Baller

Let me start by saying my last scans showed continuing stability. Fifty (50!) months and counting; thank you lorlatinib.

And then, a salient detail per those last scans.

I walked out on my brain MRI.

Yessiree bob. Alice and I had talked about the fact that given my persistent lack of brain mets, MRI’s of my brain every three months (mandated by the protocol of the clinical trial) were not clinically indicated. And that it might be more appropriate to get them (yea!) annually.

I hate brain MRI’s. Yep. I’d rather have twenty needle sticks in a row. The percussive and excessively loud noise of an MRI makes me hyper anxious. As I drive to scans by myself, I cannot medicate for anxiety, and so I simply ask them to stuff as much wadding in around my ears as is possible.

To date, I have had 50 (FIFTY) brain MRI’s (hold the presses—I need to get myself up to the records department to check this #. Patient Gateway is a cluster fuck and I’m not sure my tally is accurate. In the meantime, know that it has been a lot.) Wrap your mind around that number in a slightly different context. Since 12/22/16, it has been known that I have gadolinium deposits embedded in the tissue of my brain; secondary to intravaneous contrast. Although it is unknown if I shall suffer side effects secondary to gadolinium deposition, it is concerning and I have been forgoing contrast for two and one half years now.

When I showed up for my scans last Thursday, I was scheduled for a brain MRI in addition to the chest CT (I am non-compliant per the abdominal CT scans, with 44 of them below the belt to date). As I lay in the CT scan I had this little conversation with myself. It went sort of like this: ‘Would I rather be sitting in the MRI machine or in my car, with the radio cranking?’ Then of course the guilt set in. Lorlatinib is months away from FDA approval. If I walked out on my MRI could my non-compliance throw a snag in the trial? Should I simply take one for the team?’

In truth I’d been taking one for the team for a decade now. And, if my walking out today truly screwed things up, I could always get an MRI at a later date.

When I told the technician that I would be skipping my MRI she warned me that patients are sometimes kicked out of trials for this sort of thing. ‘Well, then wish me luck’ I said.

I walked out to my car, put the key in the ignition, and drove north. Balls out, y’all. This girl’s gonna live and although that’s a big YES it sometimes requires just saying no.