The Latest and Greatest on Vivi

Hi Everyone,

I am sure you can guess why I am writing a new post, as, this is the most efficient way for me to share news on Vivi - and there is, unfortunately, news to share. About a month ago, we found out that Vivi had relapsed for the second time. While the relapse is to be expected, as this is just the nature of ovarian cancer, per usual, we were all saddened and a bit taken back by the news - especially as this relapse happened quite quickly. I also think that even though Vivi's illness is taking a rather textbook course when it comes to timing, there is just nothing textbook about Vivi (in any way, shape, or form). Only Vivi can be in the middle of a battle with an extremely aggressive cancer and manage to remain as strong and vivacious as ever. Besides the fact that she happens to have a terminal cancer, Vivi is, by all other means, completely healthy. Something that I think makes all of this a little harder to wrap our heads around.

However, the reality is that the cancer is growing back again, and Vivi will, once again, begin chemo this afternoon. After an extensive search for alternative treatments, which included meetings and calls with doctors from literally all over the world (an effort lead by my incredible father), it has been decided that the best course of action in Vivi's case, which is technically, Stage 2 recurrent ovarian cancer (which means she has relapsed twice now), is to put her on a new chemo called Doxil. In the case of recurrent cancer, it is important to keep introducing as many new drugs to the body as possible, as the sheer fact that she is relapsing is a sign that she is already showing resistance to the other drugs she has already been given - and the more often she is given the same treatment, the more resistant her cells will become to that drug. So it is important to keep the therapies rotating, and give as much time in between the start of repeating a drug she has already received.

So Doxil is the clear best next step as she has not yet been given this drug, and it has also proven to have good results with Ovarian cancer if and when the patients take to it. However, there are some risks with Doxil. The drug takes about three months to start working, and can actually make the patient more symptomatic before it starts to attack the cancer. So we are hopeful (and have all reason to be), that Vivi will remain strong and healthy through the summer and that the drug will begin to work in three months time - at which point, we will have a better idea of where everything stands.

The new regimen: Vivi will now recieve chemo once a month (which is a much more manageable treatment schedule that those from the past). The side effects, while quite mild compared to some of the other chemotherapies Vivi has received, are not particularly "summer-friendly". The most prominent side effect of Doxil is that it causes toxicity in the skin. This can come in many different forms, but most importantly, Vivi will have to keep her skin out of the sun as much as possible, which will be a challenge for someone who so loves to spend her time outdoors - especially during the summer. Does this mean that Vivi will be on home arrest? No. She just has to make sure she is well covered with clothing and 85 spf if she does go outside (something that is likely routine for most of you, but if you know Vivi - she is a bit of a sun goddess). In any case, she will still be able to swim, ride, and enjoy the summer to the fullest she can manage in her long sleeve shirts - which have already been bought by the bulk! As you can see from the pictures I have posted, she has already managed to make the most of the start of summer, so we hope for a great summer ahead as well!

Per usual, I will keep all of you as up-to-date as possible. It is always hard to have to deliver these bits of news rather than the entertaining Vivi stories that are so much more fun to tell (and I promise I will be sure to offer up at least a few of those along the way).

Thank you all for the continued love and support, as it is both Vivi and our family's life line!

I hope you are all enjoying the start of summer as well and I will be in touch soon.

Aly