Yes, it's true! My last scans were just as amazing as I had hoped and prayed they would be. In the words of Dr. Wilky, "We are running out of things to measure!" She said that and a hundred flash mobs started dancing in my brain in celebration! But brain flash mobs don't translate well into words, so I just stared at her for a few seconds hoping that the dance mobbing would translate itself into words. I think I finally teared up and said "Uh, wow, okay, I don't even know what to say (insert dumb looking face with my mouth wide open and more seconds of waiting) Thank you, God!," which I felt was pretty good translation.
In May of 2016 I started the Axi Pembro Clinical Trial at the University of Miami for metastatic (stage 4) Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma. On my pre-trial scans, they identified tumors in my heart, liver, spleen, spinal canal, right breast, right lateral chest wall, right deltoid muscle, left infraspinatus muscle, scalene muscle, subscapularis muscle, scalp, 2 vertebrae, right humerus, left hip, and brain. Widely metastatic and super scary.
Now 8 months into immunotherapy treatment, tumors only remain in my brain, heart, liver, and spleen. All evidence of disease is shrinking, with total tumor burden decrease of about 90-95%. The heart tumor (which is kind of the primary tumor) has reduced by 90%. All this for a type of cancer that had virtually no known systemic treatments!!
I plan to stay on the trial until it is completed in about a year and a half. I can't begin to express how thankful I am. The "primary" heart tumor found during my pregnancy was my 5th recurrence of ASPS, with my initial diagnosis at age 3. This is the answer to a lifetime of prayers from friends and family all over the world. God's provision and plan is woven into every detail of our journey, and all glory belongs to him for this marvelous rescue.
If you want to learn more about
- ASPS, you can go here: The One That Really Has To Go...ASPS
- Immunotherapy, you can go here: Immunotherapy 101
- Clinical Trials, you can go here: Clinical trials: what you should know to make an informed choice about your therapy
- Sarcoma, you can go here: What is a sarcoma
- Ali Pembro, you can go here: Axi Pembro Clinical Trial
- Me, you can go here: The Sullivan Story or Instagram
Thank you for your love, interest, and prayers. We could not have made it one step without our people (you!) supporting us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
YES!!
ReplyDeleteI've never even met you but we are connected through my family at Woodmont ..... I pray for you regularly and I am so ecstatic about what has God has done inside your body!!
ReplyDeletePraise and thanks be to God!!
ReplyDeleteWoohoooooooo! What great great news!
ReplyDeletePraise God from whom ALL blessings flow! He is good...so so good!
ReplyDeleteBrittney, my note comes to you by way of a mutual friends the Ellis's. I will be holding you in prayer as our world searches for a way to beat this disease. I am in 11 months treatment and like you take day to day as a gift.
ReplyDeleteBrittany, You are such an inspiration to me. George and I are so thankful to hear of the wonderful news about the success of the clinical trial. I remember that little girl at the age of 3 who was so brave and even at that young age faced the difficult times with her beautiful smile. Your beautiful smile still shines through and now you have a carbon copy of it. Our prayers will continue for you, John, and Carley Jean
ReplyDeleteYour faith, personality and love of life shines brightly and makes so many people love and appreciate all the good things God has done. You and He make an awesome combination. May the treatments continue to conquer and eliminate all the cancer.The prayers of the faithful have been answered in so many ways, and we will continue to pray for you.
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