Update - Michelle was released from the hospital Tuesday night (which means she's keeping her food down!) and has resumed radiation. The HOPE is that she would be done with radiation sometime next week, but nothing is guaranteed.

Michelle's friend Jen W. was kind enough to send out an email update on Michelle's behalf. For those of you not on an email list and wondering how things are going:

Michelle asked that I send out a little update to all of you. Unfortunately, she was admitted to Skagit Valley Hospital over the weekend due to dehydration. Her radiation last week on her neck area burned her throat (think a severe sunburn) and has made it impossible to eat or even attempt to keep foods down. They have her hooked up to a Pick Line so she is getting a clear IV line and also a nutrient formula line into her system. She is also hooked up to a pain medicine line that administers pain medicine about once an hour but she can get more if she needs it. She tried to eat some soft solids yesterday but threw them back up and when they brought her her dinner last night (clear liquid diet only) she was hesitant to try to eat as she was worried that she would throw up again and she says that hurts the worse. Of course, she will not be allowed to leave until she has eaten some food. They have stopped the radiation treatments until she heals some more and will re-map and NOT include the neck area. They are not sure when they will be able to resume the radiation so there is a slight set back there as to when she should have all of her treatments completed. She was in fairly good spirits when we left last night; we were in the 3^rd quarter of the Packers/Giants game and based on who she was rooting for and the outcome of the game I will guess she ended the night a little disappointed!!

She has slim to none cell service in the hospital so please remember that if you try to call her. Above all, please continue to keep her in your prayers and thoughts. I will let you know when she has been released and is back at home, if she is not feeling up to it.

December 18, 2007-first radiation treatment

I had my first radiation appointment today at 1:00 pm. Dr. Raish had told me that unlike himself radiation is prompt & on time with their appointments. I heard they lasted about 30 minutes & I was there almost 3 hours. It was a long wearing day. It was a little frustrating & upsetting for me. Monday when they called me with my start time for today I asked if it would be every day at the same time. It will not. My appointments will be at 7:00 pm. I was completely shocked. I didn’t even know they were open in the evenings. That was a little bit upsetting to me also. I won’t have much of a life again for the next month. I’ll be missing out on friends & family home for the holidays. They’re also open New Years Eve, so I’ll be having treatment then. There is a possibility if someone finishes up with their radiation treatment I might be able to get a different time. I don’t know how far down the list I am though. As of right now my last radiation treatment will be January 15. Sorry this is such a down update. It’s just been a little bit rough lately.

December 13, 2007-moving forward with radiation

I met with Dr. Raish Tuesday & even though we don’t have all of the results back yet from the biopsy he has enough information that says I’ve got Hodgkin’s again & we’re moving forward with radiation. He prescribed Percocet for me to try for the pain instead of Vicodin. We’re trying to find something that doesn’t make me so sleepy. I’m just so tired I can’t even function most of the time. I had a radiation consultation yesterday. They had me watch an informational video, asked me a bunch of questions & tattooed me in 3 places that they’ll use for lining me up for radiation. They’re going to call me Friday & let me know when my first radiation appointment is. They told me it could be 10 days yet, which was very upsetting. I told them I can’t wait that much longer. The pain is just killing me. Hopefully they can put a rush on it.

December 7, 2007-biopsy surgery was yesterday

It was a long day yesterday. My surgery got moved up. I had to be at the hospital at 9:00 am & didn’t get home till 4:15 pm. They got what they needed from the spot on my neck, so didn’t do anything under my arm. It’s being sent down to Seattle & I should have the results in about a week. When I woke up from surgery my arm, shoulder & neck area were all numb. It was nice because I couldn’t feel the pain under my arm all night. The pain is slowly coming back now though. I try to keep it under control by taking Aleve, Vicodin & anti nausea pills. I meet with Dr. Raish Tuesday. I’m assuming it’s to go over my radiation schedule, since we probably won’t have results back yet from the biopsy. Until then…

December 2, 2007-biopsy surgery Thursday

The antibiotic I’ve been taking for the possible infection has done nothing, so we’re moving forward with biopsy surgery. It will be Thursday at 12:30 pm. I’m hoping there will be a cancellation & they can get me in sooner. They’re going to biopsy a lump I just noticed Wednesday morning. This is a new one. I believe the one my doctor found was in the same place as the last 2 times near my collar bone. This lump is on the left side of my neck about half way up kind of towards the back. They’re going to dissect the lymph node while I’m still on the operating table & if they don’t find anything then they’ll go after the one under my arm. That will be more dangerous with all the nerves & tendons & everything in that area. They don’t want to biopsy at the collar bone again because of all the scar tissue. I’ll meet soon after this with Dr. Raish to discuss when things are going to start with radiation.

November 27, 2007-two lumps found

I had my 3 month PET scan last week & got my results today. Two lumps showed up-one in the same spot on my neck & one under my left arm. I’m going in for biopsy surgery again. I’ll find out Friday afternoon at my consultation with my surgeon when the surgery will be. Dr. Raish put a rush on it, so it will be soon. My surgeon will let me know if they’re going to cut open both areas or not. The lymph node under my arm is deep & would be more involved to get to than the one in my neck. The pain under my arm feels like the pain that was in my neck the first time & is just getting worse & keeping me awake at night.

Dr. Raish gave me a prescription for an antibiotic for the possibility that this is just an infection. It could take a week or two to get my results from the biopsy, but Dr. Raish is going to get me scheduled for radiation just in case, so we’ll be able to start right away. If this is indeed cancer again I will be having radiation everyday for a month. I won’t lose the hair on my head, just the areas that they radiate. I will let you know this weekend when my biopsy surgery will be.