Broken

We curse the universe but it doesn't do any good.  
Karen came back from a recent x-ray of her chest. We were trying to learn the cause of her chest discomfort. The technicians never say anything, we have to wait for the doctor to call with the results. Karen said that when they were alone with her they asked if she'd been in an accident or did someone hit her.  I thought they looked at me a bit strangely; I suppose they have to ask.

Her sternum was fractured, not badly but bad enough to make breathing hard and transitioning from a lying to a sitting position very painful despite aggressive pain management. There was also signs of a previous broken rib that was healing. 
I look up 'sternum fractures" and find they are usually caused by auto accidents, ie hitting the steering wheel when you aren't buckled in.

With  bone metastasis, or "bone mets," the bone is eroding and weakening. So we counter that by infusing bisphosphonates through her IV once a month with her chemo and calcium supplements at home.

Two weeks ago Karen's right hip was giving her problems (when we say problems we usually mean pain that can't be controlled) An X-ray then an MRI confirmed a small fracture in the socket of her right hip joint. It also showed a small fracture to her left hip but it looks like it has been healing.
The bone problems are difficult; they are painful and limit Karen's activity. Our Oncologist, Dr. Levy, whom we adore, is encouraging. As long as the bones are healing signs are pointing to the current round of chemo actually slowing the cancer.

One other piece of good news last week was a x-ray to track the lung fluid showed that it hasn't returned to the left and is receding from the right.
Finally some good news after two months of bad. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Leonardo DaVinci, Anatomy Studies

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