Terminal Optimism

Terminal Optimism


It's been over a year!
Danielle Knutson • Nov 16, 2023

Keeping up with stuff is hard....

A lot of positive things have happened since my last update!

I feel so blessed to be able to have spent the last year married to Andrew.


Last update I was on Gemzar. In June, scans showed that the Gemzar had stopped working and tumors had grown a bit (not much thankfully). My incredible oncology team decided to change my treatment to Trodelvy, a newer chemo.


  • I am on Trodelvy now instead of Gemzar
  • Trodelvy is more targeted and I have had fewer side effects from this treatment.
  • The first scans after starting Trodelvy showed a great response! There were fewer tumors and they are smaller.
  • I only have tumors in my lungs now, about 15 instead of 20-30. The tumors in my brain and lymph nodes are gone.
  • I hope that I will continue to have a positive response to this treatment and am holding out hope for a miracle.


I am going to try to update this blog more regularly now that things are a little less chaotic. Stage 4 cancer is a horror show--facing your mortality on a daily basis is unnerving. It also gives me the ability to keep my priorities and values in check. I would never choose cancer, and at the same time I have learned a great deal about myself and my loved ones. I have learned my capacity for love and happiness is beyond what I had previously thought possible.


My goal over the next few weeks is to get moving more now that I feel a little better. I'll keep you posted!


<3

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