Holding Pattern

I am in a holding pattern.

hold·ing pat·tern

/ˈhōldiNG ˈpadərn/

noun

1. the flight path maintained by an aircraft awaiting permission to land.

Every person has the potential for a cancer cell to form in his/her body. Mine was not familial. It was environmental – much like the Viet Nam vets who were exposed to Agent Orange.

Well, the Dragon and I recently had a heart-to-heart talk since he reared his ugly head again. I am a cancer survivor and I have gone on with the business of living. The Dragon has been sleeping for a decade. He is stirring and waking up again.

I still have work to be done on this Earth. There are loved ones who depend on me being here. The Dragon does not show any empathy.

I have come to the conclusion that I am not the Dragon Slayer. I am more of the Dragon Tamer. Some have even called me the Dragon Lady. So, I had a conversation with the Dragon Slayer – Dr. Adrian Wiestner. I am making my next survival plan. Dr. Adrian Wiestner called me when I flew back to Arizona from NIH and we chatted on the phone about the strategy and options ahead of me.

Dr. Wiestner recommended continuing to take ibrutinib while scaling up for five weeks on venetoclax, when the time comes. Then after the ramp-up, the local oncologist will add infusions such as rutuimab or obintuzumab or another kinase inhibitor, such as acalabrutinib.

I am in a “holding pattern.” I cannot stay and hover here forever, because sooner or later I am going to have to land. Until then, I am going to enjoy the scenery.

Dr. La Verne