PET Scan and Results, Mainteance Chemo Round 7, and End of Treatment

This past Friday, November 7th, I had another PET/CT scan done.  We saw Dr. Danko this past Tuesday morning for the results.  Once again, no evidence of disease.  We never tire of hearing those wonderful results!  Scan time is interesting…at times (prior to getting the results) your mind wants to wander and worry about those results – “…maybe NOW is the time it will come back," "...but I’ve been feeling so good…” etc.    We are so grateful for another clean scan.

As we consulted with Dr. Danko about how I’ve been feeling and doing, he asked and we mentioned that my hormonal issues (depression, etc.) have continued.  I don’t think they’ve gotten significantly worse, but they certainly have not subsided or gotten better.  He sat back in his chair, and we consulted together.

One thing (of the many) we appreciate about Dr. Danko is that as an oncologist, he is very concerned about not just saving life, but also about quality of life.  In my February 17, 2014 entry I indicated, “Dr. Danko canceled today's treatment and wants to see if when Rituximab clears my system, my hormonal issue goes away. This brought us a bit of anxiety - forgoing treatment, but Dr. Danko explained current research, etc. that indicates there is nothing ‘magic’ about the every other month treatment regimen I have been on. He feels confident that this approach will not jeopardize my short or long-term health.”

At my appointment this past Tuesday he expressed more about the maintenance treatment approach he has taken in my case.  He again indicated that there is nothing particularly “research-driven” and set-in-stone about doing a full two years of this maintenance Rituximab.  He said that if you asked 10 oncologists, maybe 5 would say to do that treatment, and 5 would not.  Dr. Danko expressed that if I was not experiencing these continued hormonal issues, his recommendation would be to see the maintenance treatment out to the end of the two years (that would mean a treatment in January 2015, and a final treatment in March 2015).  But given the fact that I AM dealing with these complications, he suggested and invited us to consider ending treatment now (with the understanding that the Rituximab may not be causing the hormonal issues, but with the assumption that it may very well be playing a part).

This past Tuesday I also had another maintenance chemo treatment.  It went without any complications.  I have expressed it several times, I think about and feel it often, and felt again this week how grateful I am to be able to have Mindy by my side through this journey.  I have expressed before how sleepy and tired I get with these maintenance treatments – I can’t express how amazing and comforting it is to be in and out of sleep, and each time I open my eyes, Mindy is sitting at the foot of my chair.  She has been by my side every step of the way through this journey, and our love has deepened immensely because of this experience.  I’m grateful that this journey happened at a time when our children are old enough to be in school, or to otherwise take care of themselves, which allows Mindy to be there for me.  And I am so grateful that she wants to be with me, and I’m so grateful for our eternal marriage.

So, in the last few days we have been thoughtful and prayerful, and we have decided to end treatment.  It is crazy to think that exactly 2 years ago today, I was preparing for surgery (surgery was November 16, 2012).  It is crazy to think that treatment for cancer is officially over.  I will have a final scan in February or March 2015, and of course meet with Dr. Danko shortly after the scan (and will have my port removed somewhere around that time).  

Many of you have no doubt noticed that as a family, many of us have worn lime green (the color representing Lymphoma) bracelets that say, “Kickin’ Cancer” throughout this journey.  I have not taken mine off except on a couple of occasions in these two years.  I have loved sharing this unity with my family – and love that my kids have done this with me.  Yesterday morning, I decided to take mine off – and most of us did so together.  It was a sweet experience.

As we have felt Heavenly Father guide us to this decision to officially end the treatment phase of this journey, we by no means feel that this inspiration means that there will not be complications in the future.  We are fully aware that recurrence is a reality (or other challenges or complications), but we are choosing to move forward with faith, come what may.  We know that Heavenly Father is in charge of our lives, and that He has a plan that is just perfect for us as individuals and as a family – a plan that is designed to make us into who He needs us to become if we but allow Him.  

Given this reality, and this faith, I am very grateful to be done with treatment.  It is over.  It is done!  I can now focus 100% of my thought, effort, and energy on healing, and becoming as healthy as I can be.