CAT scan results

So right before I stopped radiation I noticed a centimeter size lump, where I was getting radiation. I told my oncologist, he told me to watch it and if anything changed to let him know. I was due for a scan in May but we moved my scan up to April just to be safe. Everything went great, still in remmision:) He said it looked like scar tissue and we would do another scan in July. Whew:) Life has returned to normal. Work is going good and I am just enjoying life. Yesterday was my first day to go without my wig. My hair is about a little over an inch long and dark. I do have a bald spot from the side where I had radiation. I read it takes 3-6 months to start growing. Ryan says it looks like its coming in, I think hes just being nice:) I have not had dark hair since high school:) Its an adjustment. I am going to try and see how long I can go without coloring it, that may be a challenge. So far its not curly which I hear many people get after chemo, we shall see. Its crazy to think roughly six months ago I was starting chemo, time flies.

Post radiation

Yep I am fired from blogging:) So its been two weeks since my last radiation. Was not a fan but would so take radiation over chemo any day. Rewind back a few weeks, the only problem I had with radiation was it completely ruined my throat and mouth. I developed sores in my mouth so was constantly using a magic mouthwash, yeah real magical for about 10 minutes then back to be uncomfortable. It made it hard to eat so I resorted to lots of smoothies. Your mouth recovers real quick as of now my mouth and throat are back to normal. I did get some reddness but used a cream called radialplex and miaderm, both did great. I am very thankful that I only had 17 treatments. Alot of people I met had to do much more, so that made me feel very fortunant. It is a huge relief that all my treatment is over, but I know this will hang over my head for life. For now I will just lay it all in Gods hands and enjoy life. I start back at work Monday. Kind of nervous but I know my girls will take care of me:) Exciting news my hair is growing back. Each day it seems to get a tad bit longer, its about quarter of an inch basically a dark shadowing. I have been using Nioxin, which is a little miracle system. I used it before my chemo to thicken up my hair and it did a great job. To bad it all decided to fall out:) Also, I am alternating with a shampoo called Ovation, supposed to help with thinning as well. Lastly, I am taking Biotin and prenatals, anything to get my hair to come in fast. I can not wait till I do not have to wear my wig or chemo caps. When that will be I dont know. I will continue to add updates as they come. 

PET scan results/ Radiation

This is way late I am not a very good blogger:) Well good news my PET scan/CT was negative for cancer-yeah!!! My next scan, CT only will be in May and from then will be every 6 months, for 5 years.  So on to radiation. I had my pre radiation appointment. They fitted me for this mesh mask (its kinda scary) For my radiation appointments they lock this mask onto the bed. Reminds me of something off a horror movie. The reasoning is to get me into the right spot everytime. They also did some x-rays to get the exact spot where they will be radiating. Everyone there is very nice, even the patients. I have met some really nice people there. Its interesting to hear there stories and makes me feel very fortunant because it could be alot worst. Yesterday was my first radiation treatment. I was very nervous, but it turned out to be nothing. They locked me into my mask (this thing cracks me up) and the big light goes over to the area to be radiated, I see a beam of red light and then a loud beeping noise that its being delivered and thats it. Oh I forgot to mention I only have to get radiation on the left side where I had my surgery, was very excited about that. I get four different areas where they radiate so only takes about 2 minutes. I met with the nurse afterwards. She told me my radiation is so short (17 days) I should not have any problems. I got some cream so have been putting that on three times a day. The only side effect I could have is fatigue, whats new:). So far so good. I started going to the gym again, I sure did miss that. I am so glad this is almost coming to an end. Come on February 13, my last day of radiation:)  

after my third chemo update

Cant believe its been almost three weeks since my last chemo. This round was much better than the last one. I was down for a week and since then each day has gotten better. Now if I can gain my energy back that would be great:) It truely just wipes you. I did do zumba the other day actually 3/4 of it, so was very proud but then I laid around for the rest of the day- ridiculous! Finally able to eat normal food without it tasting aweful. You would think with everything tasting gross I would lose weight-oh no, dang that prednisone. What I am really excited about is water finally tastes good again. There is nothing worst than being so thirsty, craving water and it tastes metallic. Colton thankfully has adjusted to my hair being gone, as have I. Yes I do still miss it but am more adjusted to it. I was given a real human hair wig from a friend of the family. I had my hair lady color it how it was and it is shoulder length I love it. It makes me feel alot more comfortable than the other wig I have. Right now my hair is just peach fuzz. I am back to using Nioxin (I used it before chemo to thicken my hair and it so did the trick) taking prenatal vitamins and Biotin- grow hair grow:) I am very thankful my eye brows and eye lashes thinned just a little, but nothing a little makeup wont fix. So the next steps... I go for another PET scan tomorrow. That will determine if I get radiation on the side I had the lymph node removed or both. Basically if there is any residual my oncologist wants to do both sides. I got some special cream to help with burns. I feel very positive about radiation. I dont think anything could be worst than chemo. I am looking forward to getting the radiation behind me and getting back to normallcy. I feel like my life was put on hold for the last two months, it feels so good to know I am almost out of this bubble. This experience has definently taught me to not take life for granted and to enjoy it.  

Radiology Appointment

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Friday is my last chemo-very bitter sweet. Looking forward to what I am praying will be the last time I have to get chemo, but am dreading the weeks after especially right before Christmas. I can not wait for this to be behind me. This Monday I meet with my radiologist. I have to wait a month after my chemo so as of now scheduled for January 21. I go everyday for three and a half weeks. Its very quick just a little zap on the side the lymph node was removeded, in and out he said 15 minutes. Side effects mainly fatigue, he said nothing like my chemo has been, I will take it:) He said to since it will be localized on my throat could get a sore throat but there are meds to help.  Basically it sounds like a really bad sunburn so I got some special cream for it. Some stats he said the likeliness of lymphoma returning is 3 out of 10,000, for those who do chemo and radiation together, so that was great to hear. The other option would be to do six rounds of chemo, but the odds are better to do both radiation and chemo together. I am very thankful to only be doing three rounds of chemo. This last round has been alot harder then the first. I have been more tired and the nausea has been continuous, so very thankful for one more round.

Hospitalized

I was hoping to dodge the bullet and stay out of the hospital but this weekend would not allow it.. Friday I noticed I was feeling a little different then the last few days. Just achey, sore throat and blah which is normal with chemo but it was different. So Saturday morning I woke up with chills, flank oain (sore lower back) and felt kind of warm so took my temperature and it was 100.2. In the world of chemo you have this list of when to call the MD, chills was on the list and fever of 100.5 so I called the doc. So got a hold of the on call doc and told her I thought maybe I had a bladder infection. She looked at my list of allergies and told me well I dont feel comfortable giving you something if its not in fact a bladder infection come on in and well do a urinalysis and complete blood count. So we drove down to Baylor. Its kind of neat they have a hospital just for cancer patients so went to there clinic. They came in started an IV with a 22 gauge (small needle) thank God:) (i am so used to those dang 18 gauge-huge needles) drew blood and got some urine. The MD ordered a chest x-ray to make sure my lungs looked clear and no sign of developing pneumonia (its common with having chemo) and of my kidneys. We hung out for a few hours and then got all my results. My urine was good, x-rays were good and then my complete blood count, my white blood cells (fight off infection) were 1.3 (very low) and within your white blood cells are neutrophils which are your main fighter cells, they want them above 1000 or you have no immunity mine was 300 and of course my plateletts and red blood cells were low. With chemo you RBC, plateletts and white blood cells usually plumet around day 7-10 after chemo so to be expected but with my netrophils so low I got a ticket to stay in the hospital. I had to stay in my room and if I left could have to wear a mask. I asked how long I would have to be there and they told me a few days to two weeks- oh my, was not happy when I heard that Coltons birthday was on Monday  I couldnt miss that and he was not allowed to come up and see me. It was an amusing once we got to my room. My husband, he definently knows how to make me laugh. He decided he should wear a mask and of course was trying to be funny with it. He loved how the bed had hydrolics and I told him it was to prevent bed sores so every time it went off he would say oh helping those bed sores. He found the bed side commode in the bathroom and  it was all over after that he thought he thought it was a walker and of course kept making comments about it after I told him what it was. What I would do with out him:) Anyways I am so thankful for him he always turns a not so good stiuation into something fun. I stayed the night and they drew labs in the morning and thank God they had come up so got to leave that morning. So thankfully a very short stay. They sent me home with a z-pack, my go to meds. Today I feel so much better just in time for my little guys birthday so I could not be happier.

Well it's been almost a week since my second chemo and I'm finally feeling more myself. This chemo is some wicked stuff. It's indescribable. The chemo infusion wasnt bad. Just a little iv and hanging out for five hours. Since i reacted last time they gave it slow and i had no problems. That night after my chemo was the same as last time. I have found sleeping on the couch on the recliner helps with the nausea. So poor Ryan joined me. We are very fortunate and have awesome parents to take care of Colton. I honestly can not imagine him here nor do I want him seeing me like this. The day after we went back down to Baylor for another nuelasta shot. This go around my nurse told me to take a Claritin before the shot to help with bone pain and it's definently done the trick. The hardest part really is the exhaustion. Getting up to get a glass of water wears ya out-ridiculous. You want so badly to get up and walk around but your body just does not want to. It's really nothing I have never experienced before. But good news I am finally starting to feel normal. Colton was not a fan of my hair being gone but he's finally coming around. I really do miss my hair that's been really hard. I have found I really like to wear chemo caps there comfy. Honestly I haven't been out since my chemo, except our nightly outing to look at Christmas lights, so really haven't worn my wig. I wore it a little before and it's just gonna be an adjustment. So next I go see the radiologist December 17 and get details on that. I am weirdly looking forward to getting my last chemo December 21, bummed it's right before Christmas but glad to put it behind me.