Sorry for the delay!

merrywinner

Had a major computer crash and had to replace it. My CT scan was clear and I am happy,relieved and blessed. Thanks for the prayers and support. Mary

jimwins

Wonderful News!
That's great news, Mary!

Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,

Jim

merrywinner

jimwins said:

Wonderful News!
That's great news, Mary!

Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,

Jim

Thanks so much Jim. I was really anxious this time. I talked to the MD about that and he reassured me that it is normal to be more anxious the longer I go. Kind of like "can I get lucky one more time?" He told me that from his perspective the longer a patient goes without a recurrence the less resilient the cancer may have been. I had not heard this before and liked the sound of it so wanted to share that. Again thanks. Mary

nikkig43

merrywinner said:

Thanks so much Jim. I was really anxious this time. I talked to the MD about that and he reassured me that it is normal to be more anxious the longer I go. Kind of like "can I get lucky one more time?" He told me that from his perspective the longer a patient goes without a recurrence the less resilient the cancer may have been. I had not heard this before and liked the sound of it so wanted to share that. Again thanks. Mary

Great news !
My husband has his first post treatment CT scan on Monday. I'm so nervous.
Take care

COBRA666

merrywinner said:

Thanks so much Jim. I was really anxious this time. I talked to the MD about that and he reassured me that it is normal to be more anxious the longer I go. Kind of like "can I get lucky one more time?" He told me that from his perspective the longer a patient goes without a recurrence the less resilient the cancer may have been. I had not heard this before and liked the sound of it so wanted to share that. Again thanks. Mary

GREAT NEWS
Mary,
That is great to hear. BTW: It has been so many moons and I was just wondering what was your original diagnosis and what stage. I was thinking you and I were close,but can't remember anymore. I know Sue and I are pretty close. John

miss maggie

merrywinner said:

Thanks so much Jim. I was really anxious this time. I talked to the MD about that and he reassured me that it is normal to be more anxious the longer I go. Kind of like "can I get lucky one more time?" He told me that from his perspective the longer a patient goes without a recurrence the less resilient the cancer may have been. I had not heard this before and liked the sound of it so wanted to share that. Again thanks. Mary

Missed you
Hello Mary,

I love your new picture of your grandchildren.

Great news your scan was negative for activity. Even though I too never heard your
doctor's comment "the longer a patient goes without a recurrence the less resilient the cancer may have been." Sounds good to me.

I know how happy you must feel. May you continue to be well. Love and hugs Maggie

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

nikkig43 said:

Great news !
My husband has his first post treatment CT scan on Monday. I'm so nervous.
Take care

Nikkig43

Yes, the first post-treatment CT or Pet/CT is a real hand-wringer !

It seems several of the writers at this site are out there with you in the Seattle area. I guess it has in common with Charleston a giant harbor and lots of military. I was a submariner, but never went to the SSBN base out there (I did "attack" sub stuff only).

My pic in fact is from the Ravanel Bridge over the harbor, the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world I think, at least when it was completed a few years ago ("Cable stayed" is NOT the same as "Suspension"). It has its own website, so I will fact check myself later. I went to sea many times throught this channel, just like Blackbeard the Pirate, who frequented the warf here. If you look to the bottom left of the pic, it is Sullivan's Island, home of Edgar Allen Poe when he was in the army here, and where he wrote The Gold Bug. Fort Sumter is to the left also, but not visable in this pic. Life is an adventure, some tougher than others.

Thinking of your loved one today, Monday,

max

.

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

merrywinner said:

Thanks so much Jim. I was really anxious this time. I talked to the MD about that and he reassured me that it is normal to be more anxious the longer I go. Kind of like "can I get lucky one more time?" He told me that from his perspective the longer a patient goes without a recurrence the less resilient the cancer may have been. I had not heard this before and liked the sound of it so wanted to share that. Again thanks. Mary

Time...

Mary,

I have heard and read often that the longer you go without recurrence, the less likely you are to ever recur. My doctor, a very brilliant fellow with an amazing academic resume, told me that pretty much verbatim. This is a statistical generality, but at least it is USUALLY the case. After a PET and two CTs, my doc said he was discontinuing six month or annual CTs for me, relying on extensive blood tests instead. He mentioned that it might be good to avoid whatever radiation I could. Other folks out there a year or more clean after treatment might want to ask about minimizing the CTs, which are massively expensive, also.

Still, the fear is there. I believe my first post-chemo CT was the most frightening. Unlike most folks, and despite the fact that things had gone very well in treatment,
after 12 infusions, I was tempted to ask the doctor: "Perhaps we should add two or three more?"

Yes, fear is normal at any point in the game. But you are doing great, and are a winner.

max

.

merrywinner

nikkig43 said:

Great news !
My husband has his first post treatment CT scan on Monday. I'm so nervous.
Take care

Monday today!
Hope all goes well.

merrywinner

COBRA666 said:

GREAT NEWS
Mary,
That is great to hear. BTW: It has been so many moons and I was just wondering what was your original diagnosis and what stage. I was thinking you and I were close,but can't remember anymore. I know Sue and I are pretty close. John

Thank you John
I was diagnosed in July of 2008 with Follicular NHL Grade 1-2,stage 4A. It was widespread with 50% bone marrow involvement. I have now been officially in remission for 27 months as they will only count from the day of the last treatment. I feel I have been lucky. Mary

merrywinner

miss maggie said:

Missed you
Hello Mary,

I love your new picture of your grandchildren.

Great news your scan was negative for activity. Even though I too never heard your
doctor's comment "the longer a patient goes without a recurrence the less resilient the cancer may have been." Sounds good to me.

I know how happy you must feel. May you continue to be well. Love and hugs Maggie

Hi Maggie!
Glad to hear from you and thanks for noticing those babies. They are my daughters 26 month old twins Maggie and Nanette. I love and enjoy them so very much. I hope all is well with you and I too was surprised by MD's comment....but I will take it! Love, Mary

merrywinner

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

Time...

Mary,

I have heard and read often that the longer you go without recurrence, the less likely you are to ever recur. My doctor, a very brilliant fellow with an amazing academic resume, told me that pretty much verbatim. This is a statistical generality, but at least it is USUALLY the case. After a PET and two CTs, my doc said he was discontinuing six month or annual CTs for me, relying on extensive blood tests instead. He mentioned that it might be good to avoid whatever radiation I could. Other folks out there a year or more clean after treatment might want to ask about minimizing the CTs, which are massively expensive, also.

Still, the fear is there. I believe my first post-chemo CT was the most frightening. Unlike most folks, and despite the fact that things had gone very well in treatment,
after 12 infusions, I was tempted to ask the doctor: "Perhaps we should add two or three more?"

Yes, fear is normal at any point in the game. But you are doing great, and are a winner.

max

.

Thanks Max!
And nice to meet you. Ah yes I, and many others too, remember well the last treatment fears. I guess I had not heard the the "longer you go" thing prior to now but I think it makes sense and hope it is generally true. I will have another scan in January,2013 and if all remains OK he will move to yearly. Good luck to you. Mary

COBRA666

merrywinner said:

Thank you John
I was diagnosed in July of 2008 with Follicular NHL Grade 1-2,stage 4A. It was widespread with 50% bone marrow involvement. I have now been officially in remission for 27 months as they will only count from the day of the last treatment. I feel I have been lucky. Mary

Thanks!!!
Mary,
I thought I remembered you and I were pretty close. The only difference is I was grade 1.Of all the different stages,grades ,symtoms(A and B)and types, the one that was the first to respond to me was you. I think the same thing happened with Sue. She and I are pretty close in diagnosis as well. I did not know that when I responded to her.Just like you did not know my diagnoses when you were the first to respond to me. John

dixiegirl

merrywinner said:

Thanks Max!
And nice to meet you. Ah yes I, and many others too, remember well the last treatment fears. I guess I had not heard the the "longer you go" thing prior to now but I think it makes sense and hope it is generally true. I will have another scan in January,2013 and if all remains OK he will move to yearly. Good luck to you. Mary

Great
Wonderful news sweetie! Keep it up!

merrywinner

dixiegirl said:

Great
Wonderful news sweetie! Keep it up!

Thanks!
And how are you?

anliperez915

Congrats!
Hi merrywinner,
Congrats on your Clean Ct scan...thank God! Take care and sending you positive thoughts!

Sincerely,
Liz

allmost60

Great news!
Hi Mary,
That is "GREAT" news...I'm so happy for you! Your precious grandbabies are growing up so fast! So is our sweet Lizzy...she is 15 months today! Seems like only yesterday the kids were telling us the news of being pregnant.....where the heck does the time go!?!..ha! You take care Mary and enjoy what's left of summer. Much love...Sue
(FNHL-2-3a-6/10)