Maintaining

Started maintenance infusion of avelumab last week. It is an immunotherapy drug that has been approved for some lung and skin cancers and is now being tried for ovarian cancer. The list of side effects was daunting, but I’m happy to say I’m not having any. I did have this drug while I was on chemo, but there was no way to distinguish which drug was causing the side effects. Relieved it was not the avelumab. I will get an infusion of avelumab every other week for two years. In reality, I’m not optimistic the avelumab will help, but I think being in a clinical trial has its own set of benefits. I am closely monitored, and I continue to have practically round the clock access to my clinical trial nurse, Amy. I think it is worth the few hours every other week. In other post chemo news, my hair has started to grow back. I have everything from stubble to about an inch of growth on my head. Still no eyelashes or eyebrows, but the chin hair is back. Can I trade it for eyelashes, please? I never realized how much I would miss eyelashes. I feel like I look a bit like a ghost without them. When I remember I put on a little bit of eyeliner so I don’t look so weird. While I really don’t mind not having hair, I feel as if it brands me. There goes the cancer patient. For that reason alone I look forward to it growing. I hate the looks, some of pity, I get. Looking forward to just being another face in the crowd. I can feel myself getting a little stronger every day. I’m still pretty tired after climbing the stairs, but not as drop dead exhausted. Wish I could say the neuropathy in my left foot has gotten better, but I’m not giving up. I just read a study on menthol cream for neuropathy. It’s cheap so I will give it a try. Why not? Still getting used to cancer not ruling my life. I am finding myself thinking about it less and am not as focused on it. It’s still there, to be sure, but as my stamina builds and I start to look more normal, I can focus on other things. I’m looking forward to taking a real vacation, volunteering at the animal shelter and having a marathon baking day in the kitchen. Some of that will wait until I’m a bit stronger, but I’m happy knowing it’s all just down the road.