Drumroll please...

2 months.

These have been two of the longest months for me - and I am sure for my family as well.  At the same time, it is hard for me to believe that 2 months have actually passed.  Time flies when you are having fun  chemo?? On April 11th I had my 4th chemo which meant it was time for another PET and CT scan.  We waited till this Tuesday to have the scans to give the last round of chemo a chance to do its thing - then test day arrived.

I was at the hospital for a couple of hours for my scans.   I really dislike days when I go to the main hospital for tests and procedures.  I feel so "patient-y" on those days, arm bands, npo directions,  ugly waiting rooms, disrobing in semi-public places, and lots of people that don't know me asking me how I am feeling.  I never really know what to say - fine? great?  best day ever?   What I know is if you say "cold" they will only bring you one thin blanket that won't help the situation.  So I had the PET scan and CT of my neck, chest, abdomen and then waited....

We met with the oncologist today and (drum roll please) the cancer is gone according to the PET scan.  YAY!!!!  And - I am doing more chemo.  Huh?


For the  PET scan I am injected with a radioactive sugar solution.  Cancer loves sugar because it is so metabolically active - so the sugar is routed there and lights up on the scan.  On my first scan I had the large mass of lymph nodes in my chest plus enlarged lymph nodes in my neck, near my trachea and below my clavicle.   This time around - none of those areas lit up - just the normal brain, heart, kidneys.  This is a great result after only 2 months of chemo and shows that my cancer is very chemo responsive.

So why more chemo you may be asking?  I asked the same question today - with several current journal articles hot off the presses of the NEJM (he was excited to see me!!)  If you remember, this makes me stage 2a with a favorable prognosis. Right now there is controversy in the oncology world regarding the best treatment for me.  (The word "controversy" in the medical world means we have no idea and are making our best guess.)  2months of chemo + radiation, 4 months of chemo + radiation, 4-6 months of chemo and no radiation.  The studies show that 2months of chemo is fine for people with very limited disease.  My doctors concern is that I am at the very upper end of the 2a spectrum because i had lots of lymph nodes in the same area AND continue to have some enlargement (not active) on the repeat CT scan.   He is worried that if I stop at 2 months I would increase my chances of relapse.

If there is one thing I know, it is that I don't want to relapse.  The other thing I know is that the path my cancer takes is largely out of my control ( aren't i so zen these days...)  what we can control is how we treat upfront, so I have agreed to another 2 months of chemo followed by a lower dose of radiation.  As my doctor says "play all our cards up front".   I am thrilled to have the news of my scan to lift my spirits and a plan to move forward.  Because, man i love a good plan.

John and I are so happy that the PET scan is negative.  It is the best news we could have hoped for.  I will admit that I am a little bummed to be doing 2 more months of chemo - but I think I am making the safest choice for the long term.   And - I did chemo number 5 today - so now I am 5/8ths done.  Let the countdown begin!!

Hair update - still falling.  I would estimate that 40-50% has fallen out.  But pulled back into a ponytail or bun you probably wouldn't notice.  If the current trend continues, I think I will have a VERY cool style for summer.  :)

Thanks and hugs to everyone for their ongoing support and love.  Especially my parents who stay with us after EVERY chemo and have helped our house stay a home amidst all the chaos.  They are amazing.

chemo 3 and other updates

Hello blog world - it has been awhile!  I've been a pretty lackadaisical blogger lately, mostly because there hasn't been that much to report.  Last week I had my third ABVD infusion.  Things went uneventfully, which is always good.   We celebrated Easter at home with my parents and went to John's grandpa's house this weekend.  All the cooking and running around wore me out- but we had a fun time.  The kids had so much fun hunting for eggs and eating candy!

I have been doing pretty well - fatigue and chemo brain - but that usually starts to get better about a week after the treatment.  I have had some neuropathy from the chemo too - feels like pins and needles in my hands and feet - but again that usually goes away after the first week - so waiting for that to happen today....

The big news of the week: my hair has started falling out.  YIKES!  About 75% of people that receive my type of chemo will lose their hair - so I knew it was the most likely thing to happen.  But, now that it is actually happening - I am kind of upset.  It is really strange to lose hair.   It seems like it should hurt - if any other part of my body fell off/out, I would know about it.  But not my hair - it just falls away without any warning at all.  So far, I haven't lost enough hair to look different so we will see if it just thins or if it all falls out.  Ugh.  

In happy news -my oncologist thinks it is great that my hair is falling out - it means that the chemo is working and working well.

The current plan is for chemo #4 next week and then a PET scan the last week of April.  Fingers crossed.