Not much new to report, but I thought I'd do a quick update before leaving for SF with Kiki:
- Bob is spiraling down, but is hanging in.
- Puss and Betty (our dog) can sit on a couch together, incident free, as long as I'm in the middle.
- I'm feeling stronger and less fatigued every day.
- I'll have another chest x-ray, blood draw and appt. with Dr. Forman on Monday.
And I just wanted to give a big thank you to Cynthia, who brought me dinner in bed when I was feeling at my worst. The menu, which included her favorite beef ramen noodles, may not have been the most nutritious, but the presentation (very important to me) was perfect and the love priceless!
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March 2008 - Sometimes I feel like a wig.
Sometimes I don't.
Up a tree and feeling on top of the world
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- Histopathology of MCL
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Lymphoma Information Network
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- Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium
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- Your Brain After Chemo
What does a writer do when she finds out she has stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma? She blogs. Because, as everyone knows, cancer sucks, but blogging rocks.
On January 26, 2007, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma (blastic variety), a rare, aggressive and treatment-resistant form of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
My team at the City of Hope decided to bring out the big guns - six rounds of Hyper CVAD followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. I bounced back after each round of chemo, but my blood counts didn't.
After four rounds we called chemo quits and started collecting stem cells for the auto stem cell transplant. The harvesting took three tries, two drugs and eight weeks, but I finally eked out the minimum two million stem cells.
After megadoses of chemo, I received my stem cells on November 14 and 15, 2007. I bounced back almost immediately. Best of all, I achieved complete remission from the Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
In January 2008, I was hospitalized for 11 days for chemo-induced pneumonia. I bounced back.
In the summer of 2008, my eosinophils (a component of the white blood cells) rose to dangerous levels and infiltrated my lungs and GI tract. My weight dropped to 105 pounds, and I was incapacitated for nearly three months. Once again, I bounced back.
I continue to make monthly visits to the City of Hope for blood tests and check ups, quarterly visits for maintenance Rituxan and semi-annual visits for scans.
I'm still in remission and have more energy than ever. And about that perfect purse? I keep looking.
Here are a few other things keeping me busy:
My food blog, Open Mouth, Insert Fork
My consulting business, A New Leaf Communications
The Orange Cat, a site for family fun in the San Gabriel Valley
A3M - Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches
YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley
IWOSC - Independent Writers of Southern California
On January 26, 2007, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma (blastic variety), a rare, aggressive and treatment-resistant form of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
My team at the City of Hope decided to bring out the big guns - six rounds of Hyper CVAD followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. I bounced back after each round of chemo, but my blood counts didn't.
After four rounds we called chemo quits and started collecting stem cells for the auto stem cell transplant. The harvesting took three tries, two drugs and eight weeks, but I finally eked out the minimum two million stem cells.
After megadoses of chemo, I received my stem cells on November 14 and 15, 2007. I bounced back almost immediately. Best of all, I achieved complete remission from the Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
In January 2008, I was hospitalized for 11 days for chemo-induced pneumonia. I bounced back.
In the summer of 2008, my eosinophils (a component of the white blood cells) rose to dangerous levels and infiltrated my lungs and GI tract. My weight dropped to 105 pounds, and I was incapacitated for nearly three months. Once again, I bounced back.
I continue to make monthly visits to the City of Hope for blood tests and check ups, quarterly visits for maintenance Rituxan and semi-annual visits for scans.
I'm still in remission and have more energy than ever. And about that perfect purse? I keep looking.
Here are a few other things keeping me busy:
My food blog, Open Mouth, Insert Fork
My consulting business, A New Leaf Communications
The Orange Cat, a site for family fun in the San Gabriel Valley
A3M - Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches
YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley
IWOSC - Independent Writers of Southern California
March 2008 - Sometimes I feel like a wig.
Sometimes I don't.
January 2009
Up a tree and feeling on top of the world
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2008
(187)
-
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July
(23)
- Quick Summary
- Gasping for Air
- How much do I owe you?
- A Tribute to Bob
- Happiness is a warm blanket.
- The Final Thank You
- EOS SOS
- It was the 'roids
- I need a home!
- A Quick Update
- Prednisone, pounds, parasites, passings & pie
- FAQ
- You're beautiful and I love you
- Off to CoH
- Where can I get this?
- While you were sleeping . . .
- The "To Don't" List
- Those wacky eosinophils
- The Great Cat Napping Caper
- Final SF Attraction
- Walk this way!
- Road Trips and Lists
- More Vita Interruptus
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▼
July
(23)
Cancer Banter
I can't die. I still have to find the perfect purse.
2 comments:
Lot's of good news. You've got a physical rally going on. Pets are bonding. Cynthia serving dinner. Your big brother loves you. Life is very good.
Susan,
You are such an inspiration to me. Be safe on the road.
Lots of love,
Ann
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