Support Registry Update

Meeting with Oncologist and Next Steps

In support of
LaRaie Zimm
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Hello all!

Thank you again for your support during this very strange and trying time. I wanted to update you all on my progress through this very insidious disease and the next steps I will be taking toward good health.

There was no cancer found in my lymph nodes, which is wonderful news. This means that as far as they can tell, there is no cancer in my lymph system. But because cancer is such a sneaky thing, the treatment doesn't stop there. However, this does mean that it is very likely I will not need chemotherapy.

Treating a patient with chemo is a decision based on a few factors. One if them is if the cancer has spread, to their knowledge. Since they have no reason to believe mine has spread, that is great. But in addition to this, we are awaiting an Oncotype score. If this score is low, which we are hoping and expecting, I will not need chemotherapy.

What I will need is to be on a medicine for 5+ years (the longer you take it, the less likely you are to have a reoccurrence). The type of cancer I have feeds on estrogen, so it is an estrogen-blocking medicine. Some people have terrible side effects, while others feel fine. I am hoping that this medicine is kind to me. Regardless, it will be a safeguard and defense for estrogen-positive cancer from forming elsewhere, either from spread (in case there were a few cells that were missed in surgery) or in the event of a new primary cancer diagnosis.

This is all best case scenario in the cancer world. I was very lucky to have caught this early. 

I want to thank you all for your support, whether you provided a meal, kind words of support, or donation to help me pay my medical bills and fund takeout while I was unable to tend to my regular life. I am now cooking meals again and driving. Swimming will have to wait a few more weeks, but I am getting out for walks again. I have a truly amazing and supportive partner, David, who has been my rock through all of this. 

I will be shutting down this page soon, but not before I get my final test results, so I can update you one last time and put all of this behind me. I cannot tell you how much it meant that you all contributed your resources to assist me in this scary moment in my life. I feel uplifted and supported, which is such a wonderful thing and it's something that I hope for everyone. I am so grateful to be here today, and to know such generous and caring people.

If you would like to keep in touch with me please do text or call:
312-437-0320

You can also find my music and poems on Patreon, and if you would like to know more about how to access that, please text me and I will send you a link. I plan to have an album out this year along with a book of poems.

Love to all of you! I hope every bit of love and support you give returns to you tenfold. I am here if you need me.

LaRaie

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Comments

Carolyn and Larry

This is so encouraging! We're looking forward to more good news.
  • 30 days ago

Amy Daigler

Thank you for the update; you've been on my mind many times in the past weeks. I hope all goes smoothly with the med.
  • 30 days ago