This week has been good. I have no complaints and several things to be thankful for. I met with Dr. K2 on Tuesday to go over how I handled the first treatment and he was very happy to hear my report. He checked my ears and it turns out I have fluid in both and that was the cause of the gnarly pain last week. We will monitor the pain after my next treatment and go from there.
I went to my Women's Bible Study last night for the first time in a few weeks and it was great to be back. It's amazing to me what comfort I find in a group of women that I barely know. I am so thankful for their support and prayers, they are a great group of ladies. I am composing a post specifically about last night's study and will share my thoughts when I'm done.
I have received several gifts in the mail over the past month and am grateful for each one. The generosity people have shown me through flowers, food, music, money and books has been overwhelming. "Thank you" never seems like enough but it's what I got sooooo - THANK YOU!
I have had an internal battle over the last week about working out. Part of me was scared, part of me was anxious and part of me just wanted to get a good sweat on. Today I got my sweat on. For the first time in several months I found myself back in Bikram Yoga. If you have never attended a Bikram Yoga class just know that the room is kept at a temperature of around 105 with 40% humidity. You sweat. Alot. I couldn't do all of the poses (partly because of my endurance level and partly because of the various aches and pains I've acquired over the past month). It felt great to stretch and loosen up the scar tissue in my neck. It didn't feel so great trying to do some of the floor poses because of the Power Port. My goal was to stay in the room for the entire 90 minutes. Mission accomplished.
Tomorrow I have to get blood drawn, pick up my wig and pick up my Dad. I'm looking forward to them in the same order - good, better, best! The weather will be beautiful this weekend and I can't wait to spend some time with my Dad at the Hilton pool. I think I feel a cannonball coming on!
Please continue to pray for restful sleep and also that my second treatment goes as well as the first. Thank you all so much!
(By the way, if you scroll to some of the other posts I added pictures - enjoy!)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the spirit.
Printed on the back of a St. Jude's bookmark.
I love the words. Cancer is so limited.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the spirit.
Printed on the back of a St. Jude's bookmark.
I love the words. Cancer is so limited.
Riding the Wave
I'm glad last week is over. Monday and Tuesday were better than I anticipated but Wednesday and Thursday didn't live up to my expectations. I did manage to work both Wednesday and Thursday but the nausea was ever present. I learned the hard lesson that I can no longer lay in bed until the last minute and then jump up and move fast. I thought I was going to toss my cookies two minutes into my shower on Wednesday. Thursday I laid in bed and ate saltines before my feet hit the floor and the morning went much smoother. My Mom related it to morning sickness. I am adding pregnant women to the list of people I'll never again make fun of.
Friday was wig day. A day I neither looked forward to nor dreaded. It was a bit surreal. Wigs have come a long way but the idea still kinda creeps me out. Anyway, I did it. There were some good laughs. The final decision has not been made because I am waiting for one to be shipped but by the end of next week I'll be the proud owner of a hair prosthesis. Don't be jealous.
My best Reba.
My Mom's 'do circa 1985.
Hello, welcome to Wal-Mart.
Cousin It.
Yesterday was my Mom's last day down here after two weeks. We spent the day soaking up the sun at Tempe Town Lake and Marketplace. We bought a couple hats because although I'm getting a wig I'm thinking bald is more my style. Saying goodbye is never easy but we managed to do it without causing too much of a scene! I am glad my Mom was down here to be with me for my first treatment and I know she feels the same. There's definitely a comfort that only a Mom can bring.
Me and the madre.
Today I am getting myself organized and back in routine for my "good" week. I see Dr. K2 on Tuesday and have bloodwork on Friday but other than that I am free of medical appointments - yay! My Dad will be here on Friday and will be with me at my second treatment next Monday. I am looking forward to spending time with him (although I'm not looking forward to hearing about how he beat me in March Madness).
Thank you all so much for everything. Seriously. I have been blessed with a great support group and receiving the cards, gifts, flowers and paintings (courtesy of a special little boy named Jack) always puts a smile on my face. Please pray for the medical staff that is taking care of me. They are amazing people that do amazing work. I had another opportunity to speak with the family of a former patient of Dr. K2's and I know that I am receiving the best care.
Friday was wig day. A day I neither looked forward to nor dreaded. It was a bit surreal. Wigs have come a long way but the idea still kinda creeps me out. Anyway, I did it. There were some good laughs. The final decision has not been made because I am waiting for one to be shipped but by the end of next week I'll be the proud owner of a hair prosthesis. Don't be jealous.
My best Reba.
My Mom's 'do circa 1985.
Hello, welcome to Wal-Mart.
Cousin It.Yesterday was my Mom's last day down here after two weeks. We spent the day soaking up the sun at Tempe Town Lake and Marketplace. We bought a couple hats because although I'm getting a wig I'm thinking bald is more my style. Saying goodbye is never easy but we managed to do it without causing too much of a scene! I am glad my Mom was down here to be with me for my first treatment and I know she feels the same. There's definitely a comfort that only a Mom can bring.
Me and the madre.Today I am getting myself organized and back in routine for my "good" week. I see Dr. K2 on Tuesday and have bloodwork on Friday but other than that I am free of medical appointments - yay! My Dad will be here on Friday and will be with me at my second treatment next Monday. I am looking forward to spending time with him (although I'm not looking forward to hearing about how he beat me in March Madness).
Thank you all so much for everything. Seriously. I have been blessed with a great support group and receiving the cards, gifts, flowers and paintings (courtesy of a special little boy named Jack) always puts a smile on my face. Please pray for the medical staff that is taking care of me. They are amazing people that do amazing work. I had another opportunity to speak with the family of a former patient of Dr. K2's and I know that I am receiving the best care.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Beginning of Chemo
Yesterday was my first chemo treatment and although it was a long day I would chalk it up as a success. I brought my entourage (my Mom, Gabi and Theresa) with me. We met with Dr. K2 first. He continues to be very optimistic about my outcome and foresees a 90-95% remission rate - I'll take it! We then moved into the chemo room which was PACKED! It was a bit of a gut check realizing how many people are in need of chemo and that this is where I would be every other Monday for the next four months. We had to wait quite awhile to get started so Gabi entertained herself (and those around her) by putting my hair in baby braids tied with dental floss. Yes, dental floss. My hair smelled minty fresh when she was done.
I had a nice nurse named Shirley who had a great sense of humor. She's lucky I liked her because I wanted to punch her in the face not once but twice within the first 10 minutes of meeting her. The first attempt at accessing my Power Port didn't go too well. (If you get queasy you may want to skim down the page.) She cleaned the area and put a freeze spray on me so I wouldn't feel the stick. It's true I didn't feel the initial stick, just pressure, so I was happy about that. That happiness faded quickly when Shirley told me that because of the swelling and a hematoma on top of the port the 1" needle didn't get into the port. She drained the hematoma and we moved into a private room so I could lay horizontal and she could bust out the 1.5" needle. She recleaned and resprayed the area and we tried again. Just before I thought I was going to lose it she breathed a sigh of relief and in turn so did I. I told her she was 2 seconds away from a "Coming To Jesus" meeting then we laughed and had a discussion about my chest size. Thanks Shirley, I was unaware of my large chest! :)
As I walked back into the chemo room with Shirley I got what I call "sympathy smiles". I continued to get them as new people entered and exited the room and on my way to the bathroom. Geesh! I wondered why they were all looking at me like that. I thought it was maybe because of my age. I was atleast 30 years younger than most of the other patients. Or maybe it was because I was holding my chest in addition to wheeling my iv pole to the bathroom. I continued to comtemplate the "sympathy smiles" until I looked in the mirror. The dental floss dreads were the answer. All of those people were feeling bad for me because I had dental floss hanging from my hair. I laughed as I took each string out. When I walked back to my recliner the "sympathy smiles" weren't as prevalant. Thanks for the laugh Gabi!
The chemo regimen I'm on is called ABVD. Instead of explaining it all I'll refer you to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABVD). It's basically four medications. Three administered as "pushes" and the fourth as an iv drip. It took about 3 total hours yesterday. It took a bit longer because it was my first treatment and because it was so busy. It will normally take about 2 hours.
I felt fine when we left but last night was a little rough. I had a tough time falling asleep and once I did it didn't last long. I will never make fun of menopausal women again. I experienced no less than 6 hot flashes throughout the night. Temporary menopause is a potential side effect of the chemo and unfortunately I may have drawn the short straw on that side effect. I also experienced what I can best describe as the feeling of having "Pop Rocks" crackling in my mouth. It wouldn't be so bad if it tasted good but I've had a nasty chemical taste in my mouth since the first medicine was administered. This is not unusual either. I did alot of mouth rinsing during the night. My mouthcare arsenal now includes mouthwash, gum, Tic Tacs and Lifesavers. We'll see how tonight goes.
Today I have felt better than anticipated. I was able to eat breakfast and take a shower without much nausea. I had to go back to the doctors office to get a Neulasta shot, get my blood pressure and temperature checked. Neulasta will help my body produce more white blood cells so I will always get that shot the day after chemo and the other two are just to keep tabs on my vitals. I also had to go give more blood for some additional baseline numbers. I was able to do that in addition to a trip to Target before I hit a wall. We came home to eat lunch and take a nap. The nausea is definitely there so I'm just learning how I'm going to manage it. After my nap we ran one more errand and then I was done. It feels like the flu is coming on but I know it's just the chemo. Shirley strongly encouraged me to rest when needed but try to be upright as much as possible. I think I was successful today.
Tomorrow I anticipate being back at work and look forward to a nice walk outside. Thank you all for your cards, flowers and calls. I feel very loved.
I had a nice nurse named Shirley who had a great sense of humor. She's lucky I liked her because I wanted to punch her in the face not once but twice within the first 10 minutes of meeting her. The first attempt at accessing my Power Port didn't go too well. (If you get queasy you may want to skim down the page.) She cleaned the area and put a freeze spray on me so I wouldn't feel the stick. It's true I didn't feel the initial stick, just pressure, so I was happy about that. That happiness faded quickly when Shirley told me that because of the swelling and a hematoma on top of the port the 1" needle didn't get into the port. She drained the hematoma and we moved into a private room so I could lay horizontal and she could bust out the 1.5" needle. She recleaned and resprayed the area and we tried again. Just before I thought I was going to lose it she breathed a sigh of relief and in turn so did I. I told her she was 2 seconds away from a "Coming To Jesus" meeting then we laughed and had a discussion about my chest size. Thanks Shirley, I was unaware of my large chest! :)
As I walked back into the chemo room with Shirley I got what I call "sympathy smiles". I continued to get them as new people entered and exited the room and on my way to the bathroom. Geesh! I wondered why they were all looking at me like that. I thought it was maybe because of my age. I was atleast 30 years younger than most of the other patients. Or maybe it was because I was holding my chest in addition to wheeling my iv pole to the bathroom. I continued to comtemplate the "sympathy smiles" until I looked in the mirror. The dental floss dreads were the answer. All of those people were feeling bad for me because I had dental floss hanging from my hair. I laughed as I took each string out. When I walked back to my recliner the "sympathy smiles" weren't as prevalant. Thanks for the laugh Gabi!
The chemo regimen I'm on is called ABVD. Instead of explaining it all I'll refer you to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABVD). It's basically four medications. Three administered as "pushes" and the fourth as an iv drip. It took about 3 total hours yesterday. It took a bit longer because it was my first treatment and because it was so busy. It will normally take about 2 hours.
I felt fine when we left but last night was a little rough. I had a tough time falling asleep and once I did it didn't last long. I will never make fun of menopausal women again. I experienced no less than 6 hot flashes throughout the night. Temporary menopause is a potential side effect of the chemo and unfortunately I may have drawn the short straw on that side effect. I also experienced what I can best describe as the feeling of having "Pop Rocks" crackling in my mouth. It wouldn't be so bad if it tasted good but I've had a nasty chemical taste in my mouth since the first medicine was administered. This is not unusual either. I did alot of mouth rinsing during the night. My mouthcare arsenal now includes mouthwash, gum, Tic Tacs and Lifesavers. We'll see how tonight goes.
Today I have felt better than anticipated. I was able to eat breakfast and take a shower without much nausea. I had to go back to the doctors office to get a Neulasta shot, get my blood pressure and temperature checked. Neulasta will help my body produce more white blood cells so I will always get that shot the day after chemo and the other two are just to keep tabs on my vitals. I also had to go give more blood for some additional baseline numbers. I was able to do that in addition to a trip to Target before I hit a wall. We came home to eat lunch and take a nap. The nausea is definitely there so I'm just learning how I'm going to manage it. After my nap we ran one more errand and then I was done. It feels like the flu is coming on but I know it's just the chemo. Shirley strongly encouraged me to rest when needed but try to be upright as much as possible. I think I was successful today.
Tomorrow I anticipate being back at work and look forward to a nice walk outside. Thank you all for your cards, flowers and calls. I feel very loved.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Good News
Wednesdays tests were a piece of cake compared to the others. I had an echocardiogram and pulmonary function test. The echo was done by a sweet lady named Bernadette (I wanted to break out in song when she told me her name - I'm sure I could have revived some of the Four Tops sweet moves too!). She is originally from the Caribbean and still has a pretty thick accent that I could have listened to all day. She was a talker and had a great sense of humor, two things I love. An echo is basically an ultrasound of your heart so we had plenty of time to talk. She ended the test by boldly declaring, "Good news, Jennyfuh! You have a heart and it is working!". I hope I get Bernadette for my next echo. The PFT consisted of four different breathing tests that measure lung capacity and function. I didn't have any problems with the tests. Katie, the tech, was impressed with my breathing skills. I told her I've always had alot of hot air. Katie is good at giving breathing tests, not so good at picking up on sarcasm.
Thursday I had surgery to place the "Power Port" in my chest. After having elevated blood pressure readings my last couple of appointments/surgeries I was happy to see that I am back in the "normal" range. I believe it is due to my lessened anxiety (you'll read why in the next paragraph). I guess it doesn't really matter why as long as my blood pressure stays down. I had a great team for this surgery. I took it as a good sign that my pre-op nurse was named Joan (my Cannonball Grandmas name) and I couldn't have been more right. I had the best team that day (I grabbed a comment card so I can give credit where credit is due!). From the phlebotomist to ekg tech to surgeon to recovery nurse. They were all great people. I loved the ekg tech the most. I mean, who couldn't love an 80 year old named Freya?!?! The "Power Port" was placed just above my left breast and can be palpated through my skin. Kind of weird but I've had numerous people tell me I'll be so happy it's there when I start chemo. It's similar in size to a 2 liter soda lid and is in the shape of a triangle. It can be used to both give medication and draw blood so my poor arms can have a break. One little, funny story about my recovery - As I was coming out of the fog I could hear Justin (a 15 year old kid who just had his appendix removed) becoming disgruntled and confused as to where he was. The nurses rushed to his side to calm him down and he fell back asleep, as did I. I have no sense of time but not too long after that a third patient, Sylvia, was placed in between us. Sylvia must have had the really good stuff because her snoring rattled the walls. I kept thinking in my head, "I wish she would quit snoring, I wish she would quit snoring.". Well, I didn't have to think those thoughts for very long because her snoring alarmed Justin who, again, became disgruntled and yelled, "SHUT UP, LADY!!!". The nurses rushed to calm him down but I was giving him praise from across the room. Thank you, Justin.
And now to the really good news... I received a call from Dr. K2 on Wednesday night. The results of all the tests came back as he had expected and hoped for and I am in Stage 2! I never thought I would be cheering for any stage of cancer but I'll take Stage 2. It does not appear that the cancer has spread to my bones or my brain and is localized to my chest area, YAY!!! He didn't want me to go through the weekend wondering what was going on so he made that call. I like him even more now. I will still meet with him Monday morning before my first chemo treatment to go over everything face to face but it is a relief knowing that information already.
My Mom has been playing taxi driver and personal assistant for me and seems to be enjoying the job. Jereme made it into town yesterday and we are all headed to a Spring Training game today. Please continue to pray for restful sleep and peace of mind. Thank you!
Thursday I had surgery to place the "Power Port" in my chest. After having elevated blood pressure readings my last couple of appointments/surgeries I was happy to see that I am back in the "normal" range. I believe it is due to my lessened anxiety (you'll read why in the next paragraph). I guess it doesn't really matter why as long as my blood pressure stays down. I had a great team for this surgery. I took it as a good sign that my pre-op nurse was named Joan (my Cannonball Grandmas name) and I couldn't have been more right. I had the best team that day (I grabbed a comment card so I can give credit where credit is due!). From the phlebotomist to ekg tech to surgeon to recovery nurse. They were all great people. I loved the ekg tech the most. I mean, who couldn't love an 80 year old named Freya?!?! The "Power Port" was placed just above my left breast and can be palpated through my skin. Kind of weird but I've had numerous people tell me I'll be so happy it's there when I start chemo. It's similar in size to a 2 liter soda lid and is in the shape of a triangle. It can be used to both give medication and draw blood so my poor arms can have a break. One little, funny story about my recovery - As I was coming out of the fog I could hear Justin (a 15 year old kid who just had his appendix removed) becoming disgruntled and confused as to where he was. The nurses rushed to his side to calm him down and he fell back asleep, as did I. I have no sense of time but not too long after that a third patient, Sylvia, was placed in between us. Sylvia must have had the really good stuff because her snoring rattled the walls. I kept thinking in my head, "I wish she would quit snoring, I wish she would quit snoring.". Well, I didn't have to think those thoughts for very long because her snoring alarmed Justin who, again, became disgruntled and yelled, "SHUT UP, LADY!!!". The nurses rushed to calm him down but I was giving him praise from across the room. Thank you, Justin.
And now to the really good news... I received a call from Dr. K2 on Wednesday night. The results of all the tests came back as he had expected and hoped for and I am in Stage 2! I never thought I would be cheering for any stage of cancer but I'll take Stage 2. It does not appear that the cancer has spread to my bones or my brain and is localized to my chest area, YAY!!! He didn't want me to go through the weekend wondering what was going on so he made that call. I like him even more now. I will still meet with him Monday morning before my first chemo treatment to go over everything face to face but it is a relief knowing that information already.
My Mom has been playing taxi driver and personal assistant for me and seems to be enjoying the job. Jereme made it into town yesterday and we are all headed to a Spring Training game today. Please continue to pray for restful sleep and peace of mind. Thank you!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tests, Tests and More Tests
I am down to two tests and one surgery and then I'll be good to go for my first chemo treatment. I meet with Dr. K2 on Monday morning to go over test results and staging then I will begin my first treatment. I have spent the past weekdays traveling to and from appointments, being poked and prodded and sitting very still. I spent this past weekend trying to think about anything but cancer.
Thursday I had a bone marrow biopsy. Not fun. The procedure left me very sore and grateful for my previous medical teams. In the immediate days after the surgery it felt like I had taken a 2x4 strike right across my low back. The soreness is still there but not nearly as bad. The staff at the surgery center lacked personalities and the one crazy nurse who had a personality I could have done without. The whole story would take too long to type but it involved Gabi being scolded for leaving the premises and me telling the surgeon, "You're the worst massage therapist EVER!" right before I went under. Note to self: insult the medical staff after the surgery is done!
Friday I met with the surgeon who will place the portacath in my chest. It was a quick consultation to explain the procedure (I'll be under anesthesia so he wanted to meet me and answer questions beforehand).
Over the weekend I watched the son of my co-worker play in a baseball tournament and took his youngest son on a movie date. Kids are the best medicine. I loved that the biggest decision of the night involved root beer and gummy bears. My Mom flew in on Sunday night and it is nice having her here. She is getting a crash course in hospital and cancer center visits but I know she is sleeping better now that she can be with me at the appointments and soak up some sunshine while I'm at work.
Monday I had the MRI on my brain. After having my head strapped into a brace and a football helmet type apparatus placed over my face the MRI began. The best description I can give is that it sounds like a woodpecker trying to escape a video game by using a jackhammer. Yeah, and that was with ear plugs in.
Today I had the full-body PET scan. I was taken into a small, sterile room where the radioactive tracer was injected into my hand. The nurse dimmed the lights, closed the door and I spent the next 45 minutes in a comfy recliner trying not to move. I managed to pull that off by taking a little nap. After the 45 minutes were up I moved into the scanner and spent the next 30 minutes having the table I was laying on moved in and out of the scanner. Again, I was not to move so I dozed off. The only time I woke up was when "Waterfalls" by TLC came on the radio. What does that song even mean?!?!
Over the past few days I came up with an action plan for my hair. It seems that hair loss is a very strong possibility and the oncology nurse suggested I think about it sooner rather than later so tonight I got my haircut. I have been growing my hair out in order to donate to Locks of Love again and by cutting it very short I was able to hit the required length of 10" before I started chemo. It's pretty short but it will make the transition easier for me. I will deal with hair thinning/loss when it happens but for my own sanity I know I was able to help a child with cancer. Donating means so much more to me this time.
Me and my cute mama.
Cut, cut, cut.
I think I fell asleep for a minute or two.
The 'do.
Here's to Locks of Love!
Tomorrow I have the echocardiogram and pulmonary function test and Thursday is the Portacath surgery. My brother will be here for the weekend and I am looking forward to some good laughs and a baseball game with him.
Overall, I am doing well. Physically I have no symptoms and I believe that helps my mental state as well. Having so many appointments also helps keep my mind focused on my day to day activities rather than the big scary thoughts that can consume me in a matter of minutes.
Please pray for smooth sailing at the tests tomorrow and a successful surgery on Thursday. Thank you all for your love and support.
Thursday I had a bone marrow biopsy. Not fun. The procedure left me very sore and grateful for my previous medical teams. In the immediate days after the surgery it felt like I had taken a 2x4 strike right across my low back. The soreness is still there but not nearly as bad. The staff at the surgery center lacked personalities and the one crazy nurse who had a personality I could have done without. The whole story would take too long to type but it involved Gabi being scolded for leaving the premises and me telling the surgeon, "You're the worst massage therapist EVER!" right before I went under. Note to self: insult the medical staff after the surgery is done!
Friday I met with the surgeon who will place the portacath in my chest. It was a quick consultation to explain the procedure (I'll be under anesthesia so he wanted to meet me and answer questions beforehand).
Over the weekend I watched the son of my co-worker play in a baseball tournament and took his youngest son on a movie date. Kids are the best medicine. I loved that the biggest decision of the night involved root beer and gummy bears. My Mom flew in on Sunday night and it is nice having her here. She is getting a crash course in hospital and cancer center visits but I know she is sleeping better now that she can be with me at the appointments and soak up some sunshine while I'm at work.
Monday I had the MRI on my brain. After having my head strapped into a brace and a football helmet type apparatus placed over my face the MRI began. The best description I can give is that it sounds like a woodpecker trying to escape a video game by using a jackhammer. Yeah, and that was with ear plugs in.
Today I had the full-body PET scan. I was taken into a small, sterile room where the radioactive tracer was injected into my hand. The nurse dimmed the lights, closed the door and I spent the next 45 minutes in a comfy recliner trying not to move. I managed to pull that off by taking a little nap. After the 45 minutes were up I moved into the scanner and spent the next 30 minutes having the table I was laying on moved in and out of the scanner. Again, I was not to move so I dozed off. The only time I woke up was when "Waterfalls" by TLC came on the radio. What does that song even mean?!?!
Over the past few days I came up with an action plan for my hair. It seems that hair loss is a very strong possibility and the oncology nurse suggested I think about it sooner rather than later so tonight I got my haircut. I have been growing my hair out in order to donate to Locks of Love again and by cutting it very short I was able to hit the required length of 10" before I started chemo. It's pretty short but it will make the transition easier for me. I will deal with hair thinning/loss when it happens but for my own sanity I know I was able to help a child with cancer. Donating means so much more to me this time.
Me and my cute mama.
Cut, cut, cut.
I think I fell asleep for a minute or two.
The 'do.
Here's to Locks of Love!Tomorrow I have the echocardiogram and pulmonary function test and Thursday is the Portacath surgery. My brother will be here for the weekend and I am looking forward to some good laughs and a baseball game with him.
Overall, I am doing well. Physically I have no symptoms and I believe that helps my mental state as well. Having so many appointments also helps keep my mind focused on my day to day activities rather than the big scary thoughts that can consume me in a matter of minutes.
Please pray for smooth sailing at the tests tomorrow and a successful surgery on Thursday. Thank you all for your love and support.
The Last Month
I have been sending out email updates for awhile and thought I would post a few for those of you who have recently been added to the list. (Start at the bottom).
March 9 - "Oncology Appointment"
Yesterday was hard. There's really no other way to say it. Spending over 2 hours in a cancer treatment center wouldn't exactly be on my top ten list of things to do on a Tuesday afternoon. Ok, maybe it would if I was volunteering or something but it was about my own cancer treatment and it was hard. With that being said, it was also a very enlightening and educational experience. My oncologist (I never really wanted to claim one of these but I'll claim the one I got!) and his nurse were great. They clearly have a calling for this type of work. Dr. K2 was an optimistic straight shooter and Kathy was all about details and my comfort. I walked out of their office on information overload but am more clear on my treatment plan. The first step(s) will be a battery of tests and procedures over the next week to determine the stage of cancer, establish baseline readings and prepare me for my first round of chemo. This will include:
*Labwork (full panel screening of white and red blood cells, platelets, etc.)
*Echocardiogram (determine baseline cardiovascular health because of potential chemo effects on my heart)
*PET scan (a full body scan to determine if there is cancerous activity in any other areas of my body)
*MRI of my brain (screening of neurological activity, again to determine if the cancer has spread)
*Bone marrow biopsy (needle aspiration while I am under sedation, again to determine if the cancer has spread)
*Port placement surgery (outpatient surgery to install port in my chest that will allow for one line to be used for treatments and blood draws rather than multiple needle sticks)
That's a bit of an intimidating list but I'll be taking one step at a time. At this point Dr. K2 is hoping for Stage 2 Favorable Hodgkin's Lymphoma but that won't be finalized until all test results are back. I will begin chemo on Monday March 21st. We are hoping for 4, possibly 6, rounds of chemo with each round consisting of 2 treatments. Each treatment will take approximately 2-3 hours every other week. I will be getting 4 different medications at each treatment (I'll go over those in another email). For the time being my specific prayer requests would be that the cancer is localized to my chest area and I am able to get some sleep in the coming weeks. Thank you all so much for your support and prayers, I can't say that enough! Also, here is the website of the cancer center, it's an easy website to use with lots of information: www.ironwoodcrc.com.
March 7 - "Checking In"
Hello All,
Just a quick check-in after my meeting with Dr. S this afternoon. I didn't really learn anything new but did have a good conversation with him. He confirmed that I have Hodgkin's lymphoma but was not able to give me a stage because that is something the oncologist will do most likely after a pet scan. He did say that surgery would not be an option at this point so my treatment plan will most likely be chemo and/or radiation. I have my first appointment with an oncologist tomorrow afternoon and should know more after that. Although Dr. K is out on bed rest Dr. S has spoken with her to let her know what's going on and her nurse called to check in with me today (something I really appreciated). I will send another update tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for the continued prayers.
March 1 - "Faith"
"If you have great challenges, have greater faith." - Unknown
First and foremost I want to say that I am blessed with amazing family and friends and for that I am grateful. I know most of you have been anxiously awaiting an update on todays surgery but it has taken me a little while to figure out what to say. As much as I would like to speak to each of you individually that would be completely overwhelming at the moment and quite honestly I'm not sure my voice could handle it! There's really no easy way to say this so I'll just get to the point - the surgery went as scheduled and while I was in recovery Dr. S came in to speak with me and Gabi and shared that today's biopsy came back as lymphoma. He is not positive of what kind at this point but is leaning towards Hodgkin's. While this is obviously not what I had hoped for I will say that in a strange, strange way it brought a sense of relief. That feels weird to even say but it's true. The anxiety of this unknown is gone. We can work on a plan and move on. Typically I would go back to Dr. K to set up that plan but she is now out on maternity leave so Dr. S will take me under his wing and help me with the next steps. I meet with him on Monday to go over the specific type of lymphoma and what comes next. I would like to say at this point that I am doing well but at the same time I don't think everything has quite hit me yet. I do have a sense of peace but I won't say I'm not a little scared. I am at home recovering and feel pretty good (the Vicodin may take some of that credit). Gabi is a great nurse (my Mom has dubbed her an angel. I'm not arguing but don't tell her that!) and Theresa just delivered homemade turkey soup (yummy!), movies (only comedies) and magazines (the trashy kind!). :) I appreciate all of the emails, calls, texts and cards you all have sent. Thank you for the prayers, support and love. I feel it. The journey continues and I'm glad I have all of you on board!
February 24 - "Obstacles"
"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t go anywhere." -Unknown
I read this quote earlier today and latched onto it. It rings true for me in this moment. I spoke with Dr. S (my surgeon) a little while ago and it sounds like I'll be back in surgery on Tuesday. Two specimen came back as rare granulomas and he's not comfortable waiting to see what they grow in the lab (my cliff notes summary/interpretation of our conversation). He will be doing a mediastinoscopy this time. Depending on the time of day it is scheduled it will hopefully be an outpatient procedure. I have recovered nicely from my surgery on Tuesday - the expected sore throat and lethargy but nothing too crazy. I was back at work today and besides limited time on the phone (to avoid having to talk/swallow) it was a "normal" day. I'm not sure any of my officemates qualify as "normal" but they are second to none when it comes to moral support and helping me keep a smile on my face :) I have expanded my food choices to include yogurt, applesauce and pudding and at lunch I managed to eat some soup and soggy bread! Yuuuummmmy! I am looking forward to orange chicken and hot 'n sour soup from PF Changs for dinner tonight. Have I mentioned how awesome my roommate is? She was my chauffeur and babysitter on Tuesday and Wednesday. And tonight she will be delivery driver. What a friend! Dr. S and the rest of the operating room staff at St. Josephs were great. I didn't want to see them again (especially so soon) but I know I'll be in good hands. Thank you all so much for your continued prayers, calls, emails. They are much appreciated. I am anxious to be done with all this and look forward to sending the email that we're in the clear!
March 9 - "Oncology Appointment"
Yesterday was hard. There's really no other way to say it. Spending over 2 hours in a cancer treatment center wouldn't exactly be on my top ten list of things to do on a Tuesday afternoon. Ok, maybe it would if I was volunteering or something but it was about my own cancer treatment and it was hard. With that being said, it was also a very enlightening and educational experience. My oncologist (I never really wanted to claim one of these but I'll claim the one I got!) and his nurse were great. They clearly have a calling for this type of work. Dr. K2 was an optimistic straight shooter and Kathy was all about details and my comfort. I walked out of their office on information overload but am more clear on my treatment plan. The first step(s) will be a battery of tests and procedures over the next week to determine the stage of cancer, establish baseline readings and prepare me for my first round of chemo. This will include:
*Labwork (full panel screening of white and red blood cells, platelets, etc.)
*Echocardiogram (determine baseline cardiovascular health because of potential chemo effects on my heart)
*PET scan (a full body scan to determine if there is cancerous activity in any other areas of my body)
*MRI of my brain (screening of neurological activity, again to determine if the cancer has spread)
*Bone marrow biopsy (needle aspiration while I am under sedation, again to determine if the cancer has spread)
*Port placement surgery (outpatient surgery to install port in my chest that will allow for one line to be used for treatments and blood draws rather than multiple needle sticks)
That's a bit of an intimidating list but I'll be taking one step at a time. At this point Dr. K2 is hoping for Stage 2 Favorable Hodgkin's Lymphoma but that won't be finalized until all test results are back. I will begin chemo on Monday March 21st. We are hoping for 4, possibly 6, rounds of chemo with each round consisting of 2 treatments. Each treatment will take approximately 2-3 hours every other week. I will be getting 4 different medications at each treatment (I'll go over those in another email). For the time being my specific prayer requests would be that the cancer is localized to my chest area and I am able to get some sleep in the coming weeks. Thank you all so much for your support and prayers, I can't say that enough! Also, here is the website of the cancer center, it's an easy website to use with lots of information: www.ironwoodcrc.com.
March 7 - "Checking In"
Hello All,
Just a quick check-in after my meeting with Dr. S this afternoon. I didn't really learn anything new but did have a good conversation with him. He confirmed that I have Hodgkin's lymphoma but was not able to give me a stage because that is something the oncologist will do most likely after a pet scan. He did say that surgery would not be an option at this point so my treatment plan will most likely be chemo and/or radiation. I have my first appointment with an oncologist tomorrow afternoon and should know more after that. Although Dr. K is out on bed rest Dr. S has spoken with her to let her know what's going on and her nurse called to check in with me today (something I really appreciated). I will send another update tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for the continued prayers.
March 1 - "Faith"
"If you have great challenges, have greater faith." - Unknown
First and foremost I want to say that I am blessed with amazing family and friends and for that I am grateful. I know most of you have been anxiously awaiting an update on todays surgery but it has taken me a little while to figure out what to say. As much as I would like to speak to each of you individually that would be completely overwhelming at the moment and quite honestly I'm not sure my voice could handle it! There's really no easy way to say this so I'll just get to the point - the surgery went as scheduled and while I was in recovery Dr. S came in to speak with me and Gabi and shared that today's biopsy came back as lymphoma. He is not positive of what kind at this point but is leaning towards Hodgkin's. While this is obviously not what I had hoped for I will say that in a strange, strange way it brought a sense of relief. That feels weird to even say but it's true. The anxiety of this unknown is gone. We can work on a plan and move on. Typically I would go back to Dr. K to set up that plan but she is now out on maternity leave so Dr. S will take me under his wing and help me with the next steps. I meet with him on Monday to go over the specific type of lymphoma and what comes next. I would like to say at this point that I am doing well but at the same time I don't think everything has quite hit me yet. I do have a sense of peace but I won't say I'm not a little scared. I am at home recovering and feel pretty good (the Vicodin may take some of that credit). Gabi is a great nurse (my Mom has dubbed her an angel. I'm not arguing but don't tell her that!) and Theresa just delivered homemade turkey soup (yummy!), movies (only comedies) and magazines (the trashy kind!). :) I appreciate all of the emails, calls, texts and cards you all have sent. Thank you for the prayers, support and love. I feel it. The journey continues and I'm glad I have all of you on board!
February 24 - "Obstacles"
"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t go anywhere." -Unknown
I read this quote earlier today and latched onto it. It rings true for me in this moment. I spoke with Dr. S (my surgeon) a little while ago and it sounds like I'll be back in surgery on Tuesday. Two specimen came back as rare granulomas and he's not comfortable waiting to see what they grow in the lab (my cliff notes summary/interpretation of our conversation). He will be doing a mediastinoscopy this time. Depending on the time of day it is scheduled it will hopefully be an outpatient procedure. I have recovered nicely from my surgery on Tuesday - the expected sore throat and lethargy but nothing too crazy. I was back at work today and besides limited time on the phone (to avoid having to talk/swallow) it was a "normal" day. I'm not sure any of my officemates qualify as "normal" but they are second to none when it comes to moral support and helping me keep a smile on my face :) I have expanded my food choices to include yogurt, applesauce and pudding and at lunch I managed to eat some soup and soggy bread! Yuuuummmmy! I am looking forward to orange chicken and hot 'n sour soup from PF Changs for dinner tonight. Have I mentioned how awesome my roommate is? She was my chauffeur and babysitter on Tuesday and Wednesday. And tonight she will be delivery driver. What a friend! Dr. S and the rest of the operating room staff at St. Josephs were great. I didn't want to see them again (especially so soon) but I know I'll be in good hands. Thank you all so much for your continued prayers, calls, emails. They are much appreciated. I am anxious to be done with all this and look forward to sending the email that we're in the clear!
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