I've been waiting to update the blog until I found out what my near future looked like, so here it is...
After meeting with my doctor last week I found out that I will not have another chemotherapy treatment (yippee!!). My body has been through a lot and he doesn't think it could handle another treatment...as it took two weeks for my numbers to recover last time. He scheduled a PET scan to see if the spot on my L5 vertebrae disappeared with this last chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the spot was still present. Therefore, I will have ten rounds (I think) of radiation on my lower back. I return to Columbus tomorrow to have my back "marked" for the radiation and then I will start on Thursday.
As far as the Stem Cell Transplant goes, there is a good match for me on the donor registry. The doctor tested Kristen's blood and we are indeed identical twins (we were never 100% sure). He feels that if Kristen is the donor, her cells would not be strong enough to attack the bad cells present in my body. It would be similar to getting my own immune system back. Thankfully, I had multiple matches on the donor registry. The transplant should take place soon after the radiation...possibly in 3 weeks. Following the transplant, I will spend a month in the hospital and then move into an "isolation apartment" for the following month. More info on that when I learn more!!
~Whatever you're facing today, keep going. keep moving. keep hoping. keep pressing on. There is victory on the other side!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Saturday, June Fifteenth, Two Thousand and Thirteen
The last couple of weeks have been pretty nonstop! First off, I was discharged out of the hospital the day before my sister's wedding :) It was beautiful and Kristen looked gorgeous. It was a long day for me but everything ended up working out really well. It was so nice to visit with friends and family. Thank you to all of those that traveled to be part of her special day! I will include some pictures down below.
The wedding was on Friday, May 31st. I was due back to the James on Thursday, June 2nd where I was admitted for the third 5-day IVAC chemotherapy treatment. I also had a PET scan while admitted. Many of the areas where the lymphoma was present (abdominal area and sinus cavity) have resolved. There is an area on my L5 vertebra which seems to be stubborn. There is talk that I may have radiation on that area - stay tuned.
It has been decided that I will definitely go forward with the Stem Cell Transplant. My siblings have been tested as possible matches. Kristen seems to be a perfect match. The doctors are doing a few more tests on her blood involving the EBV and her T-cells. I should have more information for you soon regarding these tests. Tentatively, the transplant will take place in July.
I am currently at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati getting some blood products and antibiotics. It is nice that I can come to Christ when I'm home and my numbers are down. Both hospitals work together which makes it somewhat convenient for me.
Here are some pics from the wedding. I was transformed with hair and make-up :)
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Thursday, May Thirtieth, Two Thousand and Thirteen
Quick update!
I am going home this afternoon! I will be at that wedding tomorrow! Thank you for your prayers :)
I return Tuesday to Columbus, but I am thankful for a few days at home!!
I am going home this afternoon! I will be at that wedding tomorrow! Thank you for your prayers :)
I return Tuesday to Columbus, but I am thankful for a few days at home!!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Monday, May Twenty-Seventh, Two Thousand and Thirteen
Quick update!
I am still in Columbus. My body had some issues with the chemo last week. This put me behind schedule. My numbers dropped quite fast so I was never discharged after my treatment. I am now waiting for my white blood count to increase so that I can be discharged. There is nothing I can do to speed up the process! As you can imagine, I am getting a bit nervous considering the wedding is in 4 days! I'm trying to stay positive, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't freaking out inside!! The worst-case scenario would be that I miss the rehearsal dinner Thursday and get a "temporary discharge" pass for Friday. I won't have the energy I had hoped for at the wedding...but again, it's just important that I'm there!
Check back soon!
"In his mind a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps."
-Proverbs 16:9
I am still in Columbus. My body had some issues with the chemo last week. This put me behind schedule. My numbers dropped quite fast so I was never discharged after my treatment. I am now waiting for my white blood count to increase so that I can be discharged. There is nothing I can do to speed up the process! As you can imagine, I am getting a bit nervous considering the wedding is in 4 days! I'm trying to stay positive, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't freaking out inside!! The worst-case scenario would be that I miss the rehearsal dinner Thursday and get a "temporary discharge" pass for Friday. I won't have the energy I had hoped for at the wedding...but again, it's just important that I'm there!
Check back soon!
"In his mind a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps."
-Proverbs 16:9
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thursday, May Sixteenth, Two Thousand and Thirteen
Hello,
My body responded well to the Methotrexate. I returned to Cincinnati on Saturday, May 4th. Fortunately, I felt really good last week. I definitely took advantage of it and spent time visiting friends, eating and staying at my house in Bellevue. I even went to the grocery store (which I haven't done in five months)!! It was nice to feel "normal." While home, I had two appointments for lab work at the Cincinnati oncologist office. So even in Cincinnati, I'm still being monitored closely. It's comforting to know that both the Cincinnati and Columbus doctors are working together.
My Mom and I returned to Columbus for the PET scan and MRI this past Monday the 13th. Tuesday, I met Dr. Baiocchi (primary Columbus physician) for the results. The PET scan was an improvement in comparison to my first one during April. The doctor is optimistic that another IVAC (five day) chemotherapy treatment may kill the remaining lymphoma. I was admitted, provided a hospital room immediately and started treatment. Thankfully, my doctors were able to move the scans and treatments up one week so that I could attend my sister's wedding. =)
My body responded well to the Methotrexate. I returned to Cincinnati on Saturday, May 4th. Fortunately, I felt really good last week. I definitely took advantage of it and spent time visiting friends, eating and staying at my house in Bellevue. I even went to the grocery store (which I haven't done in five months)!! It was nice to feel "normal." While home, I had two appointments for lab work at the Cincinnati oncologist office. So even in Cincinnati, I'm still being monitored closely. It's comforting to know that both the Cincinnati and Columbus doctors are working together.
My Mom and I returned to Columbus for the PET scan and MRI this past Monday the 13th. Tuesday, I met Dr. Baiocchi (primary Columbus physician) for the results. The PET scan was an improvement in comparison to my first one during April. The doctor is optimistic that another IVAC (five day) chemotherapy treatment may kill the remaining lymphoma. I was admitted, provided a hospital room immediately and started treatment. Thankfully, my doctors were able to move the scans and treatments up one week so that I could attend my sister's wedding. =)
.JPG) |
| Ella and I on one of my good days (and yes that is a wig haha) A little Motivation! (the middle might throw you off but the end is good!) |
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Thursday, May Second, Two Thousand and Thirteen
Happy May...not only do I turn 30 years old this month (yikes), but most importantly, Kristen is getting married =) The wedding will be here before I know it and I cannot wait to be part of her big day!
As for me, I was released from the hospital on Tuesday, April 23rd. I was home for a week. This gave me time to visit family and friends. Mentally, I also needed those six days to regroup and rejuvenate!
I returned to the James Cancer Center this past Tuesday. The medical team decided on a new treatment called "high-dose Methotrexate." This is a 2-hour chemotherapy treatment. Methotrexate helps stop the growth of cancer cells. I will stay at the hospital until the medicine is cleared through my kidney. Methotrexate is pretty toxic so they monitor me closely until it is completely out of my body. This could take 4-5 days or more. Once the medicine clears, I will go home :)
I finally met with the doctor that is head of my case, Doctor Robert Baiocchi. He shared my future treatment plan. When I return (date pending), I will get a PET scan and a MRI of the head. If the scans look as though the chemotherapy treatments are working, I will undergo one more treatment (the 5 day treatment--IVAC) and then meet with the bone marrow team, for planning the transplant. Thanks for checking-in!
As for me, I was released from the hospital on Tuesday, April 23rd. I was home for a week. This gave me time to visit family and friends. Mentally, I also needed those six days to regroup and rejuvenate!
I returned to the James Cancer Center this past Tuesday. The medical team decided on a new treatment called "high-dose Methotrexate." This is a 2-hour chemotherapy treatment. Methotrexate helps stop the growth of cancer cells. I will stay at the hospital until the medicine is cleared through my kidney. Methotrexate is pretty toxic so they monitor me closely until it is completely out of my body. This could take 4-5 days or more. Once the medicine clears, I will go home :)
I finally met with the doctor that is head of my case, Doctor Robert Baiocchi. He shared my future treatment plan. When I return (date pending), I will get a PET scan and a MRI of the head. If the scans look as though the chemotherapy treatments are working, I will undergo one more treatment (the 5 day treatment--IVAC) and then meet with the bone marrow team, for planning the transplant. Thanks for checking-in!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Friday, April Nineteenth, Two Thousand and Thirteen
Hello Everyone:
I apologize for the long stretch of silence. My final PET Scan results at Christ Hospital (Cincinnati) came back, but not the way I hoped for. After six chemotherapy treatments, some lymphoma cells remained present. Lymphoma was highlighted in several parts of my abdomen. I had vertebre in my spinal chord highlighted plus an area in the sinus cavity, behind the left eye. Without hesitation, the doctor arranged for admittance to the Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital. I left the next day for Columbus, Ohio and have remained here.
I've been here for 23 days- Woah! I really appreciate the cancer team, as the doctors, nurses and staff have been wonderful :) A plan is in place to treat my lymphoma. The lymphoma type and sub category have been determined requiring a different chemo cocktail of medicine. I've already undergone one chemo treatment with three-four ahead. The new chemo regime is spread over five days, much different than the previous treatment completed in one day. It is much more aggressive.
So, you may wonder what I've been doing for three weeks? I have had every test imaginable. . .CAT scan, PET scan, MRI of the abdomen, MRI of the brain, spinal tap, biopsy of lymph nodes, biopsy of the sinus cavity, bronchoscopy. . . etc. The team wanted their own test results/records to ensure they positively identified the cancer type. They were able to get a good biospy of two lymph nodes and of the small mass in my sinus cavity. The pathologist came back with Non- Hodgkins Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; however, it was cancer marker CD20 negative. In Cincinnati, I was being treated for the same cancer, but with cancer marker CD20 positive. This was no one's fault. The Columbus team now feels confident of their move forward.
Regarding the treatments, they take place every 21 days. I will come to Columbus for each treatment and stay until my numbers (immune system/white blood cells) are up. Only then is it safe to go home. If needing medical attention while in Cincinnati, I will do so at Christ Hospital. The hospitals work together. Once into remission, I will undergo a bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant. This procedure will replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy stem cells. The transplant remains in the future. I have much to learn and will update you in the future.
I may go home for several days this upcoming week. My numbers are improving daily (slowly). Again, I have experienced some rough side effects from the chemotherapy. . . nausea, bone pain, headache and fever. It has been "nonstop" here. Thank you for your calls and emails. Many ask, "What can I do? How can I help?" As of now, please consider donating blood at the American Red Cross. I believe you can donate blood in my behalf. This would be a nice way to "pay it forward." Please keep the prayers coming too! Thank you! I will update again soon.
Lauren
I apologize for the long stretch of silence. My final PET Scan results at Christ Hospital (Cincinnati) came back, but not the way I hoped for. After six chemotherapy treatments, some lymphoma cells remained present. Lymphoma was highlighted in several parts of my abdomen. I had vertebre in my spinal chord highlighted plus an area in the sinus cavity, behind the left eye. Without hesitation, the doctor arranged for admittance to the Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital. I left the next day for Columbus, Ohio and have remained here.
I've been here for 23 days- Woah! I really appreciate the cancer team, as the doctors, nurses and staff have been wonderful :) A plan is in place to treat my lymphoma. The lymphoma type and sub category have been determined requiring a different chemo cocktail of medicine. I've already undergone one chemo treatment with three-four ahead. The new chemo regime is spread over five days, much different than the previous treatment completed in one day. It is much more aggressive.
So, you may wonder what I've been doing for three weeks? I have had every test imaginable. . .CAT scan, PET scan, MRI of the abdomen, MRI of the brain, spinal tap, biopsy of lymph nodes, biopsy of the sinus cavity, bronchoscopy. . . etc. The team wanted their own test results/records to ensure they positively identified the cancer type. They were able to get a good biospy of two lymph nodes and of the small mass in my sinus cavity. The pathologist came back with Non- Hodgkins Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; however, it was cancer marker CD20 negative. In Cincinnati, I was being treated for the same cancer, but with cancer marker CD20 positive. This was no one's fault. The Columbus team now feels confident of their move forward.
Regarding the treatments, they take place every 21 days. I will come to Columbus for each treatment and stay until my numbers (immune system/white blood cells) are up. Only then is it safe to go home. If needing medical attention while in Cincinnati, I will do so at Christ Hospital. The hospitals work together. Once into remission, I will undergo a bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant. This procedure will replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy stem cells. The transplant remains in the future. I have much to learn and will update you in the future.
I may go home for several days this upcoming week. My numbers are improving daily (slowly). Again, I have experienced some rough side effects from the chemotherapy. . . nausea, bone pain, headache and fever. It has been "nonstop" here. Thank you for your calls and emails. Many ask, "What can I do? How can I help?" As of now, please consider donating blood at the American Red Cross. I believe you can donate blood in my behalf. This would be a nice way to "pay it forward." Please keep the prayers coming too! Thank you! I will update again soon.
Lauren
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