Cancer Support

Sparkly

(24,938 posts) Tue May 12, 2026, 07:04 PM May 12

173

Update: Still stage 4, still alive, now on Enhertu

Hi DU friends!

Just checking in! I made it past another birthday, and more happily, I made it to my miracle granddaughter's second!!!

I still have serous endometrial carcinoma metastasized to my lungs. It never even reached a lymph node, but Kaiser made me wait so long for surgery from an in-network surgeon when it was first diagnosed, it got through the pelvic wall and into my bloodstream, apparently. I will never stop wishing I'd insisted harder, or offered to travel or something, anything, but I did all the pleading I could. Too late now.

Regrets aside, the cancer is still HER2-positive, which means it can be treated with Herceptin (Trastuzumab), a monoclonal antibody, but that stopped working. Enhertu adds deruxtecan, which is the chemo "payload," so it's an "antibody-drug conjugate" (ADC).

The chemo is not as bad as carbotaxol. It causes fatigue and nausea, and some people lose all their hair (mine has thinned a bit). The good news is my tumors were smaller on the last scan. Dangerous side effects happen to lungs and heart and I had a little scare there -- some odd "nodules" like bronchiolitis (?) that made me afraid they were going to stop my infusions -- but a pulmonologist said they didn't look like Enhertu caused them, and I think I'm okay.

Hope all of you and yours are doing well, too! Every day matters. Hang in there!!

70 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Update: Still stage 4, still alive, now on Enhertu (Original Post) Sparkly May 12 OP

How wonderful to see your granddaughter's 2nd birthday! And your birthday, too!!!! Solly Mack May 12 #1

Thanks! Sparkly May 12 #29

💐🫶🏽 blm May 12 #2

Thanks, blm Sparkly May 12 #30

Fuck kaiser and all private insurers that make their money by withholding treatment questionseverything May 12 #3

Being around this long Sparkly May 12 #31

'Thrilled to get this update, Sparkly! hlthe2b May 12 #4

Thank you Sparkly May 12 #32

Good to hear that you made it to your granddaughter's B-day! senseandsensibility May 12 #5

Afraid to hope to make it to her 3rd Sparkly May 12 #33

Sending you big hugs and the best of all wishes. erronis May 12 #6

We pull for each other! Sparkly May 12 #34

Hugs to you Chicagogrl1 May 12 #7

Back atcha! Sparkly May 12 #35

Best thoughts!!! Hang in there. We're with you! paleotn May 12 #8

Thanks! Sparkly May 12 #36

Stay strong, dear Sparkly Grim Chieftain May 12 #9

Much appreciated, GC Sparkly May 12 #37

You're certainly on a stressful and dramatic journey. Fla Dem May 12 #10

I have amazing sisters Sparkly May 12 #38

Good luck with the treatment. I'm at a scientific meeting... NNadir May 12 #11

That's really good to hear, NNadir Sparkly May 12 #39

So glad you are still alive and was able to celebrate another birthday and that of LoisB May 12 #12

I hope so! Sparkly May 12 #40

Oh, my. Glad you are ok. Prayed for you. Can't hurt, right? Joinfortmill May 12 #13

Thank you for praying for me!! Sparkly May 13 #41

Oh, my, what a profound experience. Joinfortmill May 13 #61

Keep that infectious spirit BaronChocula May 12 #14

I'll sure try! Sparkly May 13 #42

A big hug for you, Sparkly. sheshe2 May 12 #15

Aw, back atcha sheshe Sparkly May 13 #43

So glad you had a happy birthday and got to see your precious grandaughter's 2nd! SheltieLover May 12 #16

Me, too Sparkly May 13 #44

Thank you for updating us! I'm happy for you that you spooky3 May 12 #17

Vibes welcome Sparkly May 13 #45

++++++ spooky3 May 13 #59

Thanks fo the update Sparkly.. mountain grammy May 12 #18

As positive as it can be right now Sparkly May 13 #46

It's good to see progress. It's quite an eye opener to find yourself going through this is my guess. 1WorldHope May 12 #19

Yes and yes Sparkly May 13 #47

So Sparkly married Stinky. You two must be fun! 1WorldHope May 13 #67

In such a time of stress and uncertainty, you seem to brer cat May 12 #20

I try, brer cat Sparkly May 13 #48

Happy birthday, and may this be the year that your scans show NO tumors. Scrivener7 May 12 #21

Who knows? Sparkly May 13 #49

Keep up the fight ms.pamela May 12 #22

Good perspective Sparkly May 13 #50

Sending warm thoughts and good energy to you, dear Sparkly. Sparkle on! 💕 MLAA May 12 #23

I like that motto Sparkly May 13 #51

Agree! And was likely in the name of our eye shadow! MLAA May 13 #64

Yep! Every day matters! calimary May 12 #24

Thanks, calimary!! Sparkly May 13 #52

Best wishes for your continued improvement. sinkingfeeling May 12 #25

Thanks Sparkly May 13 #53

🫂 to you and your family. mwmisses4289 May 12 #26

Thank you, mwmisses Sparkly May 13 #54

Happy Birthday, Sparkly gademocrat7 May 12 #27

I shall try Sparkly May 13 #55

Sparkly, you're a beautiful, and courageous soul. Cha May 12 #28

Oh, Cha!!! Sparkly May 13 #56

Yes, I 've found that to be perfectly true Cha May 13 #57

Sending healing vibes and hugs. HeartsCanHope May 13 #58

Keep on going, Sparkly. democrank May 13 #60

Glad to hear you are hanging in there, fighting. Trueblue Texan May 13 #62

Prayers for miracles 🙏🏼 Sparkly Clouds Passing May 13 #63

Every day is a good day Wild blueberry May 13 #65

Sparkly, I remember your name from way back - TBF May 13 #66

Grand to hear from you, Sparkly! babylonsister May 13 #68

Keep the positivity going BeneteauBum May 13 #69

💘💔💖💗💓💞Sending healing prayers. 58Sunliner May 13 #70

Solly Mack

(97,280 posts)

1. How wonderful to see your granddaughter's 2nd birthday! And your birthday, too!!!!