Thursday and Friday after treatment weren't great, but Saturday wasn't so bad. I was able to attend part of church on Sunday, then Monday and yesterday were not good at all. Today has been a little better and I hope I'm through the worst of it for this round.
There are times in which it feels that all of this is dragging on, and will not end. I recently re-read one of President Eyring's most recent General Conference addresses in which he expressed, "We remove the pavilion when we feel and pray, 'Thy will be done' and 'in Thine own time.' His time should be soon enough for us since we know that He wants only what is best." This provided great peace for me this week. I am grateful for inspired prophets.
We had a routine check up today with Dr. Danko's NP again. My blood counts decreased again, which isn't abnormal. I didn't have to go back on antibiotics but will need to avoid crowds and such again. The assumption is that my counts will bounce back up in the next couple/few days and all will be fine. Looking forward to the scan next week!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Chemotherapy - Round 4, PET Scan Scheduled, and Family
I had my 4th round of chemotherapy this past Wednesday, the 20th. We typically check in at CCNW in the morning, get my bloodwork done, see Dr. Danko, then start the chemo.
We did all of that but saw Dr. Danko's nurse practitioner, Teresa Ogden, instead. She was nice and the visit was more brief than we typically have with Dr. Danko. She let us know that I would NOT be getting the extra drug (Etoposide) today due to my recent dental work.
So we got the chemo going relatively early, and got done around 2:30pm which was nice. During chemo round 3 I developed a stomach ache for some reason and dealt with that throughout the treatment and into the evening. Luckily I didn't have that this time...I was grateful for that.
As you'll recall, I was to get 4 chemotherapy treatments and then a PET scan. The scan is scheduled for March 6th. We're guessing we will find out the results of that at our visit with Dr. Danko just before chemotherapy round 5 on March 12th. We try to not allow the results of this upcoming scan mean the end of the world, or that I'm 100% cured, but we are definitely anxious for these results as they mean so much in determining the future. It is 100% in the hands of Heavenly Father.
In the past I have had a good day or two right after the treatments, then deal with a bad week or so. I didn't get that this time...Thursday and Friday weren't great, but today isn't so bad.
I went in for my post-op check up with the dentist yesterday..everything healing well with no complications which was great news.
Missy and her kids visited last night...she's in town for Trey's playoff basketball game at University High School this evening..our rival high school here in Spokane Valley. Mindy and the kids are heading over now to go swimming with them.
We did all of that but saw Dr. Danko's nurse practitioner, Teresa Ogden, instead. She was nice and the visit was more brief than we typically have with Dr. Danko. She let us know that I would NOT be getting the extra drug (Etoposide) today due to my recent dental work.
So we got the chemo going relatively early, and got done around 2:30pm which was nice. During chemo round 3 I developed a stomach ache for some reason and dealt with that throughout the treatment and into the evening. Luckily I didn't have that this time...I was grateful for that.
As you'll recall, I was to get 4 chemotherapy treatments and then a PET scan. The scan is scheduled for March 6th. We're guessing we will find out the results of that at our visit with Dr. Danko just before chemotherapy round 5 on March 12th. We try to not allow the results of this upcoming scan mean the end of the world, or that I'm 100% cured, but we are definitely anxious for these results as they mean so much in determining the future. It is 100% in the hands of Heavenly Father.
In the past I have had a good day or two right after the treatments, then deal with a bad week or so. I didn't get that this time...Thursday and Friday weren't great, but today isn't so bad.
I went in for my post-op check up with the dentist yesterday..everything healing well with no complications which was great news.
Missy and her kids visited last night...she's in town for Trey's playoff basketball game at University High School this evening..our rival high school here in Spokane Valley. Mindy and the kids are heading over now to go swimming with them.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Treatment Plan, Postponed Round 4
On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 4:32 PM, Mindy Reimer <mindyjreim@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy Valentines Eve!
We want to express our love and appreciation for each of you. We are so grateful for the love, prayers, service and concern you have continued to show our family during this
time. We feel peace and strength through answered prayers and support that sustains us during the ups of downs of this experience. We are just so grateful to all of you!
Round 3 of chemotherapy went well. It was a little harder on Brad’s body this time, due to the addition of Etoposide, but still manageable. We met with Dr. Danko each week during this past three week period between chemo treatments. The first week Brad’s white blood count had dropped significantly (which is a normal side-effect of chemotherapy) so he was
put on antibiotics and stayed away from crowds. We were grateful that his counts were back up the second week. During this visit with Dr. Danko, he shared with us the plan that he had decided upon after speaking with his colleague about Brad’s transformed lymphoma.
The plan is to finish with Round 4 of RCHOP plus Etoposide. Three weeks following Round 4, Brad will have a PET scan. If the PET scan is completely clean, Brad has had a Complete Response (cancer not found), which will be followed with four more rounds (two more than originally planned) of RCHOP plus Etoposide, another PET scan, and maintenance therapy for 2 years (because of the Follicular - low-grade - component). If the PET scan is not clean, meaning cancer is still found, Brad will have four more rounds of RCHOP plus Etoposide, another PET scan, and most likely a bone marrow transplant. Then we will go from there. So this next PET scan will give us an idea of what we will be dealing with.
This last week Brad has been able to work a bit and has had a few really good days.
Round 4 was scheduled for tomorrow (we were totally excited about spending the whole Valentine’s day together in the Chemotherapy suite :), but Brad had a tooth bothering him yesterday, so we saw his dentist this morning and he will be having two teeth pulled tomorrow instead. (Brad would much rather have Chemo!) So, Round 4 has been rescheduled for next Wednesday. The PET scan will be around 3 weeks after round 4, so we will be hearing results about a month from now. We look forward to those results and more practice in waiting on the Lord.
So, on we go. Again, we just really appreciate you all. We hope you are doing well. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your families tomorrow!
Love,
Brad and Mindy
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy Valentines Eve!
We want to express our love and appreciation for each of you. We are so grateful for the love, prayers, service and concern you have continued to show our family during this
time. We feel peace and strength through answered prayers and support that sustains us during the ups of downs of this experience. We are just so grateful to all of you!
Round 3 of chemotherapy went well. It was a little harder on Brad’s body this time, due to the addition of Etoposide, but still manageable. We met with Dr. Danko each week during this past three week period between chemo treatments. The first week Brad’s white blood count had dropped significantly (which is a normal side-effect of chemotherapy) so he was
put on antibiotics and stayed away from crowds. We were grateful that his counts were back up the second week. During this visit with Dr. Danko, he shared with us the plan that he had decided upon after speaking with his colleague about Brad’s transformed lymphoma.
The plan is to finish with Round 4 of RCHOP plus Etoposide. Three weeks following Round 4, Brad will have a PET scan. If the PET scan is completely clean, Brad has had a Complete Response (cancer not found), which will be followed with four more rounds (two more than originally planned) of RCHOP plus Etoposide, another PET scan, and maintenance therapy for 2 years (because of the Follicular - low-grade - component). If the PET scan is not clean, meaning cancer is still found, Brad will have four more rounds of RCHOP plus Etoposide, another PET scan, and most likely a bone marrow transplant. Then we will go from there. So this next PET scan will give us an idea of what we will be dealing with.
This last week Brad has been able to work a bit and has had a few really good days.
Round 4 was scheduled for tomorrow (we were totally excited about spending the whole Valentine’s day together in the Chemotherapy suite :), but Brad had a tooth bothering him yesterday, so we saw his dentist this morning and he will be having two teeth pulled tomorrow instead. (Brad would much rather have Chemo!) So, Round 4 has been rescheduled for next Wednesday. The PET scan will be around 3 weeks after round 4, so we will be hearing results about a month from now. We look forward to those results and more practice in waiting on the Lord.
So, on we go. Again, we just really appreciate you all. We hope you are doing well. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your families tomorrow!
Love,
Brad and Mindy
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