End of 2022 update.

5th chemo treatment is a wrap! 

I hear you loud and clear! More updates you say...so here is where we are right now. 

Present Challenges.
Having Stage 4 Cancer is a FULL TIME FRIGGIN JOB. After my original diagnosis, Non Hodgkin's Double Large B Cell Lymphoma, DLBCL for short. I have had the following symptoms relating to the treatment, medications and the cancer. Night Sweats, Hot Flashes, rash and open wounds on my left foot, lack of sleep, muscle aches, backpain, complete numbing of both of my hands, Mouth sores, extreme fatigue, and a level of nauseousness that no one would ever be prepared for. The medication that was prescribed for my hands is not working and sadly, there is nothing else that I am able to take until after the chemo treatments end. SO I am pretty miserable every single day.

The PET scan was LIT, and not in a good way! 
Several weeks ago I had my second PET scan. It showed that the cancer was out of the spleen and liver, but unfortunately it showed that I had 7 nodules on my thyroid. (4 on the left, 2 on the right and 1 in the middle.) It also shows that I have several calcifications in my right breast. My mammogram was yesterday and after 3 surgical consults, we have to hold off anything further until 3 months after my treatments end. The end date is going to hopefully be the last week of the year. My oncologist is hoping that the remainder of treatments will subside some of the calcifications in both the thyroid and the breast. Then I will repeat a PET scan again. Fingers Crossed for a good result. 

In 2023... 
Although, with the current situation, it has been hard to stay positive. SO, we are preparing for the worst, which would be another round of treatment, which would most likely be more aggressive. This was not the path that we were expecting several months ago, but I am confident that I am in the right hands with my aggressive medical team which I have 24/7 access to and that Cancer definitely picked the wrong girl. 

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season with those you cherish the most in the world. Life is short, enjoy every minute.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The First Week.

Image
Sunday September 4th, 2022 More excruciating pain.  It was unbearable, Tony asked, "What Boston hospital are we going to because you are NOT going to Worcester again?"  We went to Newton Wellesley, where my Rheumatology team was. Within minutes, I was wisked to a room bypassing the 25 other people in the waiting room.  CT scan, EKGs, all showed internal bleeding and the lacerated spleen and a liver double the size that it should be.  Tons more tests and bloodwork commenced.  I was admitted.  Monday  Typical holiday, lots of students, more testing.  Waiting game.  Tuesday Lots of discussions happened today, met a wonderful team of MDs and RNs who have great bedside manners on the USEN floor.  Haven't slept.  More status quo, bloodwork and testing begins tomorrow.   Wednesday Update I got my PICC line today, and tomorrow they will be moving me to the Hem/Onc floor where the staff is more specialized in cancer treatment....
Read more

The Second Week

Image
Monday September 12th. I started my first Chemotherapy round today which took 9 hours and totally kicked my ass, which to be honest, I wasn't prepared for.  It was exhausting.  I slept most of the day.   Tuesday September 13th.  Today was tough,  the side effects came up fast and furious this morning.   In a quick 5 minutes, I was feeling all of them.  I slept most of the day away to try to stay healthy again.  So much fluid is still on board and diuretics can't be given as frequently as they would like.  So much pressure and pain in this excess 23lbs of fluid retention in my abdomen and legs.  PT starts tomorrow. Wednesday September 14th.  More terrible side effects happened today, again they were fierce.  Sweats, nauseousness, vomiting, which then in turn causes pain from the convulsing in my swollen abdomen.  Its quite a cycle.  Switched to oral pain medication, which takes a lot longer to process through...
Read more