meet.
Until next week…
Hug your pancreas,
💜 Chef AJ