Beginning again

CT guided biopsy at the SAN booked in for Wednesday.

Appointment with the big Kahuna on Friday to discuss results.

Stay tuned.

"D Day" Appointment with Dr Harris - 1pm, 24th September 2010

I got in early with the blood sample, and went off to the pub with GT for a quiet lunch and a couple of Oyster Bay's before my appointment with Dr H.

The meeting with Dr Harris wasn't what I was expecting.

The PET scan and CAT scan's both show a "lesion" remains the size of a "kiwi fruit".

The PET scan in particular suggests that the lesion is made up of active cancer cells.  Therefore from Dr Harris's perspective this will mean  further treatment, however before jumping the gun, confirmation by biopisies will be done in the next 2 weeks.

If there are active cancer cells - I'm looking at another 3 months chemo plus radiotherapy plus stem cell transplant - 5 months treatment altogether, ending Feb 2011.

If there is NO active cancer cells - I'm looking at radiotherapy only.

The reality is that the PET scan looks like there is active cancer cells, which is Dr Harris's feeling.  She's been talking to a number of experts including those at Royal North Shore to get their opinion.  (Who would have thought I'd become a "case study".)  She has suggested I prepare myself for the fact that there are active cancer cells.

It has knocked me for 6 - I wasn't expecting this - and the PET scan is quite accurate regarding cancer cells, so I'm preparing myself for another 5 months cancer treatment. 

Unfortunately I did not end up in the 75% remission category and its highly likely another "treatment" journey awaits me ,,,, however I will wait to see what the biopsies confirm. Stay tuned.

Home safely and scans underway

Road trip around NSW was lovely - and Lennox Head can be highly recommended for a relaxing beach side family get-away.

PET scan on Monday - all went well and same with the CAT scan today.

Meeting with Dr Harris is Friday afternoon, and will be an in-depth conversation regarding my progress so far, and the "what next" if any!  Fingers crossed.

One more sleep ,,,,,

Waiting for chemo to take full effect.  We've decided to make good use of our a chemo-free fortnight and do a family road trip to dubbo - lightning ridge - lennox head. 

Will be back in time for PET scan Monday 20th September, then CAT scan Wednesday 22nd September then review meeting with Dr Harris Friday 24th September!

Sunday with friends

Trav and Ali, Mark and Shona and kids came over today to catch up and celebrate! 

Thanks guys for bringing a wonderful feast, and for all your support over the past few months.  I realise it ain't that easy to cross one side of sydney to the other these days with young kids in tow - the weekends are our new "peak hour" and trying to get anywhere can be a debarcle!  None-the-less, you did it and we thank you!  Let's catch up soon, I think it will be our turn to visit the shire/gong next time around!

Photo's to follow!

Life is always interesting ,,,,

I'm happy now my Dad is safely back in the country from his trip to the USA.  He and Elaine hired a Harley Davidson and travelled to the 70th Anniversary Sturgis Rally in South Dakota.  They had a great time ,,,, and sure saw some intesesting sights!! (By the way - the woman in the photo is not Elaine!) 

I say "good on ya love!"

My first chemo-free Friday was spent celebrating!

A lunch @ a juice-bar of a much preferred kind!

I had the very best day yesterday, celebrating my first MILESTONE - the end of chemotherapy with friends and family.  I can't remember a time where I felt so happy!  Thanks to everyone who was able to come and help celebrate, and for all the "well wishes and thoughts" from those that couldn't!  I am truely BLESSED to be surrounded by such fantastic people - your support has been amazing and unforgettable!

While my gorgeous husband and best friend GT is not featured in any photos below (because he was behind the camera) I owe him a special thanks as he's been my rock in the past 3 months and has travelled this journey with me positively and calmly!

  

 

A room filled with family and friends, and charged with love and support!

Is it Tuesday?

So glad that's over!  Five days "flat as a pancake" is not fun.  Energy levels have been NIL since late last Thursday.  Glad its all behind me for good.

Special thanks to GT for keeping my gorgeous children busy and occupied while I slept and mooched around the house, and thanks to my mum and John for taking both kiddies "on holiday to the beach" for a night so GT and I could both recouperate!

Lazy day, not too stressful

Got the kids off to preschool smoothly then ventured to Westfield for a coffee and did the tax thing with the accountant and the "will" thing with the solicitor.

Long lazy lunch with J and baby T, and a spot of window shopping finished off the day.

Energy levels higher today - inflated by the elephant sized-dose of steriods, however it works for me!

Energy low, but spirits are SOARING!

Saturday morning started with a "drive of the porcelain bus" - my first and last chemo induced vomit!  I've can say I have had the entire chemo experience now.  Quickly downed the anti-nausea tablet, the 4 prednisone tablets, one fluconazole, one nexium tablet - then 2 peanut butter and jam toasted sandwichs and a coffee and didn't get out of bed for a while!

Energy levels were low most of saturday but I did OK.  Jessica had a sleep over at her cousin's house which left GT and I with the very cute Brookie, who lapped up the "no competition" attention. 

Special thanks to Marion, nurse who works at the Day Surgery for returning "wilma" to me safely - Marion borrowed "wilma" (short red wig) to take to her hairdresser for a colour matching session - she decided she didn't want to be blonde anymore and really liked the colour of my red wig. So in exchange, she gave me my LAST Nulaster needle - for white blood cell regeneration.

Saturday afternoon quietly slipped into saturday night and I/we relaxed.

Sunday was another quite day, starting with another handful of pills for breakfast with another peanut butter and jam toasted sandwich and coffee, and a late start.

Monday was another quite day, starting with another handful of pills for breakfast with another peanut butter and jam toasted sandwich and coffee, and a late start.

So here I sit Monday afternoon, feeling tired but in high spirits and on top of the world, NO MORE CHEMO for ME!

LAST CHEMO treatment finished!

The day started with a reflexology massage and a brunch with my lovely friend Deb.  Then it was off to see Dr Harris, with my wonderful escort - GT.  Arrangements have been made to for last set of tests - PET scan AND CAT scan for week beginning 20th September to ensure the chemo treatment has ample opportunity to exert its maximum effect!

My next appointment with Dr Harris to discuss outcome so far and further treatment will be Friday 24th September.

I was pleased to have Glenn with me at the "juice bar".  Wearing my fabulous NEW hat sent all the way from South Australia by Karen and Dave!  Thanks guys, pretty cool eh!

The LAST of the Fluro-Orange Juice!

UNLUCKY for somethings!

It's friday the 13th, and I have a feeling that it is a very unlucky day for lymphoma. LAST CHEMO tx this afternoon, and I am making the most of my morning - massage and brunch in the sun with my great friend Deb Todd!

Girls just wanna be girlie!

LAST CHEMO treatment is fast approaching ,,,

This week has been slow and relaxing. I've read more books in the last two weeks than I've read the whole time I've been off!  I'm feeling mixed emotions about Friday - my last chemo treatment!  Amazing how quickly time seems to have gone, and I'm blessed that I have had mostly great days spending time with family and friends!  

Thankfully the treatment isn't until the afternoon, so I can spend the morning enjoying "feeling well" before the chemo drugs get pumped in - I've decided to use my gift vourcher from friends from work and I'll get myself a massage!  then I'll have a lazy brunch and enjoy the "taste" of the food and coffee, before it goes again for another week or so. 

Glenn will escort me to the treatment this week, cause last time I didn't handle it very well, the nurse suggested I bring someone with me.

Today is another relaxing day, and tomorrow I will visit family and friends on the central coast.  It'll be Friday before I know it. 

Doin' ok

Had a very relaxing lunch with my friend Jo who took a day off work to meet me at Mooney Mooney Workers Club for a lazy lunch on the balcony overlooking the Hawksbury River. It's an out of the way lunch venue I can highly recommend!

Thursday and friday were CRASH days. These have been the first real 'crash' days I've had. Spent both days in bed, and no amount of sleeping could change it.

Saturday was a slightly better day, and today was the same as yesterday.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have another lift and will be getting back to normal soon.

Five DOWN, and doing OK ,,,, now!

Friday chemo session was in the afternoon and I got home by 5.30pm feeling like I'd been hit by a bus.  I think they pushed the drugs in pretty fast, however I wasn't quite myself on Friday.

I cried with Dr Harris

I cried with the nurses at the day clinic.

The emotional side of the treatment has obviously caught up with me.  The nurses handed me a pile of leaflets and DVD's to watch focused on "living well after cancer" type information.  After a quick flick it appears all pretty relevant, and very normal.  Even knowing that makes me feel better.

I have spent the last days hibernating at home - resting and sleeping.  Surrounded by GT and the girls. 

Greatful for small diversion's from a visit by my Uni friends saturday arvo.

(L to R) J, Sam, Kylie, Michele, Ali and Mel

And a nice dinner out with lovely ladies from mothers group on saturday night. 

(L to R) Louisa, Michele, Megan, Dee, Sheridan and Lisa

And chicken and vege soup delivery from my mum on sunday!

Fifth chemo today

Well, its been a week and I guess I have slowed down alot.  Energy levels are generally lower and I am listening to my body to take it easier. 

The weekend was spent at home, except for a morning catch up with my friend and colleague Fei and her family at the park.  Sunday was a gorgeous day and the kids loved the opportunity to run and play.  Thanks to Fei and Jack for the coffee and lunch, and it was nice to meet David and Christopher.  Jessica and Brooke had a great time playing and riding their bikes.

I caught up with Galderma team in the Hunter Valley for the "christmas in July" on Monday night and it was great to reconnect with everyone and meet the new team members.  Time flies and I'll be back in the saddle before you can say "hi-ho Epiduo, away!"

Wednesday was a rest and relax day.  I had a quick lunch with my lovely friend from Uni, J and baby Tabitha, and spent most of the day chillin at home.

Thursday caught up with my sister-in-law Jo, and my mum - Brooke spent the day with Charlotte and Poppy Rose.

Chemo day five has rolled around and I'll be heading to the day clinic at mid-day for my blood test, appointment with Dr Harris and to have my "usual order of fluro-orange" at the juice bar. More later,,,,

It's been a quiet week

Mostly it's been a down week with regards to energy, I guess the chemo treatments are catching up (Dr H said they would accumulate).

However it hasn't been all rest and no play - I had a lovely breakfast with some Galderma friends and colleagues on saturday morning in the sun at the coonabarra café.

Ian

Shannon and Surekha

Charlie and Susan

Saturday evening I got the weekly phone call from my German Dr friends, who were pleased to hear that everything is on track - so pleased that it was a good enough excuse to have a beer at midday for them!

Jan and Katrin talking to me from Germany

Tuesday morning breakfast with my friend Justine from NZ, before a quiet day at home.

Justine

Wednesday was a quick visit to sheridan's, pleasantly surprised to find the gorgeous James (sheridan's hubby) also at home, who was ever-so-happy to look after us both with coffee and cake delivered to the couch where sheridan and I were solving the worlds problems!

Thursday, a quiet day at Saratoga with my lovely sister-in-law Jo and where the coussies charlotte and brooke got to do a lot of bonding! Amazingly it was a relatively relaxing day as the little one's entertained themselves.

Friday (today) has been my crash day ,,,, energy left me and white cell blood count rejuvination obviously kicked in. I have struggled with an ache in my head today. Nothing a handful of panadol and lots of sleep got sorted.

Very quiet weekend planned.

Four DOWN, and home relaxing

Meeting with Dr H was short and V sweet.  Comparison of the first cat scan with the one done after 3 chemo sessions shows a massive shrinkage.  Dr Harris made the comment that the first lesion was the same size as being 20 WEEKS pregnant! bloody hell!  Now the lesion size is probably smaller than a fist. Yippee!

She was very pleased with the progress, as am I.  There have been no complications which is great. Still some lesion to go, so the chemo treatment will be finished and radiotherapy will be decided upon at that point.

After my meeting with Dr H it was off to the juice-bar for some fluro-orange.  The girls knew I had arrived today - as the caramel-chocolate slice was spotted early on the morning tea room table! Thanks again to Veronica making this for me! I did attempt making the slice last weekend and it ended up in the bin ,,,,, there really is a knack! Anyway - all went OK, canula was in first go and the drugs got pumped in quickly. 

 

Not feeling 100% after today's session of chemo. It has affected me differently again! So I'm taking it easy and will leverage all the anti-drugs necessary to ensure I remain on top of things.

I have a breakfast date tomorrow, can't miss that!

!Number FOUR chemo treatment today

No blogs for a while, I keep forgeting to take photos, and well it's prety much all the same - I've been feeling particularly great this week and have been enjoying the company of my family and friends - eating my way to another kilo or two of 'love handles'.

Currently waiting to give blood for white blood cell count, and then got to have a chat with Dr H about how thing are progressing and future plans for treatment. Update later!