MAGIC BEANS

The day I received my diagnosis I remember my doctor telling us we had one of three options for treatment. He shared with Jeff and I that the initial biopsy results were back, confirming cancer in my lymph nodes and that the origination was from my lungs. He then shared that he wanted to send my biopsy away to Chicago for further testing (we later learned it was molecular testing), so they could tell how to treat this. He explained that this would come back with three options:

1 – The biopsy could tell them that this could be treated with immunotherapy – would be the best results we could ask for.

2 – The biopsy could identify what the driver of the mutation is. If a driver could be identified, there are treatments developed to attack this specific mutation. This would be the next best option for me.

3 – If the biopsy tells them that immunotherapy would not work and that no driver of the mutation could be identified, then my only treatment option would be chemotherapy.

Two weeks later the biopsy results were back, and our doctor called to share with us that although my cancer could not be treated with immunotherapy, there was a driver mutation found and it had a name, ROS1. This was the first news I had received in two weeks that felt like there was some encouragement involved. I did not know that day what a blessing it was to not only be able to identify a driver, but that it was ROS1. He then shared that he proposed I start treatment in the form of pills I would take that have been developed specifically to attack the ROS1 mutation within my body. My symptoms had progressed so bad that he knew I needed to start the pills as soon as possible. Before calling us, he had already done a lot of work to identify the exact drug, locate it, and have it lined up to be in his office the next day to pick up and start. This is quite unheard of to get your hands on these targeted pills (TKI’s) in such a short time. We were so grateful for the doctor’s efforts, and we knew the Lord was at work to make treatment not only possible but to remove all barriers to have them ready and waiting for me. 

The next day we drove to the doctor’s office and picked up the pills. They had just been FDA approved just 6 months prior and as the pharmacist handed them to me, he said, “we haven’t yet put anyone on this medication.” I am not sure how I felt about that! He had read up on them and was prepared to share all the possible side effects with me, but the truth is they were about to learn more from me just how these drugs work. We walked out of that office with a lot of education and instructions, carrying these precious pills stapled in a brown paper bag. As I got in the car, I joked to Jeff I felt like Jack and the Beanstalk with my magic beans :). I went home and set the alarm in my phone for 8pm and named it, MAGIC BEANS.