Stage 1a - Large B cell

Wow - 2 more months have passed by. My life has been a blur the last 2 months, going back and forth to the hospital, taking tests, waiting for test results, finishing chemo, and finally starting radiation.

My 3rd and 4th chemo's were harder then the 1st two. My white blood cell count always dropped late and I almost missed my theraphy. I had two shots of Neulasta ($10,000 for each one) after my 2nd and 3rd chemos and this positioned me to continue my treatments. About 5 days after the 1st neulasta shot I woke up in the middle of the night and thought I was having a heart attack. I coughed and I felt like a forktruck was on my body. As I walked to the bathroom it felt like my legs would fall out of their sockets. I took 3 tylenols and I felt better about 12 -15 hours later. After the 2nd shot I took tylenol the night before the 5th day and the side affects were manageable.

I had a PET/CT scan before christmas ($20,000) and it was interesting. I received my radio-active injection, then I drank two 20oz orange flavoured contrasts (yuck), and then they gave me a CT scan. After they hooked some injection tubes into my IV and injected me with some hot liquid and then they scanned me again. My results came back and they called me cancer free 100%. It is hard to write it, let alone say it. I am in remission and thank god and my family and friends and you folks for your prayers. I continue to pray for all of you who are inflicted or dealing with a person who is going through cancer treatments.

For my radiation treatments, I needed to have a special plastic chicken wire mask made which was form fitted to my face. Boy that was a fun appt! I am currently through 15 of 20 treatments and feeling really good. My radiation field is from my left ear, to my chin, through my voice box, and down to my left shoulder clavical bone. While the skin is red, it really does not hurt. I put Auqaphor cream on it daily. When I receive my treatments, the radialogist litterally bolts my head to the table via the mask and locks my shoulders as well. When I am finished after each treatment my forehead looks like a honey comb farm =:O).
Fortunately my throat has not gotten sore. My last full field treatments are on Mon & Tues. and then the final three scans are smaller and directed on the site of my former tumor.
I will now see my oncologist doctor every 3 months and will receive a CT scan during these appts. I will also receive a full body PET / CT scan every 6 months. One interesting note is that the dr. noticed on my lungs two small nodes which did not take any sugar. So they were deemed non cancerous nodes. They are very small and the dr states that this is normal but they will continue to watch them. My neighbor who had thyroid cancer had mentioned to me months ago that she too had suspicious dark nodes on her scan for the last 10 years and there has been no change in size for her(under 2 cm). The internet states these are sometimes due to colds or things we inhale. Folks in the southwest sometimes have a disease, but I am from the northeast.

Sorry to go on so long, but I can see and feel the end of the tunnel. A new year has come and I have made it, I have beaten cancer and have officially joined the cancer survivor club. Please be postive on your own personnel experiences and enjoy each and every day - god bless all of you.
Sincerely - BD