March 27, 2021 · from Lesley’s original CaringBridge journal
Weird title I know, it’s all about the hook – trying to draw you in with a little drama 😉 Is she serious? Sarcastic? Well, I shall keep you in suspense no longer – I am serious. Here’s how the rest of my week has played out…
Since stopping the FLT3 inhibitor, I saw no change in my rash – in fact, some new places showed up and in some ways, it was worse. This is good because it would lean towards proving it isn’t the medicine causing this. I continued to have low-grade fevers and feel overall really crummy. I had my check-in on Friday morning. I was miserable. They called in some steroids and I took my first dose at lunchtime yesterday. I began to feel some relief very quickly. I also saw the dermatologist yesterday afternoon and that was very encouraging. She seemed to think that the majority of my rash, especially the issues on my hands and feet, were plaque psoriasis and not GVHD. She explained that psoriasis is a chronic, often hereditary, auto-immune issue. She said that often these auto-immune conditions can lie dormant/hidden and get “unmasked” when you undergo treatments that fool with your immune system (I assume that killing it out and replacing it with a new one would qualify). She took a couple of biopsies to confirm – it may be up to 10 days before we hear back on those. So while yes, this would be another chronic condition to manage, and very likely another medication to add to my collection, it would be an answer to prayer (that I couldn’t have thought up on my own to ask for). From a cancer standpoint, this is the best-case scenario as I see it.
So, this weekend is starting much better than last weekend. I feel a bit better physically, and mentally/emotionally I am encouraged – I can see the light at the end of this proverbial tunnel. I still am not moving around too fast, but who knows, maybe after these steroids kick in good I’ll get all kinds of things done! And since I am all about coming boldly to the throne with my requests, I’ll ask you to add these biopsies to the list from the other day. I would love for her psoriasis theory to be confirmed, but I would also like some GVHD to show up as well (because if you have an inkling of how my mind works, I start thinking “oh no! then have I not had any GVHD? because we want some GVHD because a little is good….” and on and on down that rabbit hole). Also, my left arm has had a good bit of swelling this week as well – this is the “lymphedema arm” that had lymph nodes removed with my first mastectomy. We need that to go away because that is not a new condition I am willing to welcome right now.
Thank you all who have checked in on me this week, sent sweet surprises and encouragements, and especially everyone who has been praying for me. I am so thankful for the support system I have – I couldn’t make it through all of this without it. I will keep you posted on the biopsies and all. This week will be a repeat of last week – I follow up with The Boss on Tuesday again and the dermatologist on Friday again. Until then…
Lesley
Comments from CaringBridge
Cindy Clark — 3/28/21
Praying for you, Lesley!
Nancy Sullivan — 3/27/21
🙏🙏
Hayley Pate — 3/27/21
Praying & praying & praying, daily for The Lord’s merciful hand of intervention on your body and that every request you have asked will be made done by Him in Jesus name!
Martha Lee — 3/27/21
Continuing to pray for you 🙏
Edwina Williams — 3/27/21
Prayers and love! 🙏🙏🙏❤️
Cancermamma 