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.

October 31, 2007-monthly checkup

I had my monthly checkup Friday. There had been a lump under my left arm Dr. Raish checked for, but it’s gone now. I think I just pulled something at work, but I thought I better be safe than sorry & have him check it out. I started working again October 13 back at Birch. Right now Fridays & Saturdays are what’s available, which works out fine. It gives me a chance to ease back into things. I work as long as I can on those days & then go home & take a nap. I don’t want to get worn down & end up getting sick. I am allowed to eat lettuce & fresh fruits & vegetables in restaurants again. My next PET scan will be at the end of November. They’re going to continue doing those every 3-4 months for a year. Dr. Raish reiterated to stay away from people who are sick until 6 months after the transplant. I think I’ll listen to him. I really have no desire to be sick again anytime soon. =)

October 4, 2007-I got the okay to work

I had my monthly doctor appointment Friday & got the okay from Dr. Raish to work after October 10, which is 100 days after the transplant. He also said I can go out to eat at restaurants, to movie theaters, church, etc. after the 10th. I still need to continue to stay away from people who are sick. That’s definitely going to be a challenge with the cold & flu season coming up. I think the longer I keep my distance from people & don’t hug or shake hands the better for me. I forgot to mention in my last update there were two spots in my stomach that showed up on the PET scan. Cancer shows up very bright on the scan & this barely lit up. I think it’s probably just scar tissue from all the shots I had to give myself. I have a PET scan again in a couple months to keep an eye on everything. My hair has slowly been growing back. It’s coming in thick & very soft again. It’s barely a ¼ inch long. It’d really be nice to have some hair again. =) My next update will probably be in about a month after my next doctor appointment, unless something changes.