Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Come Sail Away

Cruising right along.  2014 is just around the corner and mid year I will go on my first cruise with friends, and am very much looking forward to it.  I had my appointment with the onc on Oct 31st, and for the first time forgot to post how it is going.  Oooppssss. :)  Talk about my numbers as this was my last round of Immunoglobulins, AKA bubbles.  Everything is looking good and I won't go back for a checkup until late January.  So lets see if I can cruise right on into 2014 with a good start and keep on moving forward.  All is well, here we go sending off 2013 with a bang!

iBelieve.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

All Clear it is!

Today was my CT Scan to see what my system has been up to.  I checked in, drank the required lemonade flavored liquid, not real sure why that does, but I drank up.  Instead of a PET scan, had a normal CT scan with contrast.  I always look forward to getting finished so I can go eat, but since it was so close to lunchtime, I decided to get a snack and just wait for lunch.  Had a busy day at work, and didn't get the text when it came in, but my oncologist texted me that all was clear.  I cannot say how much that means to me that I get a text from my doctor telling me the results.  Certainly a great feeling, especially for the continued good results.

iBelieve!

Thursday, October 3, 2013

One more round to go, then into the unknown....

Today's round of bubbles went well.  Did a good deal of napping, but probably needed it.  Was told my calcium was low, and needed to get some to help build me up.  I guess I haven't eaten the best, so thats my fault.  If it isn't that, I will take some vitamins like they said and have that help me out.  Last round of bubbles will be at the end of the month, and a PET scan coming up.  Will see what it tells me.

Bubbles number 7

Two weeks ago, my third ride in the Bike to Beat Cancer was a huge success.  I had over $1500 in sponsorship, and rode the 35 mile course without any real problems.  No flats, now that was a relief.  The course was 36.5 miles, and what started as a rainy day ended with the sun out.  Awesome day.

 

Friday, September 6, 2013

What is next?

Another round of bubbles today, no problems, and so far the cough has not returned.  Ironically, I still have a cough if I laugh, but that is better than what it was.  I have two appointments in October.  Just happens there is 5 weeks in October, and one appointment is the first week, and next is the last.  I will have a scan in October, definitely anxious to see if everything is still all clear.  Moving forward, no complaints.  Looks like two more rounds of bubbles to go.

In a couple weeks I will ride my third Bike to Beat Cancer, looking forward to it!  If you wish to donate to a great cause, please click the link below and support my ride :)

Support My Ride

Something good for the system

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Bubbles Bubbles Bubbles

Today was appointment day for my next round of immunoglobulins, aka bubbles.  Easy day, but I did sleep a bit of the day away.  My onc did not see me today, but I had them ask about putting me back on meds due to the cough I cannot shake.  This one was a bit different as it was mostly dry and I did not have the congestion or sinus problem like the last time.  Allergies?  Don't know, never been tested.  Might be a consideration for the future though.  We'll see how the cough goes, hoping that it goes away, I have to do some bike training!  Next appointment in 4 weeks.  Weeeeeeeeee

That bottle went fast!

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Good results on counts, bubbles are doing their job

Had the latest round of bubbles today, which also meant I got to see my onc.  Everything has gone up to good levels.  I have had a tough time with getting sick this year, so the onc put me back on two meds to help my immune system fight and hopefully get rid of this cough I have been plagued with.  Onc is also going to do my immunoglobulins every 8 weeks instead of 4 now.  Next scan will be in October.  All is looking good!!  Anyone can give up!!

Bubbles

Saturday, June 8, 2013

All Clear!!!

Had my CT scan yesterday, got an all clear in the results.  Hope to sail on down this road for a while.  Still dealing with a dreaded cough.  Can't seem to shake it, just doing the best I can.  But I'll take that with an all clear result, and see what happens next time.

iBelieve!

Friday, May 17, 2013

Counts are up!

Had my third round of bubbles, also know as immunoglobulins, and happy to say that my counts are up.  Today I woke up with a bit of a cough/sore throat, hoping that it is just allergies or something else. This year has been a tough battle so far with being sick, but hopefully the counts will continue to go up and I will bounce back yet again.  The onc said that was a good sign, and for now the marrow is still hanging in there.  Next scan is in June, looking forward to more good news.

Bubbles / Immunoglobulins / IVIg, the many names for the boost I need

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Bubbles Dos!

Today was my second round of immunoglobulins, A.K.A. Bubbles, and the lab work showed a small increase in counts.  Dealing with a 4th round of coughing and crud, hoping these bubbles will help get me over the hump.  Was hoping for a bigger increase in counts, but time will tell, just need to get the helpers in my system to build my immune system back up.  Next month I will meet with my oncologist and hopefully see how things are by then.  Until then, just trying to keep on moving.  :)

They really do make interesting patterns

Friday, March 22, 2013

Moving on up!

Yesterday was the first round of immunoglobulins again.  The bubbles don't really give me any side effect, so it was pretty easy.  Just a slow drip going in, but had a relaxing time for a change.  Second round next month, so hopefully the crud won't come back again.  :)

Lots of tiny bubbles

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Bubbles again

Met with my onc yesterday, and had a great visit with great results.  There is no evidence of disease (NED) which anyone knows is the best results you could get.  While discussing how I feel, with everything going on for me, the two rounds of steroids and antibiotics for the flu that is going around has helped, but mostly caused me to gain weight.  Now, heading into my third round with this crud, I find my counts low, so I am going back on the immunoglobulins, AKA Bubbles.  Hopefully this will get my immune system a boost and get me feeling better.  So, 2013 has started off with an All Clear and more bubbles, I will take it in a heartbeat.  Let's see what else I can do in 2013.

Just iBelieve!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

All Clear

Today was my first pet scan since the completion of radiation on the mass in my left side lymph nodes in my neck.  Unfortunately this past Friday I wasn't able to do the scan due to my blood sugars, but the scan went off as planned this morning, and boy did I enjoy the relaxing moment while just laying there.  ha.  While I normally wouldn't know the outcome so fast, my oncologist called only a couple hours after the completion of the scan. All Clear.  Great news, and back on the road of remission.  Quite the great news for the day, and look forward to a long road ahead. :)

First Bike To Beat Cancer training ride this weekend, can't wait!!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

And so it begins......

Had an awesome appointment with my onc.  The radiation appears to have been effective.  Onc wants to do a pet scan next month, and that will be the tell.  I expect good results.  So where to go from here.  With the steady results and only the minor bump in the road when my immune system crashed, its time to progress to the next phase.  End of maintenance.   No more Rituxan maintenance.   While this is good, it also means, lets hope that my system can fight the fight.  All indications are that it will.  So here we go, no more treatments, and hopefully just random pet scans, and eventually the port will probably come out.  All things are good, so lets roll with it.

I could have done so well during these times without all the support and prayers from my family and friends.  Thank you so much.  Truly priceless!!  I will end with my favorite quote:



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Smooth Sailing ahead

On the 31st I met with my rad onc to see where things were.  Most of the side affects have gone away, leaving only a little funny taste in my mouth.  He checked my neck area to see if he felt any remnants of the mass, and said all seemed good.  He said that we will do a pet scan in 2 months, if they did it earlier, it may give a false positive, so I am heading back to the onc to see where we go with maintenance.  Will find out more tomorrow.  All is good for now. :)