February 27, 2005

Ready as I can be

Tomorrow will complete cycle 3 with a total of 6 treatments. It is hard to be ready for something that is going to make you sick and tired. During my last treatment I was pretty sick all day. In an effort to fight the nausea better I took an Ativan this evening. It works well for nausea but also knocks you out in the process.

During chemo there are a total of 4 drugs I receive. It is known in the Hodgkin's world as ABVD. ABVD is named after the initials of the drugs used and involves the chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin (originally called Adriamycin®), bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine.

I think the Ativan is kicking in and I will retire to bed.

February 21, 2005


Our Wedding Day Posted by Hello

My Best Friend

On June 3, 2000 God brought Phil and I together as husband and wife. It was a very special day for both of us and a day that is still forever in my thoughts. I am a very emotional person as Phil so I thought I would cry. I guess I was so happy that instead of crying I was all smiles.

Since having HD I often glance at our wedding picture on the wall. We look so happy. Who could have ever imagined going through cancer at 29. Don't get me wrong we are still happy and very much in love. This is just a bend in the road we will get through.

Phil has been wonderful through this whole process. He is determined to go to all treatments no matter what. To be honest I don't think I could do the treatments without him there. He has gone to all tests and labs even when he did not need to go. He is truly my best friend!

Thank you honey for being there!

February 20, 2005

Rough Week

It has been a while since my last post. I had treatment # 5, February 14th. Before I went I definitely had anticipatory nausea. When I got there I was very nauseated. I got sick during treatment which was a first. Normally, I am fine on treatment days. They gave me extra Ativan and Zofran before I left to go home but it still didn't work. I got sick two more times at home. I was sick through Thursday. I felt better by Friday.

Friday is when the bone pain from the Neulasta shot started. Today is the worst for the bone pain. I have taken two Oxycodone and I still have pain. So I guess I will need to live with it. It usually goes away by Tuesday.

It has taken me a while to bounce back after this last treatment. This is because I have more of the chemo in my system which keeps building. I just have three treatments left. I thought it would be easier to continue the rest of my treatments knowing I had a clean PET/CT but I think it is harder.

On the hair issue. I still have a lot of hair left. It has helped having thick hair thanks to my mom and dad who both have very thick hair. My hair is getting very thin on top. My scalp is very visible and it has begun to bother me. I think I might just buy some hats for the rest of my treatments. Before Hodgkin's I always wanted thin hair. Not anymore. I want my thick hair back and I will never wish for thin hair again.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment for blood work to check my counts.

February 10, 2005

Jesus is the Light

My cancer is gone. What happens now? Well, I still have to finish 2 more cycles of chemo which is 4 treatments. So I still have to feel sick even though I am not sick. Then I have to do about 4 weeks of radiation. This is to make sure if there is still a tiny cancer cell left it will be zapped like the rest of the others. Sounds like a science fiction movie but this is real life.

It is amazing how one day you can be faced with a life threatening illness and the next day it is gone. God is amazing! I wonder why I was faced with this. God only gives us what we can handle. Phil and I handled this and we stayed strong in God's Word that we would overcome this and we did. We are stronger now than we were before December 1st.

We hope now we can use this experience to help others who are faced with this situation. There are so many young adults who are faced with Hodgkin's. Many young mothers are faced with this. Many people who are about to be married are faced with this disease. If you would like to learn more about this disease visit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

From the beginning Phil and I have proclaimed Jeremiah 29:11. God's plan for us is to continue to be His light and reach out to others in need. In John 8:12 Jesus said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Anyone can have the light of life if you believe in Jesus and follow Him.

Jesus zapped my cancer!!! He can zap your darkness and give you light.

February 07, 2005

The Cancer is Gone

Last week I had a PET scan done after my 2nd cycle. The PET scan showed no cancer. Deep down I knew it would be. God is good and He still continues to work!