4/29/09

Treatment number four was harder than number three. I had more bad days than good days, but it got better.

Last week we got good news. I had another PET scan Tuesday and a doctors appointment Wednesday. My doctor was VERY happy with the PET scan results. He said there's no new cancer, and what was there is going away. He also said that as well as looking good for current progress, the scan also looked good for long term treatment. We talked about which treatment plan we would use. We're planning on sticking to the 12 chemo treatments and no radiation. The only reason we'd stop chemo and do radiation would be if the chemo started to make me too sick.

Last week was also fun because I got to get out of the house and have some fun. While in college I was on Exec Board for Student Activities Council and last week they had their big Spring Fling events. I was feeling good so I went to the events, got to see people, and had a great time!

I also had a lot of fun over the weekend. The third graders where I coach cheerleading did a project this year to raise money for the Relay for Life. They cooked in class, had mystery chefs teach them to cook things, and made cookbooks that they sold. When I got my cookbook I was very touched to see that they included a picture of me in their dedication. I was also very touched because they asked me to walk with them at the Relay. It was a great experience and I will definitely go back next year. I even got third in the frozen t-shirt contest! (They soaked shirts, folded them, put them in big ziplock bags, and stuck them in a freezer until they were solid. Then we had to race to see who could get their shirt on first.)

I had treatment number five Friday. So far its been going okay. Right now I've got sinus junk, but hopefully that will get better soon. I'm still working on trying to get a job. Its a little frustrating, but I know God has a plan for me and I just have to be patient.

Updates 4/6/09

I'm sorry it has been so long since my last update. I had some days when I didn't feel well, then on some of my good days I substitute taught, and I've been busy lately. Here's an overview of what's been going on.

Three weeks ago I got rid of the hair. I wasn't feeling good and it had already been coming out in big clumps. I couldn't stand it anymore and my scalp hurt so badly. At about 10 pm I decided I wanted to cut it so I called Matt, he came out to my house, and Dad used a beard trimmer to buz my head. I felt so much better after that and it really wasn't as hard for me as I thought it would be. Since then most of the little hairs have fallen out (partially because I lint rolled my head to get them out), but some are still hanging on. I do have two wigs, but I don't wear them as much as I thought I would. I'm much more comfortable in a hat, and when I'm at home I usually don't wear anything on my head at all.

My second chemo treatment was worse then the first. I had a lot of chest pain with my first treatment, so they gave me pain meds to help with that for my second treatment. The pain meds had side effects that caused other problems for me and I felt pretty bad.

My third treatment was so much better than the first two. I didn't have any pain in my mouth at all! I did have a couple bad days, but overall I've felt a lot better. Matt and I were even able to make a trip to St. Louis to see his mom for her birthday. We had a lot of fun and I can't wait to go back again!

Lately, I've been working on applying for jobs for next school year. I've had one interview already and I have more applications almost ready to turn in. My next treatment is this Friday. I hope it goes as well as the third one. After Friday I will be one-third of the way finished with my treatments!