We have been here one full week and a lot has happened. We have started down the new path with radiation. I will have treatments twice a day and have completed my first treatment of the day. Nothing to it so far. My next milestone is next Wednesday when Dr. Enke takes a look to see if there is any progress with a CT scan.
Thanks for all of the letters, calls, emails, gifts, prayers and support! Also, a special thanks to Sarah who has been sneaking meals in for Stephen at Walker's school....he has really enjoyed them :) :)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
You reap what you sow...
Well I had no idea that I had been "sow'n" some stem cells, but according to our harvest...that is exactly what I have been doing! Stem cell harvest usually takes 4 days on average and rarely do they see someone finish in the first session. When I got the call today, Jo said I "rocked the stem cell harvest" and my numbers were at the top of their goal. This is great news for several reasons.... I will not have to sit hooked to the apherisis machine for 3 more days, I do not need any more growth factor shots (so no more bone pain or the pain killers that go with it), I will start radiation sooner, and most importantly....I will go HOME sooner!!! YIPEEEE!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Boot Straps...
Thank God for boot straps b/c Team Alberty sure has needed them a lot lately! We received some less than pleasant news from the PET as you may have realized from Mickey's email update, but we still have a plan. As a financial planner (and a control freak) this plan brings me much comfort :)
We have started the initial phase of the stem cell process. They will begin harvesting cells on Monday. I will begin aggressive radiation therapy on the following Monday for two weeks. After the first week of radiation they will check to see if it is working.....it IS going to work this time!!!! Then, on with the chemo phase of the stem cell transplant...and finally the transplant. Then a brief recovery and then HOME!!!
OK, so it has been a while since I have given my family a shout out. First, to my husband who has remained a ROCK for me and Walker throughout this process. Also to my parents who have offered endless support in too many ways to list! It is a true blessing to see how family and friends can rally in support during a crisis. I am humbled and grateful :)
A mention about the weather...it seems that you all are getting some cold snow too...we had -5 today (not windchill). Fortunately, I am spending most the time inside only getting in and out the shuttle and have not really felt the cold yet. The snow is so pretty. I enjoy looking at it from the warmth of the hotel restaurant with a cup of coffee in my hands.
Lastly, today is a really good day! Even though we got some tough news we are still finding a way to stay positive. My radiation oncologist is WONDERFUL! And, I have every confidence that he is going to make this work.
We have started the initial phase of the stem cell process. They will begin harvesting cells on Monday. I will begin aggressive radiation therapy on the following Monday for two weeks. After the first week of radiation they will check to see if it is working.....it IS going to work this time!!!! Then, on with the chemo phase of the stem cell transplant...and finally the transplant. Then a brief recovery and then HOME!!!
OK, so it has been a while since I have given my family a shout out. First, to my husband who has remained a ROCK for me and Walker throughout this process. Also to my parents who have offered endless support in too many ways to list! It is a true blessing to see how family and friends can rally in support during a crisis. I am humbled and grateful :)
A mention about the weather...it seems that you all are getting some cold snow too...we had -5 today (not windchill). Fortunately, I am spending most the time inside only getting in and out the shuttle and have not really felt the cold yet. The snow is so pretty. I enjoy looking at it from the warmth of the hotel restaurant with a cup of coffee in my hands.
Lastly, today is a really good day! Even though we got some tough news we are still finding a way to stay positive. My radiation oncologist is WONDERFUL! And, I have every confidence that he is going to make this work.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
The Long Haul
I'm headed for NE on Monday (1/14). My worst case return date is the end of March a bit longer than we anticipated. As we learned the hard way, the PET can result in a major shift in our plans. The PET and the doctor's appointment is on 1/16. We will initially stay in a hotel then move to the hospital then probably back to the hotel. Mickey will forward contact information and such at a later date.
A HUGE thank you to all of you who worked so hard to find Walker childcare. A special thank you to Mickey for orchestrating the last minute call for help and to Katy who made it easy to return home to Champions for Children and those of you who offered your homes! We did a practice morning on Saturday at Champions and he seems to be very excited.
I am going to have webcam, email, snail mail and my cell phone.....so I look forward to keeping in touch with everyone.
A HUGE thank you to all of you who worked so hard to find Walker childcare. A special thank you to Mickey for orchestrating the last minute call for help and to Katy who made it easy to return home to Champions for Children and those of you who offered your homes! We did a practice morning on Saturday at Champions and he seems to be very excited.
I am going to have webcam, email, snail mail and my cell phone.....so I look forward to keeping in touch with everyone.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Just Get It DONE!
OK, so patience isn't one of my strengths. Unfortunately, I will have to work on that character building as we take the long path toward getting to the other side of cancer.
We went to Nebraska for the second time and got the news that my PET was not only positive but the uptake was higher (8.9). Fortunately, Dr. Armitage is determined to cure me and I am lucky that my cancer is one that can even be cured.
So let's just get this thing done:
I've already done round one of R-ICE treatment at Emory. This is a 4 day chemo treatment that requires admittance to the hospital. Around 1/3/08 I will do round two of R-ICE at Emory and then have a PET two weeks after the first day of the second treatment (approx. 1/17/08).
If the PET is clean and I am in remission, I will go to Nebraska for stem cell transplant. If not, then round three of R-ICE and another PET. If still not clean, then some radiation and on with stem cell transplant.
Stem cell transplant:
This is what I think I know, but I have not watched the video yet. I think they take out my stem cells (basically my immune system), then I get a huge dose of chemo...R-CHOP again....then they put the stem cells back. It takes 6 weeks minimum and I will be in Nebraska for this procedure.
After the transplant, I will come home for a month to 6 weeks. Then I return to Nebraska for radiation over about 4-5 weeks.
Finally, I should be DONE!!!!
So, again, it is a much longer road than I thought I signed up for (did I really sign up for this???), but there is still hope and a plan for the intended outcome. Speaking of outcomes, I have not asked for a prognosis b/c I do not want to know the odds at this point. I am staying on the step I'm on (great advice from Steve) and staying positive thanks to all of you great friends and family!!!!
We went to Nebraska for the second time and got the news that my PET was not only positive but the uptake was higher (8.9). Fortunately, Dr. Armitage is determined to cure me and I am lucky that my cancer is one that can even be cured.
So let's just get this thing done:
I've already done round one of R-ICE treatment at Emory. This is a 4 day chemo treatment that requires admittance to the hospital. Around 1/3/08 I will do round two of R-ICE at Emory and then have a PET two weeks after the first day of the second treatment (approx. 1/17/08).
If the PET is clean and I am in remission, I will go to Nebraska for stem cell transplant. If not, then round three of R-ICE and another PET. If still not clean, then some radiation and on with stem cell transplant.
Stem cell transplant:
This is what I think I know, but I have not watched the video yet. I think they take out my stem cells (basically my immune system), then I get a huge dose of chemo...R-CHOP again....then they put the stem cells back. It takes 6 weeks minimum and I will be in Nebraska for this procedure.
After the transplant, I will come home for a month to 6 weeks. Then I return to Nebraska for radiation over about 4-5 weeks.
Finally, I should be DONE!!!!
So, again, it is a much longer road than I thought I signed up for (did I really sign up for this???), but there is still hope and a plan for the intended outcome. Speaking of outcomes, I have not asked for a prognosis b/c I do not want to know the odds at this point. I am staying on the step I'm on (great advice from Steve) and staying positive thanks to all of you great friends and family!!!!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Not so scary after all...
is the name of a Halloween book Walker received from his grandfather. It is all about how some things are scary at first and when you find out what they really are...they are not so scary after all. This is what happened in Nebraska...
When we left for Nebraska, this is what I thought I knew:
I had a 4 cm tumor with 5.8 uptake (live cancer) and I had spells of shortness of breath and occasionally could barely breathe at all. It seemed that the chemo treatment was not working anymore and that it was likely that I was going to have to play the stem cell transplant card which is usually in reserve for a recurrence. I could not imagine anything that Dr. Armitage would say that could make feel better about the situation other than that we still had a battle, that we could win, ahead of us.
Not so scary after all:
Dr. Armitage did the usual history and examination. Then, he said the best and most unexpected thing....you might be in REMISSION!!!
Long story...short:
I have a 4 cm tumor that is mostly dead. There is only a halo of live cells around the tumor. These are expected to decrease as the chemo continues to work. A PET/CT at 6 weeks past the last chemo will be a better indicator.
The next step:
We are headed back to Nebraska 12/11 for another PET/CT and to meet with Drs. Armitage and Enke (the radiation oncologist) to discuss how to proceed based on the results. If indeed I am improving, we will continue with radiation as anticipated. It is likely that I will need 20-22 days or approximately 4 weeks - 5 days a week.
The cough/shortness of breath:
I was told that it was either bronchitis or pneumonia. I took some pretty strong antibiotics and used an inhaler that improved my shortness of breath. I am now back to my regular chores which makes Stephen (who has been a champ about doing everything) very happy :)
When we left for Nebraska, this is what I thought I knew:
I had a 4 cm tumor with 5.8 uptake (live cancer) and I had spells of shortness of breath and occasionally could barely breathe at all. It seemed that the chemo treatment was not working anymore and that it was likely that I was going to have to play the stem cell transplant card which is usually in reserve for a recurrence. I could not imagine anything that Dr. Armitage would say that could make feel better about the situation other than that we still had a battle, that we could win, ahead of us.
Not so scary after all:
Dr. Armitage did the usual history and examination. Then, he said the best and most unexpected thing....you might be in REMISSION!!!
Long story...short:
I have a 4 cm tumor that is mostly dead. There is only a halo of live cells around the tumor. These are expected to decrease as the chemo continues to work. A PET/CT at 6 weeks past the last chemo will be a better indicator.
The next step:
We are headed back to Nebraska 12/11 for another PET/CT and to meet with Drs. Armitage and Enke (the radiation oncologist) to discuss how to proceed based on the results. If indeed I am improving, we will continue with radiation as anticipated. It is likely that I will need 20-22 days or approximately 4 weeks - 5 days a week.
The cough/shortness of breath:
I was told that it was either bronchitis or pneumonia. I took some pretty strong antibiotics and used an inhaler that improved my shortness of breath. I am now back to my regular chores which makes Stephen (who has been a champ about doing everything) very happy :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)