I have had a lot of people reach out lately and ask how my health is. Life is flying by so fast I didn't realize it had been so long since I had updated my blog! We have had an incredible year. In my last update I had just started the drug Enhertu. Enhertu worked great for me for 15 months. My cancer didn't grow while on this drug however I did develop chemotherapy induced pneumonitis. Pneumonitis is inflammation of the lungs typically caused by radiation or chemotherapy. I started to notice shortness of breath and extreme fatigue which led to some testing and the pneumonitis diagnosis. Because of this I had to stop the chemotherapy and start Prednisone to allow my lungs to heal. What was intended to be about a 2-week break turned into 8 weeks. My longest break since I started this journey almost 10 years ago. Halfway through the break I started to feel "normal" again, something I hadn't felt in a very long time.
Once the Pneumonitis healed and my team felt it was safe for me to restart treatment I started a new oral drug called Lymparza. I have been on Lymparza for about 7 weeks, I am adjusting to the new side effects, the fatigue, nausea and body aches. I haven't had a scan since I started so we will be doing that soon to make sure the drug is still killing cancer. I turned 49 yesterday. A day that at one point we didn't think I would see. Shortly after turning 39, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer and was told my estimated life span was 3-5 years. Just a few months from celebrating 10 years since my diagnosis I am still here! Busy living life over cancer! I am so blessed to be experiencing this miracle of life.
Some fun moments we have been celebrating! We have our first Grandchild, Tate. He is nearly a year old and such a joy to have in our lives. Being a grandparent is a whole new love I didn't know existed and watching our adult children Bryce and his wife Brooke be parents is so awesome!
Peyton and Heather got engaged over the winter and getting married in June! We are so excited for their life together. They are thriving in their careers and life in Grand Rapids.
Brooke has graduated from GVSU, moved back home for a short time and is settling into her career. She and Aaron (high school sweethearts) got engaged this summer and will be getting married in January and starting their life together wherever his baseball career with the Houston Astros takes them. We are embracing this time at home with her and look forward to visiting her and Aaron often wherever life takes them!
All of the above life events are events I wasn't sure I would be here for, not only am I here for them I have been healthy enough to enjoy them! I thank all my prayer warriors, Jesus, Science and my Medical Team! #getbusyliving
Below are some fun photos of the past year of life!
#getbusyliving
Peace and Love,
Chris Stark and Family
