juliej wrote:I'm the same: KRAS and BRAF negative and MSI stable. That's a good genetic profile in general, even if MSH patients have more immunotherapy options right now.
Sorry you can't have wine when the pump is in place. It's a small sacrifice to get rid of the cancer, although it's hard to imagine a wine spritzer on occasion would hurt that much!
You also can't scuba dive, sky dive, or use hot tubs/saunas. Just think of your cancer-free future though and you can get through it!
Juliej
No alcohol during chemo is ok by me. And I can live without a hot tub for a few years! Plenty of inconvenient stuff associated with chemo in general, come to think of it, and so far dealing with it all.
All that said, I plan to enjoy my chemo break pre-surgery as much as possible. I've been in Costa Rica for a corporate leadership conference, and the food at this resort is amazing - they grow 70% of what they need on the farm here, so the vegetables have been amazing, and I have been enjoying them all!
I also called ahead to book two personal training classes to start strengthening my core. So glad I did that and hoping to maintain the momentum at home.
One of our sessions involved a meditation session, and afterwards the facilitator asked us about our experiences. I talked about how I had such a clear sense of purpose and direction at work, but sometimes felt I didn't have the same with my family, and I worry it's why I lean into work. In my head I was thinking, what if I don't have enough time to raise my kids?
The poor facilitator didn't have the context, but everyone else in the room did - as tears were streaming down my face. I looked around and saw each of my direct reports crying as well, and a few others among the group. Several people came up to me before the breakout session, and I got hugs and Kleenex and love.
It was hugely emotional and apparently powerful for everyone to see me being vulnerable and frankly thinking of their own family thru my lens - several people told me this later. One direct report told another, "We have been taking cues from Gina, she's been so strong, and that's how we have interacted with her. It was so good to be able to feel this and be in it with her in that vulnerable moment."
I feel so lucky to work in an organization that honors this type of experience and is supporting me through it. The folks in the NY office (whom I don't know as well) were all asking what they could do while I was in town for surgery. I told them find me good bone broth for my post surgery liquid only diet! They also promised to figure out business reasons for me to be in NY so they my company covers my travel for upcoming chemo treatments there. : )