10th Month Update
At the end of the previous month, while undergoing hospital treatment, I unintentionally checked my health records and was shocked to find that my tumor markers continued to rise. My CEA surged to 284, CA125 rose to 993, while CA199 remained within the normal range at 20. Having taken the medication for two weeks, doubts arose about its effectiveness. Fortunately, I contacted my physician’s assistant who advised me not to panic. She suggested monitoring the tumor markers by taking another blood test before the next appointment. Dr. Cai Songyan also reassured me, stating that a temporary increase in tumor markers is possible during the elimination of cancer cells. He recommended comprehensive assessment based on clinical conditions and emphasized the importance of observation without immediate concern.
Mid-month, a new blood test showed a slight increase in CEA to 322, but CA125 dropped to 702, and CA199 decreased to 17. Dr. Cai noted a slower decline in CEA compared to other tumor markers and observed a further reduction in lung effusion in the right lung. Although the left lung showed no significant changes, he confirmed the efficacy of the medication.
Continuing the medication throughout the month, respiratory issues such as wheezing and coughing improved. By late February, I gradually transitioned from sleeping in a sitting position to comfortably lying down. Remarkably, I even regained the ability to sing. This comes as a great surprise as I struggled to sing since the onset of the illness. Initially experiencing echoes in the left ear and persistent coughing, both conditions have now disappeared. Moreover, despite a year of continuous lung effusion drainage, I have not required further drainage for over a month.
Before the end of the month, I completed the recitation of 30 Pharmacist Sutras, 30 Ksitigarbha Sutras, transcribed a copy of the Heart Sutra, and ceremoniously burned it, dedicating all merits to my ancestors.