So today was my six month post-treatment PET scan. Mom came up last night to stay over since I had to be at Dana Farber at 7:15am for the injection for the scan, only to sit for an hour before the scan can be done. I was out of the scan by 9am. My appointment with the doctor was at 1:15pm. What to do?? What to do??
The entire Dana Farber facility has moved into the new Yawkey Building across the street from the old facility. We have watched this new building being built since my endeavor began last April. Everything except for the Nuclear Medicine Dept. and Radiation Dept. have moved into their new homes. So we began our day in the old Dana Building and then went to check out the new building after my scan.
It was quite confusing and strange to have everything in a new place, and as beautiful as the new building is, I am SO glad I don't have to spend a lot of time there! Mom and I tried to relax in the cafeteria and the lobby for a while before we headed upstairs to the 11th floor to wait for my appointment.
Doesn't it figure after such a long day already that my doc was running over an hour late with her appointments!! I have NEVER had to wait that long for her!! FINALLY we went in to the exam room about 2:15pm.
Mom and I were chatting and not even paying attention when Dr. Limaye poked her head around the corner and announced,"PET Negative!" THANK GOD!!! The scan was clear!! All the little things from the last scan that they were going to "watch" were gone!! Nothing there!!! All gone!!! CANCER-FREE!!!! We all cried and hugged!!
So now I can move on with the injection into my vocal cord and see if I can get some voice back. I also have to start some physical therapy for the stiffness and muscle tightening in my neck. I have another check-up in six weeks and if no issues, having two clean scans, she may wait six months to do another scan!!
Thank you to all of my family and friends for their generous thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Someone up there is listening!!!
Two weeks from today is my 40th birthday.....Ugh, 40, you may think!?!? NO WAY!! I am THRILLED to be turning 40!!! This is the new beginning of the rest of my healthy life!!! 40 and FABULOUS!!!!
Cameron and Kacey
My Beautiful Angels
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A New Year.....of Good Health and Good Luck....I Hope!
I had NO problems seeing 2010 go out and 2011 come in. In fact, I went out to celebrate it!! I joined a wonderful group of friends in Newport to see an amazing band that we love and say good-bye to a VERY catastrophic year for me. I must admit that I have shed a few tears for this past year, for the pain that it has caused me and my family, but I also shed some tears for the remarkable miracle that has blessed me as well. A year ago, I had NO idea what I would be up against...that I would be fighting for my life, AGAIN, and trying to win the battle against this HORRIBLE disease. But now, almost a year later, I can say I did it!!! I have again beaten this monster and pray to God EVERY night that I will never have to deal with it again.
As you can imagine, there is not a day that goes by that I do not get a pang in my neck or a twinge of my tongue that I think to myself, "Oh God...it's back!" In fact, this cold weather is doing me in! My neck gets so stiff and tight that it has actually scared me into going to see my doctor at Dana Farber a week earlier that I had an appointment for. I had a few days last week where my neck just didn't feel right to me, so I called my doctor in Boston and she saw me immediately to reassure me that all was okay. It was just extreme tightness and said my neck felt great to her and she felt no lumps or bumps or changes. She did give me a muscle relaxant that I have taken a few times and feel much better. I will see her again on February 23rd as well has have a 6 month PET scan from the end of my treatments that day.
Unfortunately, I still have no voice and can make no more sound than a whisper. This wouldn't be a problem if I were a hermit and lived alone and never left the house or tried to answer the phone. But as most of you know, this is NOT my life and I use my voice EVERY day, forcefully, for my job as well as at home with my two cherubs, who are NOT totally taking advantage of me after six months of no voice! Not MY kids!! Yeah right!!
Mom and I went to Brigham and Women's Hospital yesterday to meet with an Otolaryngologist. (Nice word, huh?) Essentially, he is a doctor that examines, diagnoses and treats disorders, diseases, and injuries of the ear, nose and throat. Dr. Saxon also specializes in voice and swallowing disorders.
A speech pathologist performed a Laryngeal Videostroboscopy (LVS) which provides a “slow-motion” view of the vocal folds as they vibrate. In other words, another scope of my vocal cords! What used to be my LEAST favorite test, has quickly become an every visit occurrence...however this one was a bit different. Here is the description I received of the actual exam....
"The exam is painless. During the exam, the patient is seated upright, with the feet flat on the floor and leaning a little bit forward from the hips. The voice-speech pathologist will hold the tongue gently with a piece of gauze and a thin camera will be placed into the mouth. This camera rests above the tongue and only goes as far back as the molar teeth. There is a special lens on the end of the camera that can see down into the voice box while the patient produces an /eeeeeee/ sound. On occasion, to get adequate pictures a flexible thin telescope will be passed through the nose into the upper throat to visualize the vocal cords. LVS films are reviewed in detail by an otolaryngologist and the voice-speech pathologist who performs the exam."
Doesn't sound too bad, right?? Here's how it ACTUALLY went down (Mom, correct me if I'm wrong)......Patient is seated in a VERY upright, uncomfortable chair, with feet flat on a little tiny footrest, leaning forward from the hips and tipping head backwards as far as possible. Keep in mind I have limited flexibility of my neck from all of the radiation treatments. So now that I am leaning forward and trying to tip my head back to look up and feeling like a seal trying to perform at Sea World, the speech pathologist grabs my tongue quite forcefully and proceeds to yank it from my mouth, or so it felt. Again, keep in mind I have had surgery on my tongue, a piece of it removed, and also limited movement and flexibility of it as well.
So now she has a hold of my tongue and is pulling it forward....while doing this, she sticks a long metal probe, about 10-12 inches long and 1/2 wide, into my mouth and towards the back of my throat to get a picture of my vocal cords while I "try" to say the /eeeee/ sound. If you read the description of the test about and how it is "supposed" to go, it says the camera "rests above the tongue to take pictures of the cords and does not go beyond the molars." Oh REALLY!! So why then EVERY time she placed it into my mouth, I gagged and choked and thought I was going to lose my lunch!? She even sprayed me with a numbing spray to take the edge off, but CLEARLY was touching the back of my throat. She did this test approximately six times....such fun!
The doctor then joined us and reviewed the video. He then stated that he is not really sure why my right vocal cord is not moving or moving very little. Obviously, it is from damage from the radiation treatments, but not sure if it is muscle damage or nerve damage. So there are two options which he says can "help" strengthen my voice "some," but it will never be what it was. Not easy to hear when you rely on your voice for your job.
The first option, which he seemed to be leaning towards, is an in-office procedure where he injects a gel-like substance called Juvederm, into the right vocal cord to "bulk" it up to be able to meet the left cord in the middle and vibrate to make a sound. There are really no risks with this procedure except that it may not be "enough" depending on the damage to my cord....or the fact that my insurance does not cover this drug at all!! Also, your body absorbs the substance somewhere between 3-6 months. It "may" be enough to trigger the nerve to regenerate, but worse case, it just doesn't work. Then they would wait the 3-6 months and attempt option #2.
Option 2 is a surgical procedure, done in the OR, under conscious sedation. They make an incision in the neck, then in my voice box and create a small window in the cartilage. The doctor can then "pop" in small pieces of a GorTex-like substance in various sizes to plump up the cord to meet the other one. This is more permanent, but is not guaranteed to work and has more risks with it, like obstruction of airway because of swelling which he didn't expect to be an issue. And the fact that anesthesia is involved as well. While this is more permanent of an option, like I said there is no guarantee and it can be removed if not working or they can change the size of the implant if need be.
So now we play the waiting game. There are some choices to be made and I was not about to make them in the office yesterday, as he was ready to do the injection right then and there. I am waiting to see what the cost of the injection will be and we will go from there. I do not want to have surgery, but this seems to be the most logical choice, so I have to weigh all the possibilities. I'll sleep on it for a few and talk to my docs at Dana Farber and go from there.
For now, let's welcome 2011, on this historical day of 1.11.11, and hope that it is better for all of us!! This is going to be a great year, I can feel it!! And a memorable one as well as I turn the big 40 in March!! I used to think that was SOOOO old and God, I NEVER wanted to turn 40! But now, I look back at my past and all I have been through and I thank God that I am turning 40!!! It's just a number and for me, another milestone!!!
Happy New Year everyone!!
As you can imagine, there is not a day that goes by that I do not get a pang in my neck or a twinge of my tongue that I think to myself, "Oh God...it's back!" In fact, this cold weather is doing me in! My neck gets so stiff and tight that it has actually scared me into going to see my doctor at Dana Farber a week earlier that I had an appointment for. I had a few days last week where my neck just didn't feel right to me, so I called my doctor in Boston and she saw me immediately to reassure me that all was okay. It was just extreme tightness and said my neck felt great to her and she felt no lumps or bumps or changes. She did give me a muscle relaxant that I have taken a few times and feel much better. I will see her again on February 23rd as well has have a 6 month PET scan from the end of my treatments that day.
Unfortunately, I still have no voice and can make no more sound than a whisper. This wouldn't be a problem if I were a hermit and lived alone and never left the house or tried to answer the phone. But as most of you know, this is NOT my life and I use my voice EVERY day, forcefully, for my job as well as at home with my two cherubs, who are NOT totally taking advantage of me after six months of no voice! Not MY kids!! Yeah right!!
Mom and I went to Brigham and Women's Hospital yesterday to meet with an Otolaryngologist. (Nice word, huh?) Essentially, he is a doctor that examines, diagnoses and treats disorders, diseases, and injuries of the ear, nose and throat. Dr. Saxon also specializes in voice and swallowing disorders.
A speech pathologist performed a Laryngeal Videostroboscopy (LVS) which provides a “slow-motion” view of the vocal folds as they vibrate. In other words, another scope of my vocal cords! What used to be my LEAST favorite test, has quickly become an every visit occurrence...however this one was a bit different. Here is the description I received of the actual exam....
"The exam is painless. During the exam, the patient is seated upright, with the feet flat on the floor and leaning a little bit forward from the hips. The voice-speech pathologist will hold the tongue gently with a piece of gauze and a thin camera will be placed into the mouth. This camera rests above the tongue and only goes as far back as the molar teeth. There is a special lens on the end of the camera that can see down into the voice box while the patient produces an /eeeeeee/ sound. On occasion, to get adequate pictures a flexible thin telescope will be passed through the nose into the upper throat to visualize the vocal cords. LVS films are reviewed in detail by an otolaryngologist and the voice-speech pathologist who performs the exam."
Doesn't sound too bad, right?? Here's how it ACTUALLY went down (Mom, correct me if I'm wrong)......Patient is seated in a VERY upright, uncomfortable chair, with feet flat on a little tiny footrest, leaning forward from the hips and tipping head backwards as far as possible. Keep in mind I have limited flexibility of my neck from all of the radiation treatments. So now that I am leaning forward and trying to tip my head back to look up and feeling like a seal trying to perform at Sea World, the speech pathologist grabs my tongue quite forcefully and proceeds to yank it from my mouth, or so it felt. Again, keep in mind I have had surgery on my tongue, a piece of it removed, and also limited movement and flexibility of it as well.
So now she has a hold of my tongue and is pulling it forward....while doing this, she sticks a long metal probe, about 10-12 inches long and 1/2 wide, into my mouth and towards the back of my throat to get a picture of my vocal cords while I "try" to say the /eeeee/ sound. If you read the description of the test about and how it is "supposed" to go, it says the camera "rests above the tongue to take pictures of the cords and does not go beyond the molars." Oh REALLY!! So why then EVERY time she placed it into my mouth, I gagged and choked and thought I was going to lose my lunch!? She even sprayed me with a numbing spray to take the edge off, but CLEARLY was touching the back of my throat. She did this test approximately six times....such fun!
The doctor then joined us and reviewed the video. He then stated that he is not really sure why my right vocal cord is not moving or moving very little. Obviously, it is from damage from the radiation treatments, but not sure if it is muscle damage or nerve damage. So there are two options which he says can "help" strengthen my voice "some," but it will never be what it was. Not easy to hear when you rely on your voice for your job.
The first option, which he seemed to be leaning towards, is an in-office procedure where he injects a gel-like substance called Juvederm, into the right vocal cord to "bulk" it up to be able to meet the left cord in the middle and vibrate to make a sound. There are really no risks with this procedure except that it may not be "enough" depending on the damage to my cord....or the fact that my insurance does not cover this drug at all!! Also, your body absorbs the substance somewhere between 3-6 months. It "may" be enough to trigger the nerve to regenerate, but worse case, it just doesn't work. Then they would wait the 3-6 months and attempt option #2.
Option 2 is a surgical procedure, done in the OR, under conscious sedation. They make an incision in the neck, then in my voice box and create a small window in the cartilage. The doctor can then "pop" in small pieces of a GorTex-like substance in various sizes to plump up the cord to meet the other one. This is more permanent, but is not guaranteed to work and has more risks with it, like obstruction of airway because of swelling which he didn't expect to be an issue. And the fact that anesthesia is involved as well. While this is more permanent of an option, like I said there is no guarantee and it can be removed if not working or they can change the size of the implant if need be.
So now we play the waiting game. There are some choices to be made and I was not about to make them in the office yesterday, as he was ready to do the injection right then and there. I am waiting to see what the cost of the injection will be and we will go from there. I do not want to have surgery, but this seems to be the most logical choice, so I have to weigh all the possibilities. I'll sleep on it for a few and talk to my docs at Dana Farber and go from there.
For now, let's welcome 2011, on this historical day of 1.11.11, and hope that it is better for all of us!! This is going to be a great year, I can feel it!! And a memorable one as well as I turn the big 40 in March!! I used to think that was SOOOO old and God, I NEVER wanted to turn 40! But now, I look back at my past and all I have been through and I thank God that I am turning 40!!! It's just a number and for me, another milestone!!!
Happy New Year everyone!!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Dear Cancer.....See, I TOLD You I was STRONGER Than You!!
Well, our prayers have finally been answered! Looks like I am all clear!! Cancer-free!! Adios and don't EVER come back here!! Hit the road, Jack!! Bye, bye, bye!!
Got the report for my PET scan today and it looks good!! They said there was a lot of surgical scarring and radiation scarring on the right side of my neck, but all in all looks good! There was a question of whether or not my vocal cord on the right side was paralyzed, but they did a scope today and both the surgeon and radiation oncologist said it was clearly moving and not paralyzed. So I will have to go to voice therapy to try and strengthen that. Worse case scenario is surgery down the road to help fix it, but therapy may strengthen it on it's own.
So I have a LOT to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, more than usual! Thank you to everyone....family, friends, my team at Dana Farber...for helping through this terrible ordeal once again. I pray that three times is a charm and that I am done with this dreaded disease once and for all!! Now I KNOW I made the right choice to go to Dana Farber!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Got the report for my PET scan today and it looks good!! They said there was a lot of surgical scarring and radiation scarring on the right side of my neck, but all in all looks good! There was a question of whether or not my vocal cord on the right side was paralyzed, but they did a scope today and both the surgeon and radiation oncologist said it was clearly moving and not paralyzed. So I will have to go to voice therapy to try and strengthen that. Worse case scenario is surgery down the road to help fix it, but therapy may strengthen it on it's own.
So I have a LOT to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, more than usual! Thank you to everyone....family, friends, my team at Dana Farber...for helping through this terrible ordeal once again. I pray that three times is a charm and that I am done with this dreaded disease once and for all!! Now I KNOW I made the right choice to go to Dana Farber!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Is It Christmas!?
Boy does it feel like Christmas morning!! Just went to the surgical oncologist who was going to check my vocal cords since I have had no improvement in my voice. And I was hoping to get the biopsy results from last week since I had yet to get a phone call.
Dr. Norris, the surgeon, walked into the room and says, "Well, I see we got some good news, huh?" I said, "What? The needle biopsy?" And he said, "Oopss....hope I was reading that right!" And he was!! Biopsy was negative!! No cancer!! YIPPEE!!!! And nothing else shows on CT scan or ultrasound. Final say will be the PET scan on November 24th, but they are not expecting to see anything and as of right now, I will NOT need surgery!! Thanks, Santa, for my early Christmas present!!
Dr. Norris did a scope of my vocal cords and said there was still some swelling and that they are a bit sluggish. They move like they should, which is good and means they were NOT paralyzed by the radiation. Wants to see me in a month to check them again and then will refer me to a voice therapist if needed.
I went down to the infusion floor where I had all of my chemotherapy and hydration to say hi to my nurse, Whitney. She gave me a big hug and said she has been thinking about me and wondering how I have been. She was such a HUGE part of my treatment and I am so thankful to have had such wonderful care at Dana Farber. I cannot tell you how amazing that place is and the people that work there, right down to the valets that park your car. I kid you not. AMAZING!!!
So for now, I will go about my AWESOME life and quietly whisper to my children that listen so attentively.....NOT!!! We are going to Vermont this weekend to visit my cousins and aunt and I am so looking forward to a weekend away without any worries!
Merry Christmas, Everyone!!
I hope Santa is as good to you as he has already been to me!!
Dr. Norris, the surgeon, walked into the room and says, "Well, I see we got some good news, huh?" I said, "What? The needle biopsy?" And he said, "Oopss....hope I was reading that right!" And he was!! Biopsy was negative!! No cancer!! YIPPEE!!!! And nothing else shows on CT scan or ultrasound. Final say will be the PET scan on November 24th, but they are not expecting to see anything and as of right now, I will NOT need surgery!! Thanks, Santa, for my early Christmas present!!
Dr. Norris did a scope of my vocal cords and said there was still some swelling and that they are a bit sluggish. They move like they should, which is good and means they were NOT paralyzed by the radiation. Wants to see me in a month to check them again and then will refer me to a voice therapist if needed.
I went down to the infusion floor where I had all of my chemotherapy and hydration to say hi to my nurse, Whitney. She gave me a big hug and said she has been thinking about me and wondering how I have been. She was such a HUGE part of my treatment and I am so thankful to have had such wonderful care at Dana Farber. I cannot tell you how amazing that place is and the people that work there, right down to the valets that park your car. I kid you not. AMAZING!!!
So for now, I will go about my AWESOME life and quietly whisper to my children that listen so attentively.....NOT!!! We are going to Vermont this weekend to visit my cousins and aunt and I am so looking forward to a weekend away without any worries!
Merry Christmas, Everyone!!
I hope Santa is as good to you as he has already been to me!!
Friday, October 1, 2010
I Thought It Was Autumn.....
It is October 1st and almost 80 degrees at 9am!! I thought it was Fall??? But I will take the warmer weather any day, although this humidity HAS to go!! We'll be complaining about the snow in no time!!
Well, my 2 weeks off with no appointments went by REALLY fast!! I had my appointment on Wednesday with my oncologist. They are still pretty concerned because I still have no voice. I guess I hadn't put that in previous posts. I lost my voice the beginning of August when we were in Maine and it hasn't come back since. The doctors did not expect me to lose it because my voice box or larynx was not being radiated, but said it could happen. So my oncologist did a scope of my vocal cords on Wednesday (my FAVORITE thing!). Actually, it wasn't so bad. And she said that there was quite a bit of swelling and "sluggishness" of my vocal cords. Hopefully, they just need some time to heal. She has me seeing the surgical oncologist on October 20th to see what he thinks as another opinion. Hopefully my voice comes back, or at least starts to, before then! Not easy to raise a 4 1/2 and a 6 1/2 year old with absolutely NO voice!!
I have another ultrasound on October 12th to check on that "pocket" of fluid that I had drained. They want to make sure that it has not filled up again. They will drain it again that day if it has.
So another couple of weeks off. I am enjoying being home from work and feeling pretty good. LOVE taking the kids to and from school and doing the "Mom" thing. I think kids like me being home and being able to take them or pick them up from school. It's weird, though, because I have never been home. The only times I have been out of work was after giving birth or when I have been sick. But I cannot lie. I LOVE being home, but am looking forward to returning to work to regain some "normalcy" in my life. Not too quickly, though....:-)
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather and looking forward to Fall. Although today is 80 degrees with tropical rain and wind! Very strange....guess it is New England and ANYTHING can happen!!!
Until next time......
Well, my 2 weeks off with no appointments went by REALLY fast!! I had my appointment on Wednesday with my oncologist. They are still pretty concerned because I still have no voice. I guess I hadn't put that in previous posts. I lost my voice the beginning of August when we were in Maine and it hasn't come back since. The doctors did not expect me to lose it because my voice box or larynx was not being radiated, but said it could happen. So my oncologist did a scope of my vocal cords on Wednesday (my FAVORITE thing!). Actually, it wasn't so bad. And she said that there was quite a bit of swelling and "sluggishness" of my vocal cords. Hopefully, they just need some time to heal. She has me seeing the surgical oncologist on October 20th to see what he thinks as another opinion. Hopefully my voice comes back, or at least starts to, before then! Not easy to raise a 4 1/2 and a 6 1/2 year old with absolutely NO voice!!
I have another ultrasound on October 12th to check on that "pocket" of fluid that I had drained. They want to make sure that it has not filled up again. They will drain it again that day if it has.
So another couple of weeks off. I am enjoying being home from work and feeling pretty good. LOVE taking the kids to and from school and doing the "Mom" thing. I think kids like me being home and being able to take them or pick them up from school. It's weird, though, because I have never been home. The only times I have been out of work was after giving birth or when I have been sick. But I cannot lie. I LOVE being home, but am looking forward to returning to work to regain some "normalcy" in my life. Not too quickly, though....:-)
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather and looking forward to Fall. Although today is 80 degrees with tropical rain and wind! Very strange....guess it is New England and ANYTHING can happen!!!
Until next time......
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Update!
I gained a pound this week!! Yippee!! I know....it's the little things.
So I finished radiation two weeks ago. But it has been a long two weeks. I didn't get my energy back right away. Actually, last week, I felt kind of crappy. I was tired, had no energy and no appetite. When I went to see the doctor last Wednesday, my blood counts were all good and had continued to come up on their own. But I had been spiking a low-grade fever every night. I was actually convinced that my thermometer was stuck at 99.2 every night! My doctor was still convinced that the spot they saw in my neck on the CT scan when I was in the hospital was an abscess causing the fevers, so she put me on an antibiotic and scheduled me for an ultrasound on Thursday. She also got me squeezed in for hydration that day because I felt like crap. I think my poor nurse, Whitney, got in trouble for trying to get me in!
Thursday morning, Mom and I went back to Dana Farber for an ultrasound. It is not a painful procedure, as most of you know, but my neck was pretty sensitive because of the damage to my skin from radiation, so it was a bit tender. The "pocket" of fluid was still there and slightly larger than when I was in the hospital a few weeks ago. My doctor and the radiologist that read the report with her were still convinced that this could be an abscess and causing my fevers, so they scheduled me to have a needle aspiration at Brigham and Women's Hospital on Friday.
So Friday afternoon, we headed back to Boston again for yet more fun! I am finally done with every day treatments and had to go back three days in a row!! I was extremely anxious about having this ultrasound guided needle aspiration. Just something about them sticking a needle in your neck made my stomach turn. But like Mom kept telling me, think about everything that I have been through. This would be a fairly quick procedure and over before I knew it. Ugh.
The technician took me in to do a quick ultrasound and take some pictures before the radiologist and doctor came in to do the biopsy. After the tech left, the radiologist came in and said she wanted to take a look. She looked at the "pocket" under ultrasound and said that it was not an abscess and didn't know why my doctor wanted a needle stuck in it. So she left again to call my doctor.
My doc decided she just wanted to know what the fluid was, so she asked them to do the biopsy anyway. So they "numbed" my neck some by sticking me with a needle containing a Novocaine like substance. Then stuck a fine needle in to withdraw some of the fluid or tissue from this "pocket". Before I knew it, it was completely drained! And it was so small, that they only got a 1/2cc of fluid out of it before it disappeared! There was not enough to send to pathology and to send for cultures to see if it was an infection, so because they didn't see any cells, they sent it for cultures.
I finally began to get my appetite back this weekend. I went down and stayed at Mom and Dad's because the kids were at the Cape. I finally started to eat and actually feel hungry. I even took a ride with them and the Lamontagne's to Providence to see the WaterFires!
I went back to the doctor on Wednesday of this week to have my labs drawn and check in. She was thrilled that I was feeling better, had more energy and had an appetite. She was also very happy that I had gained some weight!! My biopsy came back negative, so there is no infection. Still not sure where the fevers were coming from, but I haven't had one since I have been on the antibiotics. I finish that on Sunday, so we'll see what happens after that. I am still convinced that it is my sinuses since they are clogged up on every scan I have had.
So now I get two weeks off!! I don't have to go back until Sept. 29th! Yippee!! What will I do with all of my time!?!? EAT!!! Got to take both kids to school today and will pick them both up later. It is so nice to be home and be able to do the "Mommy" thing. I am usually at work, so that is one positive of being home! I love seeing their big smiles at the end of the day!
They scheduled me for another ultrasound in a month to check that "pocket" again. I also have my final PET scan to check my neck on Nov. 24th. I pray all is clear and I can go back to work and start to feel normal again. They say not to be surprised if I may need some minor surgery to "clean up" the remains, but I am praying it is all gone and all of those wonderful chemo drugs and radiation did the trick.
Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather!!
Although I am sad to see summer go because I feel like I missed most of it, I absolutely LOVE the Fall and am looking forward to apple picking, apple pies, sweatshirts and football!!
Love to all!!
Kris
So I finished radiation two weeks ago. But it has been a long two weeks. I didn't get my energy back right away. Actually, last week, I felt kind of crappy. I was tired, had no energy and no appetite. When I went to see the doctor last Wednesday, my blood counts were all good and had continued to come up on their own. But I had been spiking a low-grade fever every night. I was actually convinced that my thermometer was stuck at 99.2 every night! My doctor was still convinced that the spot they saw in my neck on the CT scan when I was in the hospital was an abscess causing the fevers, so she put me on an antibiotic and scheduled me for an ultrasound on Thursday. She also got me squeezed in for hydration that day because I felt like crap. I think my poor nurse, Whitney, got in trouble for trying to get me in!
Thursday morning, Mom and I went back to Dana Farber for an ultrasound. It is not a painful procedure, as most of you know, but my neck was pretty sensitive because of the damage to my skin from radiation, so it was a bit tender. The "pocket" of fluid was still there and slightly larger than when I was in the hospital a few weeks ago. My doctor and the radiologist that read the report with her were still convinced that this could be an abscess and causing my fevers, so they scheduled me to have a needle aspiration at Brigham and Women's Hospital on Friday.
So Friday afternoon, we headed back to Boston again for yet more fun! I am finally done with every day treatments and had to go back three days in a row!! I was extremely anxious about having this ultrasound guided needle aspiration. Just something about them sticking a needle in your neck made my stomach turn. But like Mom kept telling me, think about everything that I have been through. This would be a fairly quick procedure and over before I knew it. Ugh.
The technician took me in to do a quick ultrasound and take some pictures before the radiologist and doctor came in to do the biopsy. After the tech left, the radiologist came in and said she wanted to take a look. She looked at the "pocket" under ultrasound and said that it was not an abscess and didn't know why my doctor wanted a needle stuck in it. So she left again to call my doctor.
My doc decided she just wanted to know what the fluid was, so she asked them to do the biopsy anyway. So they "numbed" my neck some by sticking me with a needle containing a Novocaine like substance. Then stuck a fine needle in to withdraw some of the fluid or tissue from this "pocket". Before I knew it, it was completely drained! And it was so small, that they only got a 1/2cc of fluid out of it before it disappeared! There was not enough to send to pathology and to send for cultures to see if it was an infection, so because they didn't see any cells, they sent it for cultures.
I finally began to get my appetite back this weekend. I went down and stayed at Mom and Dad's because the kids were at the Cape. I finally started to eat and actually feel hungry. I even took a ride with them and the Lamontagne's to Providence to see the WaterFires!
I went back to the doctor on Wednesday of this week to have my labs drawn and check in. She was thrilled that I was feeling better, had more energy and had an appetite. She was also very happy that I had gained some weight!! My biopsy came back negative, so there is no infection. Still not sure where the fevers were coming from, but I haven't had one since I have been on the antibiotics. I finish that on Sunday, so we'll see what happens after that. I am still convinced that it is my sinuses since they are clogged up on every scan I have had.
So now I get two weeks off!! I don't have to go back until Sept. 29th! Yippee!! What will I do with all of my time!?!? EAT!!! Got to take both kids to school today and will pick them both up later. It is so nice to be home and be able to do the "Mommy" thing. I am usually at work, so that is one positive of being home! I love seeing their big smiles at the end of the day!
They scheduled me for another ultrasound in a month to check that "pocket" again. I also have my final PET scan to check my neck on Nov. 24th. I pray all is clear and I can go back to work and start to feel normal again. They say not to be surprised if I may need some minor surgery to "clean up" the remains, but I am praying it is all gone and all of those wonderful chemo drugs and radiation did the trick.
Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather!!
Although I am sad to see summer go because I feel like I missed most of it, I absolutely LOVE the Fall and am looking forward to apple picking, apple pies, sweatshirts and football!!
Love to all!!
Kris
Friday, September 3, 2010
Finished!
Well, I DID IT!!! 33 radiation treatments completed!! Was not the easiest road to travel, but it is all behind me now!! Now we play the waiting game again....have to wait 12 weeks to have a scan. They want to be sure that all of the healthy tissues and cells have had a chance to recover before they do a scan or they could get a false positive reading. And we CERTAINLY don't want that!!
So now I have to rest and eat and take care of myself to get some strength and energy back. I will see the doctor next week and I am sure she will have me in periodically for hydration and blood draws, although my counts have been good and rising on their own!
Although I am not out of the woods completely yet, things are looking very favorable. Last we knew, the "tumor" was approximately 1cm and they really weren't sure how much of that was actual tumor or dead cells. It is a miracle that these drugs and radiation have worked and to think that, hopefully, I have beaten this disease for the third and final time.
I want to thank ALL of my family and friends.....you have ALL been through this struggle with me and I would not have made it through without all of the love and support. It would take me way too long to name everyone individually, and I would inevitably leave someone out, so I will just do a "blanket" thank you. You ALL mean the world to me and I thank God EVERY day for helping me through this AGAIN and for giving me the love and support I needed to get through it. I think if my parents don't see me and my kids for three months, they'll be happy!! Just kidding!!
It's time to celebrate another achievement.....although I don't really have much energy to celebrate right now. So hold that thought!! HUGE celebration coming soon!!!
Thanks again and Happy Labor Day Weekend to all!!
Lots of love,
Kris
So now I have to rest and eat and take care of myself to get some strength and energy back. I will see the doctor next week and I am sure she will have me in periodically for hydration and blood draws, although my counts have been good and rising on their own!
Although I am not out of the woods completely yet, things are looking very favorable. Last we knew, the "tumor" was approximately 1cm and they really weren't sure how much of that was actual tumor or dead cells. It is a miracle that these drugs and radiation have worked and to think that, hopefully, I have beaten this disease for the third and final time.
I want to thank ALL of my family and friends.....you have ALL been through this struggle with me and I would not have made it through without all of the love and support. It would take me way too long to name everyone individually, and I would inevitably leave someone out, so I will just do a "blanket" thank you. You ALL mean the world to me and I thank God EVERY day for helping me through this AGAIN and for giving me the love and support I needed to get through it. I think if my parents don't see me and my kids for three months, they'll be happy!! Just kidding!!
It's time to celebrate another achievement.....although I don't really have much energy to celebrate right now. So hold that thought!! HUGE celebration coming soon!!!
Thanks again and Happy Labor Day Weekend to all!!
Lots of love,
Kris
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