Angie's Stem Cell Transplant 2006

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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

In Sept./05 I was diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal Large Diffuse B Cell Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. The tumour in my chest measured 10cm x 10.6cm x5cm. After I completed 6 rounds of CHOP-R chemotherapy, a CT Scan in Jan.06 showed that my tumour had decreased by well over half the original size. A Gallium Scan showed negative for cancer cells in my mass. We decided to do 2 more treatments to be sure we killed any remaining cancer. We now had to decide if I should proceed with radiation. Did the risks of radiation outweigh the benefits? My hematologist and radiation oncologist had excellent arguments for both sides of the coin. The decision was to be mine. They set up appointments for me to see doctors in Toronto and Vancouver for 2nd opinions. In Vancouver I had a PET/CT Scan (a superior machine to a Gallium Scan) to see if my tumour was active. On March 17th this scan revealed that my tumour WAS still active and had INCREASED in size from an early scan. This meant that I had Relapsed or Refractory NHL....my best chance for cure was a Stem Cell Transplant. In my blog, I will describe what I am going through before, during and after my transplant.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

April 22, 2007

I can hardly believe that 3 months have gone by since my last post.......

I was re-reading all the comments tonight & once again realized how fortunate I was/am to have so much loving support through-out everything.

After receiving the news on finally achieving remission.......I ran around like a maniac trying to play catch up on all the things on my to do list from the past 1 1/2 years........PURE ADRENALIN.......

I forgot that I was still recovering from my SCT (white cell count was still only around 2.3)& high dose of radiaton (side effects were cough, fatigue & elevated heart rate)........eventually I CRASHED........ after that wake-up call, I smartened up & made sure I had more rest & a lighter schedule.

On February 17th, I took a celebratory trip with 3 friends to Turks & Caicos........it was a good trip.....though, I was feeling tired & a bit overwelmed by being so far away from the security of home......I think that this was a period of transition in my life. I was realizing a whole new outlook.

Since then, I have been re-building.......making changes.....& appreciating my life so much. I look at everything through new eyes......GOD I am so thank-ful.

On March 1st, I had a CT Scan. On March 9th, I had an appointment with Dr. Anderson....my scan looked good & my blood work was getting much closer to normal. I think that my whites were around 3.2 & my neutraphils for at the lower end of normal. So far so good.

I saw Dr. Wilke (my Rad. Onc.) on March 28th. A chest X-ray showed that there was evidence of calcification at the site of my "former" tumor.....he said this was a good sign that nothing was growing. He feels very good about the way things are going.

We just have to go scan to scan......if I can get to the two year mark....things will be looking really good....after 5 years in remission they will consider me cured!!!

I will be in touch!!