For those still following along at home I do have a little bit of an update in my "journey"!
October 2017
I had just been diagnosed with tonsillitis (for the first time in my life) the day before i was due to have my usual CT scan. I mentioned this to the GP and he said it would be fine to have the scan. The hospital called the day of my scan to confirm a few things, so I mentioned it to them and they also said its fine. I was still a little concerned that it would show something up on the CT scan so I mentioned it to another 2 people when I arrived at the hospital who both didn't seem concerned either. Fast forward to a week later when I saw my specialist for the results. There was a few lymph nodes in my neck that had increased in size since my last CT scan. This had him worried of a possible relapse in my Hodgkin's. He booked me in for a PET scan to see what was happening and to see if my cancer was back or it was due to me having tonsillitis.
November 2017
I had my PET scan in November, this showed increased activity over my last one years ago. It was then that I was booked in for a biopsy on the lymph node in my neck. At this stage it was looking suspicious that it could be back. He called a surgeon while i was in the room to see when they could get me in and if they would do it as even though the nodes had increased they were still quite small and couldn't be felt by touching the neck. The surgeons basically said they didn't want to do it as they wouldn't be able to feel where they need to cut and what they would be needing to biopsy. He then said he would organise for a fine needle biopsy to be done under ultrasound and a local anaesthetic and would let me know when that would be. The benefit of having the surgeon do it would be that they could ensure they got enough lymph node to be able to biopsy it. By doing it with a needle they can't guarantee they aren't just getting fatty tissue.
December 2017
I went in for my needle biopsy. It took them a while to figure out if they could do it or not as they also couldn't feel/see what they were supposed to biopsy. The biggest node they could find was right next to an artery so the DR didn't really want to attempt to stick a needle next to it. He went and spoke with another DR who then came and looked at the ultrasound and was quite confident that he could do it. The whole procedure wash't as bad as i thought it would be. The worst part was the local anaesthetic, other then that i couldn't feel anything. They took 3/4 samples to give them the best chance of getting what they needed.
December 15th 2017
I arrived at my appointment to be told that they didn't have any results yet which was frustrating as I had been stressing about the results all day. He called pathology to see if the samples had been looked at yet but they hadn't. He didn't think that he would have the results until the next week so we went home and he said he would call when he had results. Around 5:30pm that same day he called and said he had the results. Majority of the biopsies they took were just fatty tissue. A very small amount of it was actually lymph node, however that small amount came back negative for Hodgkins. He said the amount they could test wasn't enough to rule out that it hadn't returned. He said he spoke with the DR that had done the needle biopsy to see if they could do another one but they said they would just get the same sort of samples as it was difficult enough the first time. He gave me 2 options. Option 1 - Go in the following week for a biopsy under general anaesthetic or Option 2 - Wait until the end of January 2018 and have another CT and PET scan. I suggested waiting and he agreed this was the best option. Hodgkins Lymphoma is a slow growing cancer of waiting a few months would not be bad.
January 22nd 2018
PET scan day!
January 23rd 2018
CT scan day!
February 2nd 2018
I got my results. No scans had got any worse since the last ones, which is great! Numbers still aren't back to normal levels but have slightly decreased! The biggest lymph node in my neck at my last CT was 17x12 and this one was 15x11. The highest activity number on my last PET scan was 10 and this one was 6. There are no other nodes in my body that have increased. Going on these results and the fact that i had tonsillitis for a 2nd time just before Christmas we decided to wait and redo CT and PET scans again in 3 months.
May 2018
I had my CT & PET scan with results on Friday 4th May. There was again some slight decrease in numbers, so its looking less and less likely that i have relapsed. We are just now monitoring it. I see my specialist in August just for a clinical checkup, no scans or blood tests! Then around November I will have another lot of scans. This will be the 5 year mark of getting the "all clear" and being told I am cancer free, I am being positive that after those scans this will still be the case!
In October 2012 at age 25 I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, this is my story about the fight for my life.
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Saturday, May 27, 2017
I'm back!!!
Time for an update! Just yesterday I had one of my 6 month checkups! I had major anxiety about this one, I had 100% convinced myself this thing that once invaded my life had returned. Rewind to about 3 weeks before when I booked in for my chest X-ray, I started feeling short of breath, this continued right up until I saw my oncologist. I believe I had a tumor in my chest and that I was going to get bad result. Turns out my stress and anxiety was for nothing and everything came back clear! People tell you to "not stress" or "it will be ok" but it's not that easy, I really wish it was. Don't get me wrong, for 5 months out of the last 6 I didn't stress, but it's just that few weeks before I see my oncologist that my mind starts playing crazy tricks on me. My heart rate and blood pressure were both high due to my anxiety. I did also mention to him that I had been short of breath, he said to contact him if it continues and he will organize a lung function test as one of the chemo drugs I was on can cause problems with the lungs. Here's hoping it's just anxiety related.
So I see him again in 6 months for what will hopefully be my last CT scan for a very long time! He has also requested I get a heart scan around the same time, just to make sure another one of the chemo drugs hasn't affected that. Nothing to worry about for this one, just a precautionary scan. This CT scan will also bring me to 4 years clear! I can't believe it's been nearly 4 years since I got the all clear and 5 years since I was diagnosed. In a funny way it feels like only yesterday I went through it all but at the same time feels like forever ago. Every now and then I will go back through and read my blog, it's almost like I'm reading someone else's story. It seems very surreal that I went though all this. My mind has shut it out, which is a good thing!
I'm still waiting to get my hip replacement. I see the orthopedic surgeon every year and not much changes so we keep putting it off which I'm ok with as I don't really want to have it anyway so the longer I can put it off the better. The pain doesn't impact on my life too much, I do walk with a sight limp but that's about it.
So I see him again in 6 months for what will hopefully be my last CT scan for a very long time! He has also requested I get a heart scan around the same time, just to make sure another one of the chemo drugs hasn't affected that. Nothing to worry about for this one, just a precautionary scan. This CT scan will also bring me to 4 years clear! I can't believe it's been nearly 4 years since I got the all clear and 5 years since I was diagnosed. In a funny way it feels like only yesterday I went through it all but at the same time feels like forever ago. Every now and then I will go back through and read my blog, it's almost like I'm reading someone else's story. It seems very surreal that I went though all this. My mind has shut it out, which is a good thing!
I'm still waiting to get my hip replacement. I see the orthopedic surgeon every year and not much changes so we keep putting it off which I'm ok with as I don't really want to have it anyway so the longer I can put it off the better. The pain doesn't impact on my life too much, I do walk with a sight limp but that's about it.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
My biggest scare yet!
So i have just been through my biggest scare yet. I heard the words "You have possibly relapsed", it was words I had never wanted to hear, it was daunting, it was scary actually it was terrifying.
This is how it went:
Saturday 30th January: I was sitting watching television and my hand landed on a lump in my neck, it was just under my ear, near my jaw. My initial reaction was fear. I waited a few days to see if it would go down or disappear it didn't.
Wednesday 3rd February: I called my Drs receptionist and she contacted my Oncologist, he requested I have a CT scan of the neck that day.
Friday 5th February: The day I got the results, they weren't what I wanted to hear. 5 nodes in my neck had all increased in size since my last CT, 2 of them had not been previously seen. 1 of those 2 was the one I could feel. He began to tell me that I had possibly relapsed, told me about what would happen if I had. Treatment would involve more chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant. He immediately booked me in for more scans - a PET and a CT of the abdomen.
In between these 2 appointments I felt that the lumps in my neck had slightly decreased in size just by feel.
Friday 12th February: I had my PET scan and CT of the abdomen today. I saw my Oncologist the same day to get the results. Whilst sitting in the waiting room I had a voice mail message from the ENT clinic at the RAH saying they had a referral for me to see a specialist on the Monday. My heart sank, I figured this meant it was bad news and that my cancer had returned, especially since I had been booked in the next business day! He had taken everyone else in before me and then it was my turn. I was so nervous and felt sick. He began by telling me that he still didn't have a clear answer, I took this as a good sign. He went on to explain that the PET scan showed that the 2 new nodes were "lighting up" on the scan but the other 3 showed nothing. He said that the CT of my abdomen showed no new lumps. I told him that I believed that the lump I could feel had got smaller since I saw him last, he had a feel and agreed. Due to the fact that they didn't feel any bigger he was happy for me to make the decision as to wether I wanted to cancel the ENT appointment that he had made for me on the Monday and have another CT of the neck in 2 weeks. The ENT appointment had been booked for me to meet with a specialist to organise surgery to remove the node to test it for cancer. We all agreed to cancel it and rescan.
Saturday 27th February: I arrived at Bensons Radiology to have my CT of the neck. As always there was a problem. They didn't have my forms to do the scan, they either hadn't been faxed over or they had misplaced them. Being a Saturday I knew it would be hard for them to organise some new ones, but they gave the RAH a call to see if they could. My oncologist wasn't working but they talked to another Dr that could send over the referral. When it came through it didn't have a Drs signature on it, so they needed to call them back to get another faxed through. The 2nd one came and they didn't write on it that it needed to be bulk billed and also had on there I was getting my neck, chest and abdomen scanned which was incorrect. In the end I ended up giving them my Oncologists mobile number so they could call him directly at home. He assured them it was just my neck to be scanned and told them to bulk bill it, they were happy with this. An hour after I was supposed to have my appointment I finally had my scan. For my last 2 neck CT's I have told them that I don't want the injection of contrast, my Oncologist is happy for me to do this providing they get clear enough pictures.
I was due to get my results on Friday 11th March, but being the great Oncologist he is my Dr read the results early and texted me them on the 2nd of March to say that the CT showed all nodes to have slightly decreased in size and due to this he was happy to wait and rescan in 3 months time!
And that brings me to today! I can't feel the lump at all anymore so hopefully it was just some infection my body was fighting.
I will update when I have my next scan.
Xx
This is how it went:
Saturday 30th January: I was sitting watching television and my hand landed on a lump in my neck, it was just under my ear, near my jaw. My initial reaction was fear. I waited a few days to see if it would go down or disappear it didn't.
Wednesday 3rd February: I called my Drs receptionist and she contacted my Oncologist, he requested I have a CT scan of the neck that day.
Friday 5th February: The day I got the results, they weren't what I wanted to hear. 5 nodes in my neck had all increased in size since my last CT, 2 of them had not been previously seen. 1 of those 2 was the one I could feel. He began to tell me that I had possibly relapsed, told me about what would happen if I had. Treatment would involve more chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant. He immediately booked me in for more scans - a PET and a CT of the abdomen.
In between these 2 appointments I felt that the lumps in my neck had slightly decreased in size just by feel.
Friday 12th February: I had my PET scan and CT of the abdomen today. I saw my Oncologist the same day to get the results. Whilst sitting in the waiting room I had a voice mail message from the ENT clinic at the RAH saying they had a referral for me to see a specialist on the Monday. My heart sank, I figured this meant it was bad news and that my cancer had returned, especially since I had been booked in the next business day! He had taken everyone else in before me and then it was my turn. I was so nervous and felt sick. He began by telling me that he still didn't have a clear answer, I took this as a good sign. He went on to explain that the PET scan showed that the 2 new nodes were "lighting up" on the scan but the other 3 showed nothing. He said that the CT of my abdomen showed no new lumps. I told him that I believed that the lump I could feel had got smaller since I saw him last, he had a feel and agreed. Due to the fact that they didn't feel any bigger he was happy for me to make the decision as to wether I wanted to cancel the ENT appointment that he had made for me on the Monday and have another CT of the neck in 2 weeks. The ENT appointment had been booked for me to meet with a specialist to organise surgery to remove the node to test it for cancer. We all agreed to cancel it and rescan.
Saturday 27th February: I arrived at Bensons Radiology to have my CT of the neck. As always there was a problem. They didn't have my forms to do the scan, they either hadn't been faxed over or they had misplaced them. Being a Saturday I knew it would be hard for them to organise some new ones, but they gave the RAH a call to see if they could. My oncologist wasn't working but they talked to another Dr that could send over the referral. When it came through it didn't have a Drs signature on it, so they needed to call them back to get another faxed through. The 2nd one came and they didn't write on it that it needed to be bulk billed and also had on there I was getting my neck, chest and abdomen scanned which was incorrect. In the end I ended up giving them my Oncologists mobile number so they could call him directly at home. He assured them it was just my neck to be scanned and told them to bulk bill it, they were happy with this. An hour after I was supposed to have my appointment I finally had my scan. For my last 2 neck CT's I have told them that I don't want the injection of contrast, my Oncologist is happy for me to do this providing they get clear enough pictures.
I was due to get my results on Friday 11th March, but being the great Oncologist he is my Dr read the results early and texted me them on the 2nd of March to say that the CT showed all nodes to have slightly decreased in size and due to this he was happy to wait and rescan in 3 months time!
And that brings me to today! I can't feel the lump at all anymore so hopefully it was just some infection my body was fighting.
I will update when I have my next scan.
Xx
Monday, October 12, 2015
Quick Update
Just a quick update!
Friday 4th September I saw my oncologist to get my results back from my scan. All nodes that had previously had cancer in them came back stable, however a new node has shown up at double the size to last years scan. This node is located in my right inguinal region. I previously had no cancer in this region. My oncologist asked me to get an ultrasound on it ASAP. I managed to get in somewhere on the following Monday 7th at 11am. By 12pm he had let me know the results, he said it looked reactive to something rather then lymphomatous, he was happy to watch and wait and get it re checked in 3 months (Dec). I guess if it is still there then they will biopsy it.
All other blood work came back ok, except my vitamin d was low... again! I will see my oncologist again December 4th! Will update more after that.
xx
Friday 4th September I saw my oncologist to get my results back from my scan. All nodes that had previously had cancer in them came back stable, however a new node has shown up at double the size to last years scan. This node is located in my right inguinal region. I previously had no cancer in this region. My oncologist asked me to get an ultrasound on it ASAP. I managed to get in somewhere on the following Monday 7th at 11am. By 12pm he had let me know the results, he said it looked reactive to something rather then lymphomatous, he was happy to watch and wait and get it re checked in 3 months (Dec). I guess if it is still there then they will biopsy it.
All other blood work came back ok, except my vitamin d was low... again! I will see my oncologist again December 4th! Will update more after that.
xx
Monday, August 31, 2015
Scanxiety...
I can't believe its been a year since I had my last CT scan and nearly 2 years since I found out I was in remission.
I despise CT scans so so much! The whole scan takes only 5-10 minutes but I still hate them. I have to fast for 2 hours before my scan, which normally means no breakfast as I try and get a 9am appointment. Instead I get to drink the Barium Sulfate drink. It actually doesn't taste that bad. It looks like milk but certainly doesn't taste like it. I have to drink 1 cup every 20 minutes over an hour. Once finished I get taken in for the scan. I lie down in the CT scanner, get a cannula put in and a drip connected. They do a few test runs and get the scanner lined up. Once they are happy with the position they inject the first lot of dye. This is the part that I hate. It gives you a warm flush that you can feel throughout your whole body and it makes you feel like you have peed yourself (true fact)! Once that scan is finished they administer more dye to scan my neck. Then the scan is over! I have to hang around for another 10 minutes to make sure I don't have a reaction to the dye and then I am good to go.
This brings me to today.. I now have to wait until this Friday to get the results back from the scan. It feels like forever away. My anxiety is at an all time high.
I despise CT scans so so much! The whole scan takes only 5-10 minutes but I still hate them. I have to fast for 2 hours before my scan, which normally means no breakfast as I try and get a 9am appointment. Instead I get to drink the Barium Sulfate drink. It actually doesn't taste that bad. It looks like milk but certainly doesn't taste like it. I have to drink 1 cup every 20 minutes over an hour. Once finished I get taken in for the scan. I lie down in the CT scanner, get a cannula put in and a drip connected. They do a few test runs and get the scanner lined up. Once they are happy with the position they inject the first lot of dye. This is the part that I hate. It gives you a warm flush that you can feel throughout your whole body and it makes you feel like you have peed yourself (true fact)! Once that scan is finished they administer more dye to scan my neck. Then the scan is over! I have to hang around for another 10 minutes to make sure I don't have a reaction to the dye and then I am good to go.
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| Breakfast |
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| The delicious liquid |
Below is a quote that I love and helps me through the harder times.
I will be back to update at the end of the week. My blog is still getting hits so I presume there are still a few of you that read it.
xxx
Saturday, July 25, 2015
First 2015 update
Would you believe it's been 9 months since I last posted an update? I have come here many times to post one but haven't had a lot to write about, today I do however have something to fill you in on!
Friday 10th July I was driving home from work and felt a lump in my left elbow crease, like anyone else who has been through something similar to me, I immediately began to panic. As soon as I got home I started googling to see if I could figure out what it was, this time Google didn't help me. I stressed about it over the weekend. Tuesday I mentioned it to the Pharmacist at work and he told me to book in with my dr ASAP as with my history one can never be too cautious.
I called my GP but could not get an appointment for 2 weeks, I knew I couldn't wait that long so I called and made an appointment with my oncologist for that Friday (17th July). Friday morning came and I felt so incredibly sick with stress that I was making myself vomit. I had convinced myself that I now had a secondary cancer.
1:20pm I arrived at the hospital, I had to wait about 20 minutes to see my oncologist. He had another oncologist with him as it was a "slow day" in the Youth Cancer Clinic. I explained what I had felt and then they both had a feel. Their suspicions were either a blood clot from the PICC line I had in that arm or an inflamed lymphnode. If it was a lymphnode it would need to be removed and biopsied ASAP. He also mentioned that he had never heard of anyone getting cancer in their elbow after having Hodgkins and that it would be incredibly rare if it was.
They checked me out to see if there were any other lumps they could feel but they couldn't. My blood results also didn't show anything suspicious. It was recommended I have an ultrasound to see what was going on.
After a few calls they managed to get me in somewhere that same day.
4:00pm I went and had my ultrasound. The girl that was doing it stopped half way through and said she wanted to get the dr to have a look. I was now starting to worry!! They both came back and the dr was looking at it and said what she thought it was. I asked her if she thought it was cancer and she said no. She was pretty certain it was a ganglion cyst, which are rare on the elbow, they normally occur in the wrist. They normally just leave them if they aren't causing any problems and sometimes they can go away by themselves.
In other news, my hair is growing back nicely! I have finally got it to a style and length that I am happy with.
In other news, my hair is growing back nicely! I have finally got it to a style and length that I am happy with.
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| Quinzi's Sisters From Other Misters Relay For Life Team |
I have my next checkup CT scan at the end of August. This will take me to the 2 years in remission. We are pretty confident that this scan wont show anything bad. This will hopefully be my last CT scan for a very long time.
Until then xx
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Scans, Scans & More Scans!
So it seems I always say ill be back to update but then don't come back for weeks.. oops!! Sorry!
5th September - I am happy to sat that my CT scan came back all clear! This marks 1 year of being Cancer free! Woohoo! He was happy with everything except my vitamin d level which is still a little low, so I have uped my dose. I see him again in December with another CT scheduled for March 2015. We spoke about the fact my GP thought I had AVN, he said it is very common in patients that have been treated for blood cancer.
Avascular necrosis or AVN - is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Also called osteonecrosis, avascular necrosis can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone's eventual collapse.
11th September - I got in pretty fast to see the Orthopaedic surgeon, which surprised me. I had to have another xray on my hip before my appointment with the surgeon. In the appointment he showed me on the X-rays that the bone is starting to chip away and also has quite a large crack in it! Explains why it's causing a lot of pain. He requested an MRI and then said we would make a decision based on those results. I was rebooked to see him on the 23rd October.
19th September - I was booked in to have a gated blood pool scan (heart scan). My oncologist requested this because the chemotherapy I had has a high risk of damaging the heart.
5th September - I am happy to sat that my CT scan came back all clear! This marks 1 year of being Cancer free! Woohoo! He was happy with everything except my vitamin d level which is still a little low, so I have uped my dose. I see him again in December with another CT scheduled for March 2015. We spoke about the fact my GP thought I had AVN, he said it is very common in patients that have been treated for blood cancer.
Avascular necrosis or AVN - is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Also called osteonecrosis, avascular necrosis can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone's eventual collapse.
11th September - I got in pretty fast to see the Orthopaedic surgeon, which surprised me. I had to have another xray on my hip before my appointment with the surgeon. In the appointment he showed me on the X-rays that the bone is starting to chip away and also has quite a large crack in it! Explains why it's causing a lot of pain. He requested an MRI and then said we would make a decision based on those results. I was rebooked to see him on the 23rd October.
19th September - I was booked in to have a gated blood pool scan (heart scan). My oncologist requested this because the chemotherapy I had has a high risk of damaging the heart.
This is how they do it:
- The “in vivtro” method: a cannula or thin plastic tube is inserted into a vein in your arm. The medication that prepares the blood for labelling (stannous pyrophosphate) is then administered via this tubing. About 15 to 20 minutes later about 10 ml of blood is removed through this tubing. The blood is then labelled in the laboratory. About 10 minutes later the patient’s labelled blood is injected back through the same tubing.
The scan it self only takes about 10 minutes. I will get the results back of this scan with my next oncologist appointment in December. I presume its all good because if anything came up wrong I think they would have called my by now!
25th September - I had my first ever MRI, something I was terrified of! I took a pre med of lorazepam to relax me which helped. I was also lucky as it was only my hip that needed scanning I was allowed to go feet first, so the whole time if I tilted my head back slightly I could still see the roof which was good! Having headphones and being able to listen to music also definitely helps. I get the results from this on the 23rd October.
22nd October - I met with the Orthopaedic Surgeon to get the results of the MRI and make a decision as to where we go from here. He pretty much repeated what he said at my last appointment. He gave me 2 options. Option 1 - Wait and let it take its course until the pain is too much and then go in for a hip replacement or Option 2, do an experimental operation by trying to save the hip bone. This is only experimental surgery so they aren't sure if it would work or not, if it doesn't it will bring on the need to have the hip replacement sooner. So naturally I said I would wait. He mentioned that sooner rather then later the joint will develop arthritis and when it gets to this stage thats when I need to go back and see him and they will do the hip replacement. So at this stage I am booked in to see him again in 1 years time, if the pain gets too much I am too go and see him sooner. I am limited to what I can do, simple things like putting on socks & shoes hurts, sitting down hurts and walking up and down stairs hurts!
So aside from the AVN I feel good! The pill has made the hot flushes from the menopause go away! I have increased my hours at work to 30+ in the last few weeks, so my body is still getting used to early mornings and long working days.
xxx
25th September - I had my first ever MRI, something I was terrified of! I took a pre med of lorazepam to relax me which helped. I was also lucky as it was only my hip that needed scanning I was allowed to go feet first, so the whole time if I tilted my head back slightly I could still see the roof which was good! Having headphones and being able to listen to music also definitely helps. I get the results from this on the 23rd October.
22nd October - I met with the Orthopaedic Surgeon to get the results of the MRI and make a decision as to where we go from here. He pretty much repeated what he said at my last appointment. He gave me 2 options. Option 1 - Wait and let it take its course until the pain is too much and then go in for a hip replacement or Option 2, do an experimental operation by trying to save the hip bone. This is only experimental surgery so they aren't sure if it would work or not, if it doesn't it will bring on the need to have the hip replacement sooner. So naturally I said I would wait. He mentioned that sooner rather then later the joint will develop arthritis and when it gets to this stage thats when I need to go back and see him and they will do the hip replacement. So at this stage I am booked in to see him again in 1 years time, if the pain gets too much I am too go and see him sooner. I am limited to what I can do, simple things like putting on socks & shoes hurts, sitting down hurts and walking up and down stairs hurts!
So aside from the AVN I feel good! The pill has made the hot flushes from the menopause go away! I have increased my hours at work to 30+ in the last few weeks, so my body is still getting used to early mornings and long working days.
xxx
Friday, August 29, 2014
My life is never dull!
I haven't had a lot to update on lately, which is a good thing I guess.
In my last entry I mentioned that I had hurt my hip/groin, this is still hurting. I saw my regular GP about it and he requested I have an x-ray and ultrasound done on it. The results came back saying there was a small amount of fluid on the joint but nothing else. He then asked me to get a CT scan done. I already had a CT scan booked for the 16th of August for my "cancer check up" so asked if I could just add it on to that and he was fine with that. I arrived for my CT scan and told the receptionist I had the flu with a possible chest infection, the receptionist spoke with the radiographer and she said they would prefer not to do the "cancer" CT that day as they would like my chest to be clear as to not cause any panic if something showed up. They did my hip CT though, if only all my CT scans were that easy! No drink and no injection of the dye! I rescheduled my other CT for 2 weeks time, which is tomorrow. I went and saw a GP and he prescribed antibiotics. I took the week off work to try and fully recover so I would be well enough to have my scan.
I hadn't had a chance to get into my GP to get the results back from my scan as I had been sick and then he was booked out. I guess he got sick of waiting for me as he called me with the results today. He said that there is no blood flow to my hip joint and that he suspects I have something called Avascular Necrosis. He needs to put me onto a specialist and told me to prepare myself that I will most likely need a hip replacement. Not something you want to hear at 27! Now i just wait until I can get into the specialist to see what they say. So now that is 3 things that have gone wrong, Cancer, Menopause and now this! Surely that is it? Not sure how much more I can take!
In my last entry I mentioned that I had hurt my hip/groin, this is still hurting. I saw my regular GP about it and he requested I have an x-ray and ultrasound done on it. The results came back saying there was a small amount of fluid on the joint but nothing else. He then asked me to get a CT scan done. I already had a CT scan booked for the 16th of August for my "cancer check up" so asked if I could just add it on to that and he was fine with that. I arrived for my CT scan and told the receptionist I had the flu with a possible chest infection, the receptionist spoke with the radiographer and she said they would prefer not to do the "cancer" CT that day as they would like my chest to be clear as to not cause any panic if something showed up. They did my hip CT though, if only all my CT scans were that easy! No drink and no injection of the dye! I rescheduled my other CT for 2 weeks time, which is tomorrow. I went and saw a GP and he prescribed antibiotics. I took the week off work to try and fully recover so I would be well enough to have my scan.
I hadn't had a chance to get into my GP to get the results back from my scan as I had been sick and then he was booked out. I guess he got sick of waiting for me as he called me with the results today. He said that there is no blood flow to my hip joint and that he suspects I have something called Avascular Necrosis. He needs to put me onto a specialist and told me to prepare myself that I will most likely need a hip replacement. Not something you want to hear at 27! Now i just wait until I can get into the specialist to see what they say. So now that is 3 things that have gone wrong, Cancer, Menopause and now this! Surely that is it? Not sure how much more I can take!
Speaking of menopause! I had my follow up appointment with my Gynaecologist on the 5th of August. I got the results back from my bone density scan and funnily enough only 9% of people have stronger hips then me! My spine is also good. I had forgot to get my blood clot test done until the day before I saw her so she hadn't got those results back when I saw her. She told me to send her a text the following week and she would let me know them. She gave me a prescription for the pill and said if the results came back clear I could start taking it. As I was sick in bed with the flu I forgot to message her, so did it the following week. She got back to me and said that the blood tests results were all clear and to start taking the pill. I am going to start tomorrow night, it was easier to start the packet on the right day otherwise it would all get muddled up. I am a little nervous about taking it due to the risk of it causing blood clots, but I guess they did the test and it came back clear so I should be ok.
That brings me to today. I have my CT scan tomorrow morning and get the results back on the 5th September. I really really hope it comes back clear!! I will update when I get them back! xx
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Anxiety!
Anxiety - a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
The above explains how my life is. Every little thing going on inside my body makes me feel anxious, every little ache or pain makes stress way too much. 2 years ago I wouldn't have paid any attention to them but now my thoughts run wild with what it could mean and what could possibly be wrong with me. It's mentally draining. My future is uncertain. I guess everyone's is, I just think and worry about mine a lot more then the general person.
I am coming up to a year since I got the all clear. 4 months exactly! The last 8 months has gone so fast. I have a scan in August, this will be at the 10.5 months mark so if this comes back all clear (fingers crossed it does) then I'm not sure what happens from then onwards, whether I'll go to yearly scans or still have them 6 monthly.
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| 8 months hair growth - feels like it's taking forever! |
In my last update I said I was seeing my oncologist and gynocologist. Oncologist appointment went well, he was happy with most things except that my vitamin d levels had only gone up one... That was my fault for not taking it though! Last appt my thyroid levels were low but this time, perfect. I had a sore muscle in my hip/groin area for about 5 weeks before seeing him, and me being me instantly jumped to the conclusion I had bone cancer! So I asked him about that too, he did a few leg tests and put it down to a strained muscle, they can take months to heal. It's still a little sore today but getting better! Really need to stop stressing myself out! In the week leading up to my appointment I kept feeling my neck to see if I could feel anything and was adamant that I could! Turns out I was stressing for nothing... AGAIN! Dr couldn't feel anything! I mentioned to him that the arm on the side that I had a lymph node removed from neck constantly aches, he assured me this is normal for someone who has had a lymphnode removed, phew another thing I don't need to stress about, however it is really annoying and painful. So that sums up that visit.
A week later I saw the gyno. This was a quick appointment. She went through a few things that I don't really understand. Wants to put me on the pill but with my possible blood clot history wants to do a blood test checking for blood clots and also do a bone density scan to see if going through menopause has weakened my bones. I had the scan last week and it was the easiest, quickest scan I've had to date. Took all of 5 minutes. I can't get back into see her until August. So will get the results back then of both tests.
In May I participated in my second Relay For Life to raise money for the Cancer Council. In the 2 years we have done it my team/s and I have raised a massive $24,000!! It's something I look forward to every year and am really passionate about!
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| My beautiful friend Kirsty and I at the Relay For Life. |
So that all brings me to today. I'm alive, healthy(ish) and living one day at a time.
xxxx
Friday, April 18, 2014
Update..
It seems I left everyone hanging with the results of my scan. The good news is they came back clear, the "tumours" are still shrinking. It was a pretty stressful wait for my results but I returned to work in the few days before my results were due so I had that to concentrate on. I have returned back to my previous employer at 15 hours a week, which works out to 3 days. This is not enough for me and they can't give me any more hours so I am currently looking for full time work.
I have coped with being back at work fine, I do have the odd day where I am tired but with an early night I am ok the next day. My Dr told me to expect this for up to 12 months after treatment.
My results appointment went as expected. I was slightly confident (but not too much) that the results were going to be ok. There was 2 things that I thought he was going to tell me and I was right. The first one being that I have a Vitamin D deficiency, but that is easily fixed with Vitamin D vitamins. The 2nd and more concerning one was that I have gone in to early menopause. I don't know a lot about this except that I wont be able to conceive children. I have an appointment coming up with a gynaecologist so I will find out more then. These 2 things didn't shock me as I already knew thats what he was going to say.
He was happy for me to have another CT scan 6 months after my last one, so that will be around August 2014. I have another clinical checkup with him at the 3 month mark which is scheduled for 23rd May 2014.
So I have now been officially Cancer free for 6 months! The photo below was taken on the 6th April 2014 with 7 months hair growth! I have had an appointment to see how much hair extensions are going to cost me, now I will just wait for it to grow a little bit longer and get them!
I have coped with being back at work fine, I do have the odd day where I am tired but with an early night I am ok the next day. My Dr told me to expect this for up to 12 months after treatment.
My results appointment went as expected. I was slightly confident (but not too much) that the results were going to be ok. There was 2 things that I thought he was going to tell me and I was right. The first one being that I have a Vitamin D deficiency, but that is easily fixed with Vitamin D vitamins. The 2nd and more concerning one was that I have gone in to early menopause. I don't know a lot about this except that I wont be able to conceive children. I have an appointment coming up with a gynaecologist so I will find out more then. These 2 things didn't shock me as I already knew thats what he was going to say.
He was happy for me to have another CT scan 6 months after my last one, so that will be around August 2014. I have another clinical checkup with him at the 3 month mark which is scheduled for 23rd May 2014.
So I have now been officially Cancer free for 6 months! The photo below was taken on the 6th April 2014 with 7 months hair growth! I have had an appointment to see how much hair extensions are going to cost me, now I will just wait for it to grow a little bit longer and get them!
Monday, February 17, 2014
3 month CT scan
So the other day I had my 3 months post treatment scan (it's actually been nearly 4.5 months since my last one)! This will tell me if I am still in remission or not! I need everyone's positive vibes and prayers for great results. I had to go a radiology clinc as the hospital is no longer doing CT scans for out patients. So I rock up and they hand me this bottle of liquid to drink. I say I've never had this before and the nurse said it was how they do it there! I was thinking yippee,no contrast for me, it was wishful thinking as she said I would still need it! So I open the lid and have a sniff, doesn't smell too bad. I poor myself a cup and take a sip... It kind of tastes like flat lemonade. It's a 250ml bottle and I have to drink a cup full every 15 minutes until it was gone. As I was sitting there drinking mine, another girl sat down and got given the bottle, she too took the lid of and had a smell!
I had nearly finished it when the nurse came back out to get me! I went to a little room and got changed into a hospital gown and then went into the scanning room, by this stage I was busting for the toilet so asked to go to the loo before the scan. Had to wait and ask as I wasn't sure if I was supposed to have a full bladder for the scan. I came back and laid feet first on the bed with my legs sitting over a triangle so they were slightly raised and bent. She put a cannula in my left arm and then attached the tube so she could put the contrast into me, she then aligned the machine so it was ready to go. I had to hold my left arm up straight and the right arm over my head for the first part of the scan and then put both arms down on my stomach for the second part. First part scans your abdomen to your neck and the second part scans neck and head. I get 2 lots of contrast that make you feel warm and like you have peed yourself! Once the scan was finished I got dressed and has to sit in a small waiting room for 10 minutes to make sure I wasn't going to have a reaction to the contrast, she then took out the cannula and I was free to go.
They gave me the option of picking up my scans or having them sent straight to my Dr! As tempted as I was I knew the right decision was to get them sent to my Dr. If I had picked them up I would have opened them and either for bad or good news or not be able to understand them and stress myself out for 3 weeks!
I was supposed to get my results back on the 21st but that clinic has been cancelled so now I have to wait until the 28th.
I had a meeting with my General Manager on Friday to talk about returning to work. All sounds promising so now I am just waiting for them to give me a call to tell me what days and hours they have for me.
Bye for now
Xxx
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Life "after" cancer
While the world goes on around me like everything is normal, my life is anything but. The fear and anxiety that constantly eat away at me is exhausting. I know I'll be forever known as "that girl that had cancer" but surely there is more to me then that? Other reasons people can remember me for? Maybe, maybe not. Realistically I am just a mere human being in a world full of people, why should people remember me for any other reason. When people learn of my story and what I have been through their demeanor changes, they all of a sudden become softer spoken and almost apologetic. Don't treat me differently because I had cancer or tell me that you know what I went through because your Aunts Sisters Cousins Daughter had cancer, because honestly you have no idea how incredibly hard it is to fight something that's trying to kill you unless you have been through it too. You may have watched a love one go through this so you will have some idea, but there is a whole other side to it, the mental side, what it does to your thoughts is possibly harder to deal with then the actual treatment itself. All the thoughts of "I can't do this, I don't want to to do this, Why me?, How could this happen?, What did i do to deserve this?, I would rather die, I want to give up" They all go through your head at one stage or another through treatment.
I am coming up to my first scan post finishing up treatment and to be honest I am completely terrified. I have a 1001 thoughts running through my head. My mind keeps telling me I have symptoms and any "strange" feeling I have in my body makes me swear it's returned. Like I said it's exhausting, both mentally and physically. I have to wait 2 weeks for my scan results which is annoying. I need to be put out of my misery.
I will be returning to work in the next couple of weeks too. I am unsure at this stage what hours I'll be doing and what store I'll be in, I have a meeting with the General Manager in 2 weeks. After being off work for 16 months it will be tough but good to get back into a somewhat "normal" life.
I am not sure anyone reads this thing anymore but either way it's good to get it off my chest. Until next time xx
Saturday, November 16, 2013
It's hard, at the end of the day….
I have come here many times to write a new blog but just end up sitting here looking blankly at the screen not knowing where to start or what to write!
I am not sure how I am feeling since finishing up all my treatment, if I am being honest as I usually try to be on here, it is pretty scary! I may have mentioned in a previous blog, i can't remember. But whilst you are on chemo you have the comfort of knowing that the cancer is being killed or kept away. Now i am off it the scary thoughts keep rearing their ugly heads and the fear and anxiety seem to creep back in every now and then. I know this is normal for someone who has been through something like I have so it doesn't worry me, it can just get a little annoying sometimes when you are going about your day and something will jump out at you and remind you of what you have been through or what your future may hold. At the end of the day, its hard. I fought something that tried to kill me and those memories won't disappear overnight.
I have started seeing an exercise physiologist to help me regain my strength. He has been fantastic and I have noticed a great improvement even in the few short weeks that I have been going. Before I started seeing him my joints and body would ache any time I stood up and moved but now it is much better. I see him 2-3 times a week for an hour at a time. We do things like weights, treadmill, bike etc.
On Friday 1st November I had my first clinical checkup with my Oncologist. It felt weird going back to the hospital after not having to go there for a month. He checked me over and didn't see or feel anything that he was concerned about! My next check up with him is 6th December. He said that he feels that I have transitioned from chemo well.
Saturday October 26th I was asked to participate in the Candle Light Ceremony in the Murray Bridge Cancer Council Relay For Life. I lit the candle of the present. They have 3 candles that signify 'The Past, Present & Future'. It was an honour to be asked to do this in my home town in front of my family.
I also got asked to be the feature story in the latest Cancer Council bequest brochure and letter that accompanies it. I felt very privileged to be asked to do this and it makes me feel like I am doing some good out of a horrible situation and I hope that after reading my story people consider leaving money to the Cancer Council in their will.
So it seems this time I didn't have trouble finding something to write about! Until next time xxx
I am not sure how I am feeling since finishing up all my treatment, if I am being honest as I usually try to be on here, it is pretty scary! I may have mentioned in a previous blog, i can't remember. But whilst you are on chemo you have the comfort of knowing that the cancer is being killed or kept away. Now i am off it the scary thoughts keep rearing their ugly heads and the fear and anxiety seem to creep back in every now and then. I know this is normal for someone who has been through something like I have so it doesn't worry me, it can just get a little annoying sometimes when you are going about your day and something will jump out at you and remind you of what you have been through or what your future may hold. At the end of the day, its hard. I fought something that tried to kill me and those memories won't disappear overnight.
I have started seeing an exercise physiologist to help me regain my strength. He has been fantastic and I have noticed a great improvement even in the few short weeks that I have been going. Before I started seeing him my joints and body would ache any time I stood up and moved but now it is much better. I see him 2-3 times a week for an hour at a time. We do things like weights, treadmill, bike etc.
On Friday 1st November I had my first clinical checkup with my Oncologist. It felt weird going back to the hospital after not having to go there for a month. He checked me over and didn't see or feel anything that he was concerned about! My next check up with him is 6th December. He said that he feels that I have transitioned from chemo well.
Saturday October 26th I was asked to participate in the Candle Light Ceremony in the Murray Bridge Cancer Council Relay For Life. I lit the candle of the present. They have 3 candles that signify 'The Past, Present & Future'. It was an honour to be asked to do this in my home town in front of my family.
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| Doing a lap with our candles |
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| As above |
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| During the ceremony |
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| The band playing |
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| Me with my candle (in the middle) |
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| The brochure |
I have been busy planning fundraisers for the Cancer Council through Relay For Life. This will be the second Relay For Life I have participated in, it is great fun but also a lot of hard work! If you would like to donate here in the link: Relay For Life Fundraising Page
I am also in the middle of planning a holiday to Tasmania for the start of next year! It is great being able to plan things! Life will never be the same again but I am trying to learn to live with the life I have been given and I am incredibly grateful that I am still here today to be able to share my story.
I know a lot of people who have been through something like I have say that they now look at the world in a whole new light but its true. I now see what is important and what is not. I make time to just sit down, relax and watch the world go by! Life is to fragile and short to worry about the small things. I will always take time out for me and look after myself as no one can do that for you. Life is what you make it, have fun, be crazy and don't care what others think about you.
I hate that I got Cancer but it showed me how to appreciate life as tomorrow is never promised and life can change or be taken away from you in a instant. Its also led me to some amazing people who I will be friends with forever. I believe I have been given a second chance at life and I am not going to waste it!
This song was sang at my very first Relay For Life that I attended in May this year. I was in the middle of treatment and had a blood transfusion the day before. I was standing with an amazing group of ladies in a massive crowed! As I looked around there was not a dry eye in the crowd! Whilst it makes me sad it always reminds me of how far I have come!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Picc removal
In my last entry I forgot to mention I finally got my picc line out! I specifically made my picc dressing appointment after my results appointment in the hope I would be able to get it out!
With one deep breath it was pulled cleanly out! I didn't feel a thing. I asked the nurse if I could keep it! She joked that it might make some horrible science experiment In years to come lol! I need some sort of memory of what I had inside me for the last 11 months! I gave it to Dad, told him to put it with my hair he has lol! The part that ran from my arm into my chest is approximately 30cms long, the part on the outside of my arm, about 16cms long! Although annoying, it saved me many a jab and I don't regret getting it at all!
All the nurses in the oncology day centre were sad but happy to see me go! The receptionist was exceptionally sad! I had become friends with everyone there in the last 12 months! I am not sad to see the back of that place but am sad to say good bye to the lovely people I met! I promised Nikki the receptionist I would pop back in and say hello next time I am at the hospital!
Chemo nurses are amazing, they help you through a very difficult time in your life! I will never forget the love and support they gave me! We shared jokes and stories and had lots of laughs together.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
I may have taken the long road but I got there in the end!
This is a post I have been waiting to write for a very long time!! Today I can announce I no longer have cancer!!
I had my results appointment on Friday 4th Oct. I was extremely nervous about it all week. Couldn't sleep much and on the day I felt like I was going to be sick. Lets just say I went in there with a feeling that it was going to be bad news. I had prepared myself for the worst. Sam and his mum Penny came with me. The Dr didn't keep us waiting too long so that was great. He asked how I have been feeling and I said I had a cold, he replied that he will want to know about that soon but first he's sure I want to know my results. I said it depends on if its good or bad news!! His reply was..... "It's all good"!! Phew! I felt like a tonne of bricks had just been lifted from my shoulders. From then on it was all good. He said the Pet scan showed no sign of activity and the Ct scan showed the nodes had significantly dropped in size. I found out that the biggest one in my chest at my last scan in January was 7cm x 4cm, whoa! I hate to think how big it was before i started chemo then! From memory he said its about 4 x 1cm now. I have another appointment with my Oncologist in a months time to have a chat and for him to feel my neck to make sure nothing is happening. I will have at least 3 CT scans in the next 12 months and blood tests routinely.
I have realised a lot in the last 12 months. I have figured out who will and wont be there for me. I lost a lot of people I thought were friends but at the same time I made some incredibly great new friends who have stuck by my side since the very start and are still there today <3 you all, you know who you are!
Although I am technically 'free of cancer' physically, mentally I never will be. It will always be in the back of my mind. For the next few years until my hair grows long it will be a constant reminder of what I went through every time I look in the mirror. I have scars all over my body from the chemo. Every time I stand up my body aches. I have a scar on my neck that one day I hope I can look at with pride instead of wanting to cry at the reminder of what once tried to kill me. Life wasn't meant to be like this, I shouldn't have to live with the constant anxiety and 'what ifs' for the rest of my life. Not to forget all the scans, doctors appointments and blood tests I will have to have for the rest of my life. I was 25 and cancer took away my innocence, it took away my care free attitude towards life, it took away me. I now look at the world in a whole new light, I will do my best to help people that need help and always be there for my friends when they need me. I think now I am a lot more of a giving person and always try to think of others. You don't need to spend money to make someone happy, you just need to be there for them. Just sitting and spending time with them, sending them a card or a text to say you are thinking of them and ask how they are, that is all that is needed and really not that hard. It takes 2 seconds to send a text and honestly you will never know when you need your friends or help in return.
I thank everyone who was beside me on this journey, love you all!
So now onto the party planning!!
I had my results appointment on Friday 4th Oct. I was extremely nervous about it all week. Couldn't sleep much and on the day I felt like I was going to be sick. Lets just say I went in there with a feeling that it was going to be bad news. I had prepared myself for the worst. Sam and his mum Penny came with me. The Dr didn't keep us waiting too long so that was great. He asked how I have been feeling and I said I had a cold, he replied that he will want to know about that soon but first he's sure I want to know my results. I said it depends on if its good or bad news!! His reply was..... "It's all good"!! Phew! I felt like a tonne of bricks had just been lifted from my shoulders. From then on it was all good. He said the Pet scan showed no sign of activity and the Ct scan showed the nodes had significantly dropped in size. I found out that the biggest one in my chest at my last scan in January was 7cm x 4cm, whoa! I hate to think how big it was before i started chemo then! From memory he said its about 4 x 1cm now. I have another appointment with my Oncologist in a months time to have a chat and for him to feel my neck to make sure nothing is happening. I will have at least 3 CT scans in the next 12 months and blood tests routinely.
I have realised a lot in the last 12 months. I have figured out who will and wont be there for me. I lost a lot of people I thought were friends but at the same time I made some incredibly great new friends who have stuck by my side since the very start and are still there today <3 you all, you know who you are!
Although I am technically 'free of cancer' physically, mentally I never will be. It will always be in the back of my mind. For the next few years until my hair grows long it will be a constant reminder of what I went through every time I look in the mirror. I have scars all over my body from the chemo. Every time I stand up my body aches. I have a scar on my neck that one day I hope I can look at with pride instead of wanting to cry at the reminder of what once tried to kill me. Life wasn't meant to be like this, I shouldn't have to live with the constant anxiety and 'what ifs' for the rest of my life. Not to forget all the scans, doctors appointments and blood tests I will have to have for the rest of my life. I was 25 and cancer took away my innocence, it took away my care free attitude towards life, it took away me. I now look at the world in a whole new light, I will do my best to help people that need help and always be there for my friends when they need me. I think now I am a lot more of a giving person and always try to think of others. You don't need to spend money to make someone happy, you just need to be there for them. Just sitting and spending time with them, sending them a card or a text to say you are thinking of them and ask how they are, that is all that is needed and really not that hard. It takes 2 seconds to send a text and honestly you will never know when you need your friends or help in return.
I thank everyone who was beside me on this journey, love you all!
So now onto the party planning!!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst!
Last weekend I spoke to my Uncle Graeme who I haven't talked to in many years, he mentioned that he reads my blog and that I haven't updated it in a while, so this update is for you :)!
It's been nearly 6 weeks since I updated this, oops sorry!! In all honesty though I have come here quite a few times to do an update, but just haven't known what to say and I guess no news, is good news, right?!?
I officially ended chemo on Sunday 11th August 2013!! It has been great waking up knowing that I don't have to go to the hospital for more chemo!! I still have my PICC line in (my choice) so have had to go back to the hospital once a week for a dressing change and a blood test.
In the last 6 weeks the lowest my hemoglobin has dropped to is 81 which was in the week after I finished chemo. My last blood test results from 6/09/13 it was at a 102, so slowly improving, every now and then it drops down a few but no where near the 80 zone which is great, so means no more blood transfusions for me!!
I have been getting my energy back which is a great feeling! I spent a week back home at Mum and Dad's the other week, which was nice. I got to catch up with a few friends that I hadn't seen in a while. Have been on a couple of lunch dates with some other friends back in Adelaide, feels good to be able to start living life again! I have slowly been getting my house back in order too and have been able to help out with a bit of cooking and cleaning! The only real side effect I am experiencing at the moment, is joint pain in my ankles, elbows and hands. I also have the neuropathy in my hands and feet still, other then those 2 things I generally feel pretty good. I still get tired if I push my self too much though.
So tomorrow marks the end of the 6 week mark since I finished chemo, so that means I have my scans to see what this nasty thing called Cancer is doing!! Best news will be that its all gone!! I have my PET scan Monday 16th September at 9am! CT scan is scheduled for Friday 27th September. I get my results back and find out where I go to from here on Friday 4th October. Which ironically is 1 YEAR TO THE DAY since I found out I had cancer! I got told on Friday October 5th last year! So lets hope that this year I hear the words "No active cancer"!! With cancer though I have learned you need to 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst' which is what I have done throughout my whole treatment! I can't believe its been almost a year, it has gone unbelievably fast. It does not feel like I have had a year off work! When the doctor told me what he thought I had, he told me that it would take a year out of my life, he wasn't wrong! I am looking forward to being able to enjoy my birthday, Christmas and New Years a lot more this year! Wasn't a lot to celebrate last year, with a cancer diagnoses not long before.
I wish I had more to update you all on, but I don't! I will have more news in a few weeks! xx
It's been nearly 6 weeks since I updated this, oops sorry!! In all honesty though I have come here quite a few times to do an update, but just haven't known what to say and I guess no news, is good news, right?!?
I officially ended chemo on Sunday 11th August 2013!! It has been great waking up knowing that I don't have to go to the hospital for more chemo!! I still have my PICC line in (my choice) so have had to go back to the hospital once a week for a dressing change and a blood test.
In the last 6 weeks the lowest my hemoglobin has dropped to is 81 which was in the week after I finished chemo. My last blood test results from 6/09/13 it was at a 102, so slowly improving, every now and then it drops down a few but no where near the 80 zone which is great, so means no more blood transfusions for me!!
I have been getting my energy back which is a great feeling! I spent a week back home at Mum and Dad's the other week, which was nice. I got to catch up with a few friends that I hadn't seen in a while. Have been on a couple of lunch dates with some other friends back in Adelaide, feels good to be able to start living life again! I have slowly been getting my house back in order too and have been able to help out with a bit of cooking and cleaning! The only real side effect I am experiencing at the moment, is joint pain in my ankles, elbows and hands. I also have the neuropathy in my hands and feet still, other then those 2 things I generally feel pretty good. I still get tired if I push my self too much though.
So tomorrow marks the end of the 6 week mark since I finished chemo, so that means I have my scans to see what this nasty thing called Cancer is doing!! Best news will be that its all gone!! I have my PET scan Monday 16th September at 9am! CT scan is scheduled for Friday 27th September. I get my results back and find out where I go to from here on Friday 4th October. Which ironically is 1 YEAR TO THE DAY since I found out I had cancer! I got told on Friday October 5th last year! So lets hope that this year I hear the words "No active cancer"!! With cancer though I have learned you need to 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst' which is what I have done throughout my whole treatment! I can't believe its been almost a year, it has gone unbelievably fast. It does not feel like I have had a year off work! When the doctor told me what he thought I had, he told me that it would take a year out of my life, he wasn't wrong! I am looking forward to being able to enjoy my birthday, Christmas and New Years a lot more this year! Wasn't a lot to celebrate last year, with a cancer diagnoses not long before.
I wish I had more to update you all on, but I don't! I will have more news in a few weeks! xx
Monday, August 5, 2013
Bag 18 & 19 of blood and a few other details!
So my assumption about needing a transfusion was right! I had my blood test on Thursday. I then got a phone call at 4:30pm from the RAH saying I needed to come in on Friday for 2 bags of blood as my haemoglobin was now at 76.
Friday at 8am - Sam and I headed of to the RAH to be there by 9am so they could do a blood test to match my blood type and order my blood. They had originally booked me in to have my transfusion at 1pm but said the results should only take an hour or so to come back so I could wait and they would change my PICC line dressing while we waited so I don't have to come back on Monday! It took just over 1.5 hours for the results to come back but it was just easier to stay there and wait then go back. My transfusion started just before 11am and finished at around 3pm. This brings my total of bags to 19! I remember my first one like it was yesterday, it terrified me! I must say it did get easier as time went on, but I still never felt comfortable with them!
Before I left I asked them to print off my blood results from the test I had the day before, I don't usually ask for them, but thought it would be interesting to see. My platelets were only 35! No wonder my nose has been bleeding when I blow it, nothing major though! My neutrophils were only .63 (normal 1.8-7.5) so I was advised to stay home over the weekend as I am at a high risk of getting infection with a count that low. I took their advice as I don't want to spend a week in hospital right at the end of my treatment!
I technically haven't finished chemo as I have a 21 day cycle, so the END is this Sunday 11th August and hopefully after that I can start to feel better.
My muscles have completely deteriorated and I struggle to walk far or stand up for more then a few minutes. This is from the steroids that I have been on. Also my heart rate is erratic so walking a short distance from the bedroom to kitchen makes me feel like I have run a marathon. My hands and feet are still numb (called Peripheral Neuropathy) from the IV Vincristine I have on day 8, I am hoping this will go away now, but have read that it can hang around forever!
I have a meeting with my Oncologist on Friday 9th August, so will hopefully find out more as to where I go from here then!
The other night I worked out how much of everything I have had since I started this journey! I know I have forgotten some things, but this is the main list....
2 Neck biopsies
1 Bone marrow biopsy
1 Neck Ultrasound
2 Arm Ultrasounds
19 Bags of blood
9 Months of chemotherapy
3 Pet Scans
4 Ct Scans
6 ECG's
2 Gated blood pool scans (heart scan)
1 Lung function test
Numerous bags of IV antibiotics
Numerous tablet antibiotics
70 Clexane injections in the tummy
10 Neulasta injections in the tummy
4 weeks in hospital
5 chest x-rays
2 Ambulance rides
696 Famciclovir tablets
170 Ozpan tablets
224 Procarbazine tablets (chemotherapy tablets)
336 Prednisolone tablets (steroids)
TOTAL of 1426 tablets in 5 months.. not including antibiotics!!
Liquid Potassium
Liquid Bactrim
Over 70 blood tests
2 PICC lines
Its crazy seeing it all written down!!!
Friday at 8am - Sam and I headed of to the RAH to be there by 9am so they could do a blood test to match my blood type and order my blood. They had originally booked me in to have my transfusion at 1pm but said the results should only take an hour or so to come back so I could wait and they would change my PICC line dressing while we waited so I don't have to come back on Monday! It took just over 1.5 hours for the results to come back but it was just easier to stay there and wait then go back. My transfusion started just before 11am and finished at around 3pm. This brings my total of bags to 19! I remember my first one like it was yesterday, it terrified me! I must say it did get easier as time went on, but I still never felt comfortable with them!
Before I left I asked them to print off my blood results from the test I had the day before, I don't usually ask for them, but thought it would be interesting to see. My platelets were only 35! No wonder my nose has been bleeding when I blow it, nothing major though! My neutrophils were only .63 (normal 1.8-7.5) so I was advised to stay home over the weekend as I am at a high risk of getting infection with a count that low. I took their advice as I don't want to spend a week in hospital right at the end of my treatment!
 |
| Bag number 18! |
I technically haven't finished chemo as I have a 21 day cycle, so the END is this Sunday 11th August and hopefully after that I can start to feel better.
My muscles have completely deteriorated and I struggle to walk far or stand up for more then a few minutes. This is from the steroids that I have been on. Also my heart rate is erratic so walking a short distance from the bedroom to kitchen makes me feel like I have run a marathon. My hands and feet are still numb (called Peripheral Neuropathy) from the IV Vincristine I have on day 8, I am hoping this will go away now, but have read that it can hang around forever!
I have a meeting with my Oncologist on Friday 9th August, so will hopefully find out more as to where I go from here then!
The other night I worked out how much of everything I have had since I started this journey! I know I have forgotten some things, but this is the main list....
2 Neck biopsies
1 Bone marrow biopsy
1 Neck Ultrasound
2 Arm Ultrasounds
19 Bags of blood
9 Months of chemotherapy
3 Pet Scans
4 Ct Scans
6 ECG's
2 Gated blood pool scans (heart scan)
1 Lung function test
Numerous bags of IV antibiotics
Numerous tablet antibiotics
70 Clexane injections in the tummy
10 Neulasta injections in the tummy
4 weeks in hospital
5 chest x-rays
2 Ambulance rides
696 Famciclovir tablets
170 Ozpan tablets
224 Procarbazine tablets (chemotherapy tablets)
336 Prednisolone tablets (steroids)
TOTAL of 1426 tablets in 5 months.. not including antibiotics!!
Liquid Potassium
Liquid Bactrim
Over 70 blood tests
2 PICC lines
13 bags of Adriamycin
13 bags of Bleomycin
5 bags of Vinblastine
5 bags of Dacarbazine
24 bags of Etoposide
8 bags of Cyclophosphamide
8 bags of Vincristine
13 bags of Bleomycin
5 bags of Vinblastine
5 bags of Dacarbazine
24 bags of Etoposide
8 bags of Cyclophosphamide
8 bags of Vincristine
Its crazy seeing it all written down!!!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
I did it!!!
Wow I did it, I really did it!! I made it through 9 months of chemotherapy, who would of thought I could do it? Certainly not me! If you asked me 9 months ago if I thought I would be where I am today, the answer would of been no! I was so certain that I couldn't do it. I guess I proved myself wrong.
So here is a rundown of my last round of chemo:
Monday 22nd July - I arrived at the hospital at 8:45 and met up with Kirsty, we made our way up to level 7 and took a seat in the waiting room. As you may recall I was unsure whether or not I would be having chemo today as my platelets level on Friday were too low (50). I had a blood test and it was about a 2 hour wait for the results to come back! They finally came back at 11am and...... it was good news! They needed to be 80 or over and were EXACTLY 80!!! So I had my chemo and then Kirsty dropped me back at Sam's parents house and I spent the day there.
Tuesday 23rd July - Sam's mum came with me for this one, we arrived at 9am for my appointment. All went well again. Sam's Mum and I did some shopping at Kmart then picked up his Dad and went to lunch at Barnacle Bills!
Wednesday 24th July - Sam took me to this one, nothing to report.
Thursday 25th July - Had a blood test today, haemoglobin was 89 so I am expecting that I will need at least one more blood transfusion before this is over.
Monday 29th July - LAST DAY!!! Sam came with me to my last chemo appointment! I had nurse Jeremy who I have had a few times before, he is the only male nurse in the chemo day centre, a lovely guy! All went well, had the usual indigestion pains during the night, but nothing too bad. My haemoglobin is obviously still ok because I didn't get a phone call from the hospital today.
Tuesday 30th July - I had my last nuelasta injection in the tummy today (Thanks Marit)! I woke up with really bad pains in the upper part of my tummy and the feeling I was going to be sick, about 30 mins after Marit had been I started vomiting, I waited a little bit and had a dry piece of toast so I could take my tablets and then try and get some sleep. I slept for an hour or so and woke up feeling a bit better. I wasn't sick for the rest of the day so not sure what caused this as the side effects of the 2 IV chemo's I had the day before don't cause nausea.
So that brings me to today, Wednesday 31st July. I woke up feeling better today, have had a little chest discomfort on and off all day, but I usually get this so not overly worried about it. I am feeling pretty flat and still have my crazy heart rate when I get up and walk around which is annoying and leaves me feeling pretty exhausted! I have a blood test tomorrow, a little worried that my haemoglobin is going to be low and I will have to go in for another blood transfusion.
So now I wait 6 weeks until I have my scans to see what my tumours have done. I will have a CT and PET scan. If the PET scan comes back with any 'activity' then I will need another biopsy to confirm whether its cancer activity or just scar tissue. If it's cancer then I move onto weeks of radiation, or if it comes back as just scar tissue then I can move on with life!
Now what to do with my time?? Chemo had become my life. I can't wait to start feeling good again though, I really have forgotten what that feels like. If I am honest its been years since I felt good. I thought feeling so tired and lack of energy was "normal".
I do have that fear in the back of my mind that the chemo hasn't worked or hasn't worked well enough. Many people tell me to be positive and not to think like that, but I am a firm believer that you need to prepare yourself for the worst at least a little bit. I would hate to walk into the Dr's office thinking everything is going to be okay to be only told bad news.
I guess time will tell!
So here is a rundown of my last round of chemo:
Monday 22nd July - I arrived at the hospital at 8:45 and met up with Kirsty, we made our way up to level 7 and took a seat in the waiting room. As you may recall I was unsure whether or not I would be having chemo today as my platelets level on Friday were too low (50). I had a blood test and it was about a 2 hour wait for the results to come back! They finally came back at 11am and...... it was good news! They needed to be 80 or over and were EXACTLY 80!!! So I had my chemo and then Kirsty dropped me back at Sam's parents house and I spent the day there.
Tuesday 23rd July - Sam's mum came with me for this one, we arrived at 9am for my appointment. All went well again. Sam's Mum and I did some shopping at Kmart then picked up his Dad and went to lunch at Barnacle Bills!
Wednesday 24th July - Sam took me to this one, nothing to report.
Thursday 25th July - Had a blood test today, haemoglobin was 89 so I am expecting that I will need at least one more blood transfusion before this is over.
Monday 29th July - LAST DAY!!! Sam came with me to my last chemo appointment! I had nurse Jeremy who I have had a few times before, he is the only male nurse in the chemo day centre, a lovely guy! All went well, had the usual indigestion pains during the night, but nothing too bad. My haemoglobin is obviously still ok because I didn't get a phone call from the hospital today.
Tuesday 30th July - I had my last nuelasta injection in the tummy today (Thanks Marit)! I woke up with really bad pains in the upper part of my tummy and the feeling I was going to be sick, about 30 mins after Marit had been I started vomiting, I waited a little bit and had a dry piece of toast so I could take my tablets and then try and get some sleep. I slept for an hour or so and woke up feeling a bit better. I wasn't sick for the rest of the day so not sure what caused this as the side effects of the 2 IV chemo's I had the day before don't cause nausea.
So that brings me to today, Wednesday 31st July. I woke up feeling better today, have had a little chest discomfort on and off all day, but I usually get this so not overly worried about it. I am feeling pretty flat and still have my crazy heart rate when I get up and walk around which is annoying and leaves me feeling pretty exhausted! I have a blood test tomorrow, a little worried that my haemoglobin is going to be low and I will have to go in for another blood transfusion.
So now I wait 6 weeks until I have my scans to see what my tumours have done. I will have a CT and PET scan. If the PET scan comes back with any 'activity' then I will need another biopsy to confirm whether its cancer activity or just scar tissue. If it's cancer then I move onto weeks of radiation, or if it comes back as just scar tissue then I can move on with life!
Now what to do with my time?? Chemo had become my life. I can't wait to start feeling good again though, I really have forgotten what that feels like. If I am honest its been years since I felt good. I thought feeling so tired and lack of energy was "normal".
I do have that fear in the back of my mind that the chemo hasn't worked or hasn't worked well enough. Many people tell me to be positive and not to think like that, but I am a firm believer that you need to prepare yourself for the worst at least a little bit. I would hate to walk into the Dr's office thinking everything is going to be okay to be only told bad news.
I guess time will tell!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Stupid platelets!
Monday 15th July I went into the hospital to have my PICC line dressing changed, the nurse told me that my haemoglobin was low last week so wanted to see what it came back as today and that she would call me when the results came in if I needed a transfusion. I was out for lunch with Sam, Kirsty, Michael and their kids when the nurse called to tell me haemoglobin was now 81, she gave me the option of having a transfusion on Tuesday or waiting to see what Thursday's blood test came back at, of course I said I would wait. She said that she would book me in for blood on Friday just incase otherwise I wouldn't get an appointment if I needed one.
Thursday 18th July Sheena (IMVS Nurse) came and took my blood and I waited to get the phone call that I knew was coming from the hospital to say I needed blood. I can usually tell when I am going to need it as I feel really flat and tired when my blood is low. 4pm came and the nurse called to tell me my haemoglobin was now 77 so I would need 2 bags of blood on Friday at 10:30. She said I had to go the local IMVS clinic first thing Friday morning as they didn't have a group and match for me. I told her that I was pretty sure that Sheena had taken one that day, but she said that nothing was showing on her screen so go and get one anyway.
Friday 19th. Sam and I got up early and headed to the IMVS clinic so I could get a group and match done. I was talking to the nurse there and told her that I was going in for a blood transfusion at 10:30am that day, she said that my blood test wouldn't be picked up from her until 10am and the results wouldn't get back to the RAH until after 12pm so she didn't see any point in her taking my blood. I said that I explained to her that I was sure Sheena did one yesterday, she said that she could make a phone call and find out what was taken. A group and match was taken so she said the RAH should have my results by now. So of we went to the RAH hoping that they had my blood type matched and blood bags on order so we wouldn't have to wait around.
We arrived in time for my appointment and I had to wait a few minutes in the waiting area. My nurse for today was a new one that I hadn't had before. I said to her about not having a blood test that morning and she said she would check to see if there was blood for me in the fridge. She came back with a bag of blood, yay! I had 2 bags of blood (bags number 16 & 17), when I was nearly done with my 2nd bag I realised I was going to be late for my appointment with my Dr and asked one of the nurses to call him to let him know I was going to be late. He came up and seen me instead. We spoke about what is going to happen when I finish my last round of chemo. I wait 6 weeks and then have scans, then possibly another biopsy and radiation. I asked him what he predicts is going to happen and he laughed and said with me he doesn't want to predict anything!!! He told me that my platelets from the blood test on Thursday were 50 and at that stage are too low to go ahead with chemo on Monday, they need to be over 80 for them to proceed. I need to get a blood test first thing Monday when I get to the hospital and they will make the decision then as to whether or not I can have chemo, if they come back too low still they will postpone my chemo until later in the week or possibly even the week after. This is the lowest that my platelets have been. I have pretty much slept all of the weekend so I am hoping that my body is repairing itself for tomorrow and that my platelets have at least gone up to 80 so that my last round isn't delayed!
Thursday 18th July Sheena (IMVS Nurse) came and took my blood and I waited to get the phone call that I knew was coming from the hospital to say I needed blood. I can usually tell when I am going to need it as I feel really flat and tired when my blood is low. 4pm came and the nurse called to tell me my haemoglobin was now 77 so I would need 2 bags of blood on Friday at 10:30. She said I had to go the local IMVS clinic first thing Friday morning as they didn't have a group and match for me. I told her that I was pretty sure that Sheena had taken one that day, but she said that nothing was showing on her screen so go and get one anyway.
Friday 19th. Sam and I got up early and headed to the IMVS clinic so I could get a group and match done. I was talking to the nurse there and told her that I was going in for a blood transfusion at 10:30am that day, she said that my blood test wouldn't be picked up from her until 10am and the results wouldn't get back to the RAH until after 12pm so she didn't see any point in her taking my blood. I said that I explained to her that I was sure Sheena did one yesterday, she said that she could make a phone call and find out what was taken. A group and match was taken so she said the RAH should have my results by now. So of we went to the RAH hoping that they had my blood type matched and blood bags on order so we wouldn't have to wait around.
We arrived in time for my appointment and I had to wait a few minutes in the waiting area. My nurse for today was a new one that I hadn't had before. I said to her about not having a blood test that morning and she said she would check to see if there was blood for me in the fridge. She came back with a bag of blood, yay! I had 2 bags of blood (bags number 16 & 17), when I was nearly done with my 2nd bag I realised I was going to be late for my appointment with my Dr and asked one of the nurses to call him to let him know I was going to be late. He came up and seen me instead. We spoke about what is going to happen when I finish my last round of chemo. I wait 6 weeks and then have scans, then possibly another biopsy and radiation. I asked him what he predicts is going to happen and he laughed and said with me he doesn't want to predict anything!!! He told me that my platelets from the blood test on Thursday were 50 and at that stage are too low to go ahead with chemo on Monday, they need to be over 80 for them to proceed. I need to get a blood test first thing Monday when I get to the hospital and they will make the decision then as to whether or not I can have chemo, if they come back too low still they will postpone my chemo until later in the week or possibly even the week after. This is the lowest that my platelets have been. I have pretty much slept all of the weekend so I am hoping that my body is repairing itself for tomorrow and that my platelets have at least gone up to 80 so that my last round isn't delayed!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
7 down.... 1 TO GO!!!
I am sitting on the lounge knowing I need to write another blog and keep "everyone" updated.. who ever you may be! Not sure anyone actually cares or reads this, but any who I will attempt to finish this entry tonight..!
Yesterday (monday) I had my last chemo day for round 7, so that means I have one round to go.. yes, you read that right, I have ONE round to go! I really can't wait to finish and I have many mixed emotions, but more about that another time. Now to tell you about round 7..
Friday 28th, I had my usual meeting with my Oncologist before starting the next round. He was happy with all my blood results, except my haemoglobin from my blood test the day before was 73 and that he wanted me to have some blood. He asked me to get another blood test done after my meeting with him just to check to make sure it was right. I explained that I was going away for the weekend and he said that I could still go and would ring me with the results from the new test. He was happy with how everything else was going and said that he could feel one lymph node that was under a centimetre. I went and had my blood test and headed off for the weekend. A nurse called me to let me know that Michael had booked me in for 2 bags of blood as my re-test had come back at 76, she asked me to get a group and hold blood test done (which shows what blood type you are) if I could but we soon realised that the IMVS clinic in Mannum isn't open after 12:30pm during the week and not at all on weekends. She said that it would be okay and I will have to have one first thing Monday when I come in. The weekend away wasn't what I had hoped it would be, I was extremely flat and pretty much slept the whole weekend away. One of my amazing friends Bec, cooked up an enormous amount of food for me to take home!! Its people like her that make this journey that little bit easier, so.. Thank you!!
Sam and I arrived at 9am on Monday 1st July, I had decided over the weekend that I would much rather have 2 bags of blood then have my chemo, I didn't fancy sitting around for 5 hours after having chemo. They took my blood and sent it off, lucky for me my chemo script hadn't been taken down so no chemo had been made and there was a delay. I was hoping that my blood type would be matched and the blood would arrive before the chemo did! I sat there for 2 hours waiting for something to happen! My chemo arrived first, but we knew my blood was just about on its way too! My nurse for the day said that she could give me one bag of blood and then chemo then another bag of blood. I asked her to have the 2 bags first. Both went through with no problems, this brings my total to 14 bags of blood! Then onto chemo, which also had no problems. While I was having my chemo, my blood results had come back from the test I had that morning. My haemoglobin had dropped to 68, that explains why I felt so crap over the weekend. They decided that I needed another bag of blood the next day.
Tuesday 2nd July - Sam's Mum took me today and we arrived at 9am. I can't remember (chemo brain haha) but I think I had my chemo first then my bag of blood. Blood = 15 bags!
Wednesday 3rd July - Day 3! Sam came with me to this one. All went well!
Monday 8th July - Sam's Mum is now on holidays so she took me to this one again. I had my chemo and a PICC line dressing. I asked for my blood results from my blood test I had last Thursday. Haemoglobin had gone from 68 on the Monday to 96 on the Thursday, so my 3 bags of vampire food really pumped it up!! Hopefully that means no more blood for this round... I can wish, can't I? I spent the rest of the day hanging out with Penny, we went out for lunch, did some retail therapy, watched a movie and then had tea, was great spending some time with someone other then myself. Was so tired by the time I got home, I went to bed at 8pm!!
Tuesday 9th July - I experienced the usual symptoms of indigestion from day 8 last night, but thankfully I went to bed so early that I was asleep before it got too bad. Today I also had my Pegfilgrastim needle to boost my white blood count, Thanks Marit :)!
Until next time...
Yesterday (monday) I had my last chemo day for round 7, so that means I have one round to go.. yes, you read that right, I have ONE round to go! I really can't wait to finish and I have many mixed emotions, but more about that another time. Now to tell you about round 7..
Friday 28th, I had my usual meeting with my Oncologist before starting the next round. He was happy with all my blood results, except my haemoglobin from my blood test the day before was 73 and that he wanted me to have some blood. He asked me to get another blood test done after my meeting with him just to check to make sure it was right. I explained that I was going away for the weekend and he said that I could still go and would ring me with the results from the new test. He was happy with how everything else was going and said that he could feel one lymph node that was under a centimetre. I went and had my blood test and headed off for the weekend. A nurse called me to let me know that Michael had booked me in for 2 bags of blood as my re-test had come back at 76, she asked me to get a group and hold blood test done (which shows what blood type you are) if I could but we soon realised that the IMVS clinic in Mannum isn't open after 12:30pm during the week and not at all on weekends. She said that it would be okay and I will have to have one first thing Monday when I come in. The weekend away wasn't what I had hoped it would be, I was extremely flat and pretty much slept the whole weekend away. One of my amazing friends Bec, cooked up an enormous amount of food for me to take home!! Its people like her that make this journey that little bit easier, so.. Thank you!!
Sam and I arrived at 9am on Monday 1st July, I had decided over the weekend that I would much rather have 2 bags of blood then have my chemo, I didn't fancy sitting around for 5 hours after having chemo. They took my blood and sent it off, lucky for me my chemo script hadn't been taken down so no chemo had been made and there was a delay. I was hoping that my blood type would be matched and the blood would arrive before the chemo did! I sat there for 2 hours waiting for something to happen! My chemo arrived first, but we knew my blood was just about on its way too! My nurse for the day said that she could give me one bag of blood and then chemo then another bag of blood. I asked her to have the 2 bags first. Both went through with no problems, this brings my total to 14 bags of blood! Then onto chemo, which also had no problems. While I was having my chemo, my blood results had come back from the test I had that morning. My haemoglobin had dropped to 68, that explains why I felt so crap over the weekend. They decided that I needed another bag of blood the next day.
Tuesday 2nd July - Sam's Mum took me today and we arrived at 9am. I can't remember (chemo brain haha) but I think I had my chemo first then my bag of blood. Blood = 15 bags!
Wednesday 3rd July - Day 3! Sam came with me to this one. All went well!
Monday 8th July - Sam's Mum is now on holidays so she took me to this one again. I had my chemo and a PICC line dressing. I asked for my blood results from my blood test I had last Thursday. Haemoglobin had gone from 68 on the Monday to 96 on the Thursday, so my 3 bags of vampire food really pumped it up!! Hopefully that means no more blood for this round... I can wish, can't I? I spent the rest of the day hanging out with Penny, we went out for lunch, did some retail therapy, watched a movie and then had tea, was great spending some time with someone other then myself. Was so tired by the time I got home, I went to bed at 8pm!!
Tuesday 9th July - I experienced the usual symptoms of indigestion from day 8 last night, but thankfully I went to bed so early that I was asleep before it got too bad. Today I also had my Pegfilgrastim needle to boost my white blood count, Thanks Marit :)!
Until next time...
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