I'm Cancer FREE!!!

I got GREAT news today from my doctor. My PET Scan results came back normal! All the cancer is gone! I was a little anxious going to the clinic today to find out. Even though I felt really good that the results were going to come back normal, I was still preparing myself for the worst just in case.

So, I had treatment #8 today and will have to have 3 more treatments of Chemo (just to make sure what is gone stays gone!) Then I will get a break for a few weeks and then most likely will need about 3 weeks of radiation. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although treatments are never fun, for some reason I think they might be a little easier now that I can see the end in sight.

Shane came with me to my appointment this time for great support. When the doctor left the room after sharing the great news I burst into tears. Shane looked kind of confused until I was able to explain that they were finally tears of joy!!

Thank you all for your prayers, prayers really are answered!

3 Additions to our family!

Within 8 days, Shane and I have had 3 additions to our families. We are excited to welcome them ALL into our family!!

Shane’s brother and his wife had a baby girl last week.

My brother Jeff married the cutest girl, Whitney. We are excited to have another sister and she really does fit in great with all of us. And...for those that haven’t seen me in my wig, there it is!

And the 3rd family member this week is a little baby boy. My sister, Michelle, had a little baby boy last night.

8 is Great???

Ok so 8 isn’t that great, but hey, having 8 chemo’s done feels like a pretty good accomplishment these days. I thought I would post a little on treatment #8. Everything was fine. There actually isn’t a lot to report, except for the fever update. As you know, I have had a fever the night after my treatment for the last 2 times. They now think it’s a reaction to one of the chemo drugs. So they let me take Aleve this time. So as soon as I got home I took Aleve and low and behold, it worked…no fever!! So it looks like that will be my new thing for the remainder of my treatments, which is great news.

My mom came with me this time. She has been so good to come with me to my appointments. Everyone in my family has been taking turns, but I think this was her 4th time coming with me. Thanks mom, I love you, it’s fun to have you there to talk to through the long process.

The other big news is that next Tuesday, June 10, I have my PET Scan. I had this scan when I was first diagnosed to help stage the cancer. I haven’t had one since and this scan will show how much progress has been made to me becoming cancer free. If the results are good, then I will finish my last 4 treatments of chemo as scheduled. If the results don’t look as good as they hoped by this point then I will need 8 more treatments! Ugh…so I am asking that everyone pray that the results will come back so that I only need to have 4 more treatments. I won’t get the results until my next treatment, June 16 but I will let you all know as soon as I find out.

Thanks for all your prayers, keep them coming!!

Co-worker Hair Support

I thought I would post this picture of myself and 2 of my co-workers. They buzzed their heads in support of my baldness! I thought that was so nice and supportive of them. I kept telling them just to keep all the hair they can get but they insisted. I wish I had a before shot but for those that don't know them, they usually have a lot more hair then this. Thanks guys!!!

Check off #7

Treatment #7 has come and gone this week. It feels good to have one more treatment checked off.

Shane came with me to my appointment. He took the day off work to be with me. I don't think he was thrilled to watch chemo being infused into his wife but I told him he at least needed to experience this with me one time. He was a good sport even if the appointment took 2 hours longer then it normally does for some odd reason. We have been listening to a book on cd and were able to cover a lot of it during chemo time.

The bad news is as soon as I got home I came down with another fever (like the last treatment.) It lasted 4 hours and then went away. When I called my doctor this time he was pretty sure that I had some infection in my port and that my port would most likely need to come out. As much as I dreaded the port being put in me, the idea of it coming out early was NOT good news. I would either get the rest of my chemo through veins in my arms (my veins are small and floppy) or take the port out and put another one back in a few weeks (oh yeah, remember how much fun that surgery was...and I get to do it twice??) So the short of the long story is, they did more blood work the next day and as it stands today I will not have to get my port out. YEAH!!! It might just be a reaction to the chemo and not an infection. So they are going to watch me through my next treatment and see how it goes. I can put up with a fever for 4 hours.

Other then that the treatment and side effects have been right on schedule.

Hair Today...Gone Tomorrow!

I've been trying to think of what to write about the SHAVE PARTY ever since Saturday evening when it occured. Well, honestly, even before that. For the past few weeks, in anticipation of the inevitable day, I would find myself thinking of ways to express that Sheri had to shave her head. And, you know what? Nothing! No words can accurately describe the day, the event, and more importantly...the anticipation of it all.

So, here is what I will say: Sheri had hair on Saturday...and then, after putting on her "Cancer Sucks" T-shirt and taking a few before-shots, Shane leaned over and gave Sheri a kiss, Sheri and Brigitte both started crying, and then the clippers were in action. At that point, Shane let out a little laugh and the whole mood changed. He truly made the experience better than anyone had envisioned. Shane is so supportive and obviously exactly what Sheri needs now...and forever!

As you will see from the pics below, the shave was not premature. Sheri's hair was falling out fast and furious and now, turns out, Sheri is one attractive girl who just happens to have had to shave her head due to cancer-schmancer! Could she maybe be mistaken as her younger brother Jeff? Hmmm...maybe. =)

Okay, but really, Sheri looks great with a shaved head! I'm sure she would prefer to have hair, but with a perfectly shaped head like hers, who knows, maybe she'll forever try to pull off the new look. Ya, you're right. I doubt she'll keep the look either. But for now...looks good!

Of course, boys will be boys, and Shane just HAD to shave a mohawk before finishing the entire shave. It was actually quite hysterical! He tried as hard as he could to convince Sheri to leave the hawk for the entire night of dinner and a movie. Turns out, the shave proceeded to completion before Sheri would leave the house!!

Since the shave party Sheri has said that the anticipation of it was worse then not having hair. She has a wig which you might see from time to time but she said she feels better just wearing a hat or bandanna. As she said 'If I have to look at my bald head, so should everyone else!'

HALF WAY DONE!!!!!!

I can't believe it, I am really 1/2 way done. In some ways it feels like I have been going through treatment forever and in other ways I guess it's gone by relatively fast...maybe.

My treatment at the clinic on Monday was same ol', same ol'. Nothing much to report. The physician assistant I met with did give me a surprise and told me that I only had 2 more treatments left! Can you imagine?? I didn't even let it get my hopes up because I knew he didn't have the right information. Sure enough when he read further he realized I have 2 more treatments until they start re-checking me and then 4 more treatments after that! Oh well, it was a nice fleeting thought.

The most excitement from this treatment came Monday night when I came down with a fever. Anytime you have a fever above 100.4 you are required to call in immediately. Since it was after hours I had to page a doctor. Many times if it's after hours they will just send you to the ER and a lot of times you are admitted to the hospital so they can watch you. Luckily the on-call doctor just had me start my anti-biotic and 2 hours later my fever broke. I didn't have any other symptoms of being sick so they think it was just a reaction to the medication. Hopefully it doesn't happen again! I was NOT happy at the thought of maybe having to be hospitalized or going to the ER, although I have heard but never confirmed that cancer patients get preferential treatment in the ER and get 'bumped' to the top of the line. Hopefully I never find out if that is true.

So the rest of the week has been the same old side effects. It seems like I get a little more tired after each treatment and the nausea lasts longer, but so far I am managing it ok.

You will want to check back here in a day or two. A new post is coming that most won't want to miss...yes the head shaving party is this weekend. I am trying to be logical and brave about it but needless to say it's not going to be easy.

Thanks to everyone for your comments, emails, phone calls, support and prayers. It really does boost me up and I appreciate it!!