Bosulif Update;Eight Months and Counting!

I know many of you have been wondering how my Bosulif journey is progressing; I am pleased to say that things are going "swimmingly"! Pun intended, considering my latest escapade: How NOT to Float the Boise River!

I have been feeling quite well, with little abdominal upsets; occasional nausea and diarrhea, but nothing like the nausea that I endured in the beginning.

As far as the pleural effusion goes, I saw the pulmonologist a few days ago, and while the pleural effusion has not completely resolved, there is some improvement since March, (which is a good thing and leaves me hopeful) but the even better news is that there is a dramatic improvement since last November.

left Nov./right Aug.

Unfortunately, I do still have approximately 1/4-1/2 liter of fluid remaining at the very bottom of my pleural sac, Boo.... and because of where the fluid actually pools, it is not advisable to have it removed through a thoracentesis, due to the risk of having the lung punctured; so I shall just have to wait and see.

On an interesting note, I do still suffer from some shortness of breath, but we are not certain whether it is the small effusion causing it, or just the Bosulif itself; apparently, you can have shortness of breath on Bosulif,  without an effusion.

That being said, I hope that the fluid continues to "move on down the road"!

I am also happy to report that my pcr remains below the coveted .1% at a .09%. Up a bit from the .06% taken in May 2018, but I have been assured by my oncologist that this is within the"error of the test" range, so I shall not worry! My high hopes continue to be that I will reach an undetectable state sometime this year, and prayerfully be able to reduce my dose.

I am still ingesting  400 mg per day of Bosulif, twice a day; 200 mg with first meal, and 200 mg with a second meal; this regimen has drastically reduced the nausea.  But on occasion, when I do find myself nauseous, I first try my peppermint and ginger oils, and then the CBD with no THC, and then as a last resort, I will take a Zofran. While the nausea issue has not completely resolved, it is much, much improved. This is a good thing!

The new side effect that is currently driving me absolutely CRAZY is the hair loss; I am shedding like an animal losing their winter coat! There is hair EVERYWHERE and I cannot even begin to keep up with the piles of hair that are hiding in every nook and cranny of the house, not to mention all of the loose hair on me and my clothing; it is literally everywhere! I pray that this stops before I don't have a hair left on my head!

All of that being said, other than the minor inconveniences, of hair loss, and occasional nausea, diarrhea, and headaches, along with some fatigue and shortness of breath, my fears of switching medication have gone by the wayside. All of this to be expected when living with chronic cancer, while taking a toxic medication;  a small price to pay, in exchange for life!

On the up-upside, along with the fluid in my lungs subsiding, the puffiness in my face has also lessened, and I have lost 6 pounds! So I bid adieu to Sprycel, with much gratitude for allowing me six years of life, and I look forward to a very long relationship with Bosulif!!

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