YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
My biopsy came back NEGATIVE so that means only 3 Chemo treatments!
Oh, and better yet, NO MORE BONE MARROW BIOPSIES!!!!!
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Check out the SmartShopper!!
Just a brief interruption to the day...not much to post other than I NEED THIS!!! Check out what Blessings Abound is giving away to one lucky blog reader! The SMARTSHOPPER will be the perfect necessity to my "grocery store loving household" and so handy for Randy when I am not feeling up to shopping. Just press the record button, speak and it will catagorize AND print a list!!
Stop by, take a look, leave a comment or subscribe to Jacqueline's blog and maybe you will be the winner!
Stop by, take a look, leave a comment or subscribe to Jacqueline's blog and maybe you will be the winner!
Halfway there...almost!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 6:58pm
Today was visit number 11 out of 25 visits to the big radiation machine. Still, there is not much to tell.
I am patiently awaiting the results of my Bone Marrow Biopsy that I had last Thursday. I tried to call all day today but the lines were busy...yes all day!! If the results come back in my favor, it will reduce my length of Chemo to only 3 treatments - one every three weeks. I am seriously praying harder than ever for that because I have talked to several people about the side effects of "RCHOP Therapy" and they are not nice! I fear if I have to take Prednisone for too long, I will end up divorced or in prison...(it's a joke!). Anyway, I may not have many friends during that treatment.
Oh, before I forget...the best thing to come out of last Thursday...RANDY LIKES MY DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!! Randy hates doctors so this is a major thing...I promise you!! I want him to feel comfortable with my treatment and the doctors that are treating me so I am thrilled more than ever about it!
Okay folks...enough rambling...American Idol is on and I am tired so that's all for now.
Hopefully I will have some good news to share soon...TTFN!!
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit
Today was visit number 11 out of 25 visits to the big radiation machine. Still, there is not much to tell.
I am patiently awaiting the results of my Bone Marrow Biopsy that I had last Thursday. I tried to call all day today but the lines were busy...yes all day!! If the results come back in my favor, it will reduce my length of Chemo to only 3 treatments - one every three weeks. I am seriously praying harder than ever for that because I have talked to several people about the side effects of "RCHOP Therapy" and they are not nice! I fear if I have to take Prednisone for too long, I will end up divorced or in prison...(it's a joke!). Anyway, I may not have many friends during that treatment.
Oh, before I forget...the best thing to come out of last Thursday...RANDY LIKES MY DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!! Randy hates doctors so this is a major thing...I promise you!! I want him to feel comfortable with my treatment and the doctors that are treating me so I am thrilled more than ever about it!
Okay folks...enough rambling...American Idol is on and I am tired so that's all for now.
Hopefully I will have some good news to share soon...TTFN!!
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit
What day is this? 7 I think...
I know you were expecting news from the visit with my Radiation Oncologist yesterday and I must apologize for not blogging last night. After doing some running around with my girls, I got home and was just beat. I got on Facebook and learned some really cool stuff that I am going to tell you about before I explain with Dr. Gilbert told me.
Back in December I was sitting in the Radiology wating room drinking my lovely Apple Barium, getting ready for a CT Scan. Well as people came and went I looked around the room, feeling very alone becuase this time I chose to go alone. No mom, no hubby, just me. So I saw this friendly young lady sitting behind me and I turned to comment to her probably on the job of gulping down the 2 big cups of Apple Barium. We chatted for a few minutes and she told me her story. I was in awe over how her Cancer was discovered and how open she was to talk to me about it. So off I went for my CT and told her goodbye. Little did I know this same lady was a girl I went to school with and one I reconnected with on Facebook just a few short days ago. As we started chatting last night, one thing lead to another and it seems she was my friend in the waiting room! Small world!! God is so amazing with the way he brings people in to others lives for comfort & support and probably a whole slew of other reasons. She and I even have the same Hemotology Oncologist...it's really pretty wild! Just had to share that with you...she is a great new friend and I am glad I can talk to her about my situation if need be!
So on to what the Radiation Oncologist said....first off in answer to my question as to how we would know the Radiation is working...he said in a few months I would go in for another PET Scan to see how my shoulder looked. No problem...I can do that. Next they looked at my skin and gave me the A+ on that. Aside from a bit of itching, it looked good. Then I asked him about the pain and why is it getting worse than better. It seems to be radiating down my arm and at times, my arm feels broken. Basically the bone is being "remodeled"...the cells are being killed with the Radiation and the bone has to "regrow" healthy cells so the pain I am feeling is normal for now. I have been dragging my behind for the last two days just feeling plain YUCKY which could very well be part of the treatment as my body is working harder to make good cells or something like that. They told me to boost my immune system with vitamin C or something like that. I think I will be eating them by the dozen as I already eat several oranges a day. I am just beginning to feel like I've been run over by a dump truck and I don't like that at all! I guess it could be all the sick people that I have come in contact with lately too...blech to germs!!
Oh, and as for the weight loss...nix that idea for a while. They don't want me to lose too much because it will alter the whole set up with my tattoos and lining me up each day. Then again, I shouldn't be gaining weight either cause that might mess it up too! It's a no win situation...oh well...better days are ahead...it is temporary!
Tomorrow is my bone marrow biopsy and I was terrified of the pain until my wonderful mommy reminded me that not only have I experienced Childbirth twice but I have had Kidney Stones 4 times at least! She said there is no way this could be worse than my last Kidney Stone issue in August of 08. She is soooo right! I will still go in mellow and relaxed with some help from my Xanax or Ambien just so I don't cuss the doctor *I like him* too much =)
Okay folks, off to be tonight...thanks for your kind comments & for proving to me someone does read my blogs!!
It is idle to dread what you cannot avoid.
~Publius Syrus
Back in December I was sitting in the Radiology wating room drinking my lovely Apple Barium, getting ready for a CT Scan. Well as people came and went I looked around the room, feeling very alone becuase this time I chose to go alone. No mom, no hubby, just me. So I saw this friendly young lady sitting behind me and I turned to comment to her probably on the job of gulping down the 2 big cups of Apple Barium. We chatted for a few minutes and she told me her story. I was in awe over how her Cancer was discovered and how open she was to talk to me about it. So off I went for my CT and told her goodbye. Little did I know this same lady was a girl I went to school with and one I reconnected with on Facebook just a few short days ago. As we started chatting last night, one thing lead to another and it seems she was my friend in the waiting room! Small world!! God is so amazing with the way he brings people in to others lives for comfort & support and probably a whole slew of other reasons. She and I even have the same Hemotology Oncologist...it's really pretty wild! Just had to share that with you...she is a great new friend and I am glad I can talk to her about my situation if need be!
So on to what the Radiation Oncologist said....first off in answer to my question as to how we would know the Radiation is working...he said in a few months I would go in for another PET Scan to see how my shoulder looked. No problem...I can do that. Next they looked at my skin and gave me the A+ on that. Aside from a bit of itching, it looked good. Then I asked him about the pain and why is it getting worse than better. It seems to be radiating down my arm and at times, my arm feels broken. Basically the bone is being "remodeled"...the cells are being killed with the Radiation and the bone has to "regrow" healthy cells so the pain I am feeling is normal for now. I have been dragging my behind for the last two days just feeling plain YUCKY which could very well be part of the treatment as my body is working harder to make good cells or something like that. They told me to boost my immune system with vitamin C or something like that. I think I will be eating them by the dozen as I already eat several oranges a day. I am just beginning to feel like I've been run over by a dump truck and I don't like that at all! I guess it could be all the sick people that I have come in contact with lately too...blech to germs!!
Oh, and as for the weight loss...nix that idea for a while. They don't want me to lose too much because it will alter the whole set up with my tattoos and lining me up each day. Then again, I shouldn't be gaining weight either cause that might mess it up too! It's a no win situation...oh well...better days are ahead...it is temporary!
Tomorrow is my bone marrow biopsy and I was terrified of the pain until my wonderful mommy reminded me that not only have I experienced Childbirth twice but I have had Kidney Stones 4 times at least! She said there is no way this could be worse than my last Kidney Stone issue in August of 08. She is soooo right! I will still go in mellow and relaxed with some help from my Xanax or Ambien just so I don't cuss the doctor *I like him* too much =)
Okay folks, off to be tonight...thanks for your kind comments & for proving to me someone does read my blogs!!
It is idle to dread what you cannot avoid.
~Publius Syrus
Whew...I am tired!
January 19, 2009
Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait in between posts. I know you were just sitting at your computers waiting on the next blog post from me...lol...NOT!
This extra long weekend had me busy with the funeral and visiting with extended family and preparing for a garage sale in the next 4 weeks that I wasn't on the computer at all until now. I checked my mail and Facebook once from my phone but that was it. It seems like I don't have the desire to be on my computer as much lately as I used to. I suppose that is a good thing since I have found I have a lot more going on away from the computer that on it. I was so wrapped up with cleaning out things for the garage sale that I didn't even go to the grocery store Saturday...Randy did! That is going to be a great way to save money. He goes for what is on the list and nothing else...unlike me, who likes to look at everything and buy stuff we don't absolutly NEED.
I think this whole Cancer thing must come in waves because right now my life is pretty boring. The beginning stages were so nerve wracking with the constant testing that I should totally appreciate this "lull" because from what I hear, the best is yet to come. Best being Chemo. YUCK, UGH, BLAH! It is almost like having a baby and going in to that "nesting" phase. I am preparing for the worst but praying for the best and by preparing I mean tieing up loose ends, cleaning my house, talking to my boss & HR about possible Telecommuting, talking to Randy's people about him having time off when I need him...and so on, and so on.
My family is the best! From my mom being by my side through this whole ordeal so far to my sister-in-law and her parents taking care of getting the kids home from school so I can stay at work late to make up time missed to my other sister-in-law bringing us goodies every time she makes a trip to Costco...they are awesome! I know for a fact, I could have never gotten this far alone. I wouldn't want to that's for sure!! I love them all so much - words just can't express how much I appreciate them! The outpouring of love and support has been amazing - thank you to all of you!! I have reconnected with old schoolmates recently on Facebook and even people I hardly knew have offered help. Between my friends, my family and my Church family, I CAN DO THIS! I may have "down" days and "crabby" days (sorry Randy, I love you!!) but at least I am alive to experience those days...right? Right!
I have read (which I do too much sometimes) that a great way to fight the fatigue that comes with Radiation & Chemo is to throw in a little excercise when you can so Kailee and I have challenged each other to lose 10lbs in the next 4 weeks. That may be a little steep but I am wanting to get back to my last Weight Watchers weight before Chemo starts so that I won't gain back everything I lost last year. Yes, I said Chemo & GAIN in the same sentance. The "poison" my Oncologist is going to be using has the lovely side effect of WEIGHT GAIN! Hair LOSS and weight GAIN! I don't get that. In a perfect world it would be weight LOSS and hair GAIN! By hair gain, I mean I would have lovely long locks when this was all over with...and still, who knows, when it grows back I just may!
Sooo, anyway, back to our challenge...tonight, Kailee and I got back on the Wii Fit and weighed in. It had been a long time since either of us had been on that thing. (I was only up 2.9 lbs from the last time I was on.) Now it will be every day for at least 10 to 15 minutes for me. I am going to start slow I think. Maybe I will encorporate walking at lunch back in to my day...what do you think Mom??? Sound good? I think I can spare 30 minutes for my health at least a few times a week now that I am not rushing out the door to get the kids after school.
Okay...I have gone on and on about much of nothing for 30 minutes and now you should all feel so much better...I am alive and doing well and full of no news...that is good news right? Keep praying for that no news thing! I have my 1st appointment with my R.O. since starting Radiation and I have a few questions to ask...1st one being, how do you know this is working? The next one is "if this is working, why exactly do I have to do Chemo?"...that one was Randy's question...but I agree with him. Anyway, I am praying that there will be no surprises and just positive things from him! That will be tomorrows blog...
I am outta here for the night...I am tired but still have a little laundry to do, my lunch for tomorrow to make and my shower to take =)
Hope everyone has a great evening and a very happy Tuesday!!
Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day. ~Author Unknown
Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait in between posts. I know you were just sitting at your computers waiting on the next blog post from me...lol...NOT!
This extra long weekend had me busy with the funeral and visiting with extended family and preparing for a garage sale in the next 4 weeks that I wasn't on the computer at all until now. I checked my mail and Facebook once from my phone but that was it. It seems like I don't have the desire to be on my computer as much lately as I used to. I suppose that is a good thing since I have found I have a lot more going on away from the computer that on it. I was so wrapped up with cleaning out things for the garage sale that I didn't even go to the grocery store Saturday...Randy did! That is going to be a great way to save money. He goes for what is on the list and nothing else...unlike me, who likes to look at everything and buy stuff we don't absolutly NEED.
I think this whole Cancer thing must come in waves because right now my life is pretty boring. The beginning stages were so nerve wracking with the constant testing that I should totally appreciate this "lull" because from what I hear, the best is yet to come. Best being Chemo. YUCK, UGH, BLAH! It is almost like having a baby and going in to that "nesting" phase. I am preparing for the worst but praying for the best and by preparing I mean tieing up loose ends, cleaning my house, talking to my boss & HR about possible Telecommuting, talking to Randy's people about him having time off when I need him...and so on, and so on.
My family is the best! From my mom being by my side through this whole ordeal so far to my sister-in-law and her parents taking care of getting the kids home from school so I can stay at work late to make up time missed to my other sister-in-law bringing us goodies every time she makes a trip to Costco...they are awesome! I know for a fact, I could have never gotten this far alone. I wouldn't want to that's for sure!! I love them all so much - words just can't express how much I appreciate them! The outpouring of love and support has been amazing - thank you to all of you!! I have reconnected with old schoolmates recently on Facebook and even people I hardly knew have offered help. Between my friends, my family and my Church family, I CAN DO THIS! I may have "down" days and "crabby" days (sorry Randy, I love you!!) but at least I am alive to experience those days...right? Right!
I have read (which I do too much sometimes) that a great way to fight the fatigue that comes with Radiation & Chemo is to throw in a little excercise when you can so Kailee and I have challenged each other to lose 10lbs in the next 4 weeks. That may be a little steep but I am wanting to get back to my last Weight Watchers weight before Chemo starts so that I won't gain back everything I lost last year. Yes, I said Chemo & GAIN in the same sentance. The "poison" my Oncologist is going to be using has the lovely side effect of WEIGHT GAIN! Hair LOSS and weight GAIN! I don't get that. In a perfect world it would be weight LOSS and hair GAIN! By hair gain, I mean I would have lovely long locks when this was all over with...and still, who knows, when it grows back I just may!
Sooo, anyway, back to our challenge...tonight, Kailee and I got back on the Wii Fit and weighed in. It had been a long time since either of us had been on that thing. (I was only up 2.9 lbs from the last time I was on.) Now it will be every day for at least 10 to 15 minutes for me. I am going to start slow I think. Maybe I will encorporate walking at lunch back in to my day...what do you think Mom??? Sound good? I think I can spare 30 minutes for my health at least a few times a week now that I am not rushing out the door to get the kids after school.
Okay...I have gone on and on about much of nothing for 30 minutes and now you should all feel so much better...I am alive and doing well and full of no news...that is good news right? Keep praying for that no news thing! I have my 1st appointment with my R.O. since starting Radiation and I have a few questions to ask...1st one being, how do you know this is working? The next one is "if this is working, why exactly do I have to do Chemo?"...that one was Randy's question...but I agree with him. Anyway, I am praying that there will be no surprises and just positive things from him! That will be tomorrows blog...
I am outta here for the night...I am tired but still have a little laundry to do, my lunch for tomorrow to make and my shower to take =)
Hope everyone has a great evening and a very happy Tuesday!!
Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day. ~Author Unknown
On the 3rd day of Radiation...Can we turn some heat up please??
January 15, 2009
Another good day today but it is soooooo cold! What is with this confused Texas weather??
Thanks to this blog, I heard from a very dear friend today...that is my silver lining. We had not talked in a long time so it was really good to talk about old times and laugh about crazy things I used to do. Apparently, she and I are much alike on our ideas about laundry...I love it. No, I hate laundry, but I love it that we think alike!
Nothing much new to report on the radiation therapy. The technicians were able to line up my marks a lot quicker today so I was in & out in about 15 minutes. I am still waiting to see the so called "side effects". I do notice that I am dragging a little more than normal but I doubt very seriously that is due to being zapped daily! More than likely it is the discomfort from the shoulder pain since I can't have my Remicade infusions anymore. Confused? No clue what I am talking about? Click on that link up there and read the "safety warning" posted on the Remicade website. What really blows is that I actually liked the stuff. It took away the pain for about 4 weeks. Isn't is amazing that a medication given to help one problem could potentially cause Cancer? Oh wait, I remember hearing the oil used to fry french fries can cause Cancer too...and doughnuts...they are fried in carcinogen filled grease...that doesn't stop me from eating them though. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it? I think I need therapy...soooo...next time I even mention fast food or a quick fix for breakfast, somebody slap some sense in to me...FOR MY OWN GOOD!!
And to Stephanie...yes, I think Dark Chocolate can be considered medicinal...I think I will go out and grab a bag of chocolates and turn in the reciept on Randy's flexible spending plan!! Thanks for the tip girlfriend! I love ya =)
Okay, I must wrap up my ramblings for the evening. Tomorrow comes too quickly and I am not prepared for the day~
I would like to ask a special request to my friends & family...will you all remember Randy & his family in your prayers please? His Aunt passed away last Monday and we will be traveling to Athens to celebrate her life. She was a very special lady and she will be missed by all.
Until next time...
Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it like the flu.
Someone smiled at me today,
And I started smiling too.
~Author Unknown
Another good day today but it is soooooo cold! What is with this confused Texas weather??
Thanks to this blog, I heard from a very dear friend today...that is my silver lining. We had not talked in a long time so it was really good to talk about old times and laugh about crazy things I used to do. Apparently, she and I are much alike on our ideas about laundry...I love it. No, I hate laundry, but I love it that we think alike!
Nothing much new to report on the radiation therapy. The technicians were able to line up my marks a lot quicker today so I was in & out in about 15 minutes. I am still waiting to see the so called "side effects". I do notice that I am dragging a little more than normal but I doubt very seriously that is due to being zapped daily! More than likely it is the discomfort from the shoulder pain since I can't have my Remicade infusions anymore. Confused? No clue what I am talking about? Click on that link up there and read the "safety warning" posted on the Remicade website. What really blows is that I actually liked the stuff. It took away the pain for about 4 weeks. Isn't is amazing that a medication given to help one problem could potentially cause Cancer? Oh wait, I remember hearing the oil used to fry french fries can cause Cancer too...and doughnuts...they are fried in carcinogen filled grease...that doesn't stop me from eating them though. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it? I think I need therapy...soooo...next time I even mention fast food or a quick fix for breakfast, somebody slap some sense in to me...FOR MY OWN GOOD!!
And to Stephanie...yes, I think Dark Chocolate can be considered medicinal...I think I will go out and grab a bag of chocolates and turn in the reciept on Randy's flexible spending plan!! Thanks for the tip girlfriend! I love ya =)
Okay, I must wrap up my ramblings for the evening. Tomorrow comes too quickly and I am not prepared for the day~
I would like to ask a special request to my friends & family...will you all remember Randy & his family in your prayers please? His Aunt passed away last Monday and we will be traveling to Athens to celebrate her life. She was a very special lady and she will be missed by all.
Until next time...
Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it like the flu.
Someone smiled at me today,
And I started smiling too.
~Author Unknown
Day 2...only 23 more to go!!
January 14, 2009
Day 2 and I am still not "done"...lol. Today's "nuke session" was nothing special compared to yesterday and the ink mess! I got there at my appointed time and changed in to my lovely gown & robe and went to sit and wait until I got called in. A few minutes of waiting and a familiar face walks in! A gentleman we go to church with is being treated at the same place! I am sorry he is dealing with this too but it was nice to see a friend.
Okay, so back to the fun! I get in and situated on the table and it takes the technicians 10 minutes to get all of my "pencil stabs" lined up with the machine. Yes, today my tats look like someone stabbed me with a pencil and the lead is still there...pretty! So once I am lined up, they say "okay, here's your treatment" and they leave the room. The machine comes on and I count...one one-thousand, two one-thousand...and so on. The total time for my radiation...30 seconds! 15 for the front, 15 for the back. I am blown away that in only one minutes time total, I have hit my maximum out of pocket expense for the year! I am not sure what the tab is up to as of today but I do know all I am out is $3800.00. Now my prescriptions, co-pays & any other testing they may do is FREE!!!!!!! YIPEE!!! See, there is a silver lining for the day!
Until tomorrow...keep smiling...I am!
Day 2 and I am still not "done"...lol. Today's "nuke session" was nothing special compared to yesterday and the ink mess! I got there at my appointed time and changed in to my lovely gown & robe and went to sit and wait until I got called in. A few minutes of waiting and a familiar face walks in! A gentleman we go to church with is being treated at the same place! I am sorry he is dealing with this too but it was nice to see a friend.
Okay, so back to the fun! I get in and situated on the table and it takes the technicians 10 minutes to get all of my "pencil stabs" lined up with the machine. Yes, today my tats look like someone stabbed me with a pencil and the lead is still there...pretty! So once I am lined up, they say "okay, here's your treatment" and they leave the room. The machine comes on and I count...one one-thousand, two one-thousand...and so on. The total time for my radiation...30 seconds! 15 for the front, 15 for the back. I am blown away that in only one minutes time total, I have hit my maximum out of pocket expense for the year! I am not sure what the tab is up to as of today but I do know all I am out is $3800.00. Now my prescriptions, co-pays & any other testing they may do is FREE!!!!!!! YIPEE!!! See, there is a silver lining for the day!
Until tomorrow...keep smiling...I am!
Radiation - Day 1
January 13, 2009
I realize that I have skipped many details from the day I was diagnosed until today, day 1 of my 25 day radiation but I am pretty sure in time, it will all come out. Not in the order it happened but it will come out. For now, here are the basics of it all:
I have a Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Edward Gilbert, a Hematology Oncologist, Dr. Manish Gupta, and an Orthopedic Oncologist, Dr. Al Mollabashy. I will have 25 days of IMRT at Northpoint Cancer Center with Dr. Gilbert and then 3-4 months of CHOP Chemo with Dr. Gupta. I am not exactly sure what my relationship with Dr. Mollabashy will be anymore but still, I am supposed to visit with him some time next month. He left his permanant mark on me Dec. 23rd when he did the biopsy. He has officially been banned from anymore physical contact with my shoulder...haha...nah, he is a nice guy, I swear!
The radiation therapy is first. I started that today and I tell you, I look like I let a toddler loose on my upper body with a black Sharpie!! The radiation itself wasn't too bad but in order to be able to line me up properly each time, I had to be marked on and tattooed with a needle that resembled something used to knit a sweater! Okay, not really, more like a sewing needle. I used to think I wanted a tattoo but after today I have decided that I was a IDIOT! No offense if you have beautiful artwork on your body...you are a stronger person that me! My tattoos are more like a dot to dot page in a coloring book. I asked for hearts and stars but I guess with radiation, you don't get a choice...they aren't professional tattoo artists...they are my own team of professional killers! Cancer cell killers, that is.
I have a whole new skin regimine to go along with this that includes 100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel, Huggies Natural Baby Wipes, Johnson & Johnson Pure Cornstarch Baby Powder, Basis soap and sports bras. No metal anything is to even so much as think about coming near my "radiation zone". No shaving, no deoderant, no perfumes, no sunlight & no support bras *eeek!* Pretty soon I will have no friends...kidding!!
The day I walked in the house with the baby wipes and baby powder, my youngest daughter walked in and asked if we were having a new baby. The expression on her face was priceless even though she is very well aware that couldn't possibly happen...but still, she is so cute...for a teenager =)
Enough already about today. It was the most exciting, I am sure but there are 24 more to go so I should save fun for the rest of the days to come!
I realize that I have skipped many details from the day I was diagnosed until today, day 1 of my 25 day radiation but I am pretty sure in time, it will all come out. Not in the order it happened but it will come out. For now, here are the basics of it all:
I have a Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Edward Gilbert, a Hematology Oncologist, Dr. Manish Gupta, and an Orthopedic Oncologist, Dr. Al Mollabashy. I will have 25 days of IMRT at Northpoint Cancer Center with Dr. Gilbert and then 3-4 months of CHOP Chemo with Dr. Gupta. I am not exactly sure what my relationship with Dr. Mollabashy will be anymore but still, I am supposed to visit with him some time next month. He left his permanant mark on me Dec. 23rd when he did the biopsy. He has officially been banned from anymore physical contact with my shoulder...haha...nah, he is a nice guy, I swear!
The radiation therapy is first. I started that today and I tell you, I look like I let a toddler loose on my upper body with a black Sharpie!! The radiation itself wasn't too bad but in order to be able to line me up properly each time, I had to be marked on and tattooed with a needle that resembled something used to knit a sweater! Okay, not really, more like a sewing needle. I used to think I wanted a tattoo but after today I have decided that I was a IDIOT! No offense if you have beautiful artwork on your body...you are a stronger person that me! My tattoos are more like a dot to dot page in a coloring book. I asked for hearts and stars but I guess with radiation, you don't get a choice...they aren't professional tattoo artists...they are my own team of professional killers! Cancer cell killers, that is.
I have a whole new skin regimine to go along with this that includes 100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel, Huggies Natural Baby Wipes, Johnson & Johnson Pure Cornstarch Baby Powder, Basis soap and sports bras. No metal anything is to even so much as think about coming near my "radiation zone". No shaving, no deoderant, no perfumes, no sunlight & no support bras *eeek!* Pretty soon I will have no friends...kidding!!
The day I walked in the house with the baby wipes and baby powder, my youngest daughter walked in and asked if we were having a new baby. The expression on her face was priceless even though she is very well aware that couldn't possibly happen...but still, she is so cute...for a teenager =)
Enough already about today. It was the most exciting, I am sure but there are 24 more to go so I should save fun for the rest of the days to come!
And so my journey begins...
January 13, 2009
I have decided to create this blog as a place to share my progress with friends and family as well as a place of inspiration to anyone that passes this way that might be dealing with Lymphoma or know someone that is.
I was diagnosed on December 30, 2008. It was all a big fluke to begin with and I won't drag out the long details here but just know, something as little as an ongoing pain in my shoulder turned out to be Malignant B Cell Lymphoma. The Pathology report shows a much longer diagnosis but I don't have it with me and really, it doesn't matter anyway. My case is considered rare to the doctors that are treating me because it is not in the Lymphatic system...it is in my bone. In fact, the Orthopedic Oncologist that did the biopsy was a little stumped I think. They have all "heard" of this...but never have they seen anyone with it until now. Leave it to me to be unique. I always have been just a little different than others and guess what? That is what makes me me!
I chose to call this an adventure rather than a battle because Webster's Dictionary defines "Battle" as:
1. a hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces.
2. participation in such hostile encounters or engagements.
3. a fight between two persons or animals.
4. any conflict or struggle.
and "Adventure" as:
1. an exciting or very unusual experience.
2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.
3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.
4. a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.
5. Obsolete.
a. peril; danger; risk.
b. chance; fortune; luck.
If you had a choice, which sounds like more fun? This "adventure" is a gift from God. It is something I have been given for reasons unknown to me. It is something that will help me to learn and grown and maybe even give me an opportunity to help someone else in the future.
I have accepted this gift, though not graciously, I will be the first to admit. I have cried many tears, expressed pity and anger and even whined about how unfair it was. That is my right though. I am entitled. I am sure there will be many more twists and turns on my adventure that I may not like or be able to laugh about but I will find a way to overcome all obstacles that may get in the way...
I have decided to create this blog as a place to share my progress with friends and family as well as a place of inspiration to anyone that passes this way that might be dealing with Lymphoma or know someone that is.
I was diagnosed on December 30, 2008. It was all a big fluke to begin with and I won't drag out the long details here but just know, something as little as an ongoing pain in my shoulder turned out to be Malignant B Cell Lymphoma. The Pathology report shows a much longer diagnosis but I don't have it with me and really, it doesn't matter anyway. My case is considered rare to the doctors that are treating me because it is not in the Lymphatic system...it is in my bone. In fact, the Orthopedic Oncologist that did the biopsy was a little stumped I think. They have all "heard" of this...but never have they seen anyone with it until now. Leave it to me to be unique. I always have been just a little different than others and guess what? That is what makes me me!
I chose to call this an adventure rather than a battle because Webster's Dictionary defines "Battle" as:
1. a hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces.
2. participation in such hostile encounters or engagements.
3. a fight between two persons or animals.
4. any conflict or struggle.
and "Adventure" as:
1. an exciting or very unusual experience.
2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.
3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.
4. a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.
5. Obsolete.
a. peril; danger; risk.
b. chance; fortune; luck.
If you had a choice, which sounds like more fun? This "adventure" is a gift from God. It is something I have been given for reasons unknown to me. It is something that will help me to learn and grown and maybe even give me an opportunity to help someone else in the future.
I have accepted this gift, though not graciously, I will be the first to admit. I have cried many tears, expressed pity and anger and even whined about how unfair it was. That is my right though. I am entitled. I am sure there will be many more twists and turns on my adventure that I may not like or be able to laugh about but I will find a way to overcome all obstacles that may get in the way...
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