God is Good & the Power of Prayer is Real

My PET scan results were AMAZING!!  I am still in shock and on cloud 9!  In my heart I knew that there just had to be some improvement based on how I've been feeling, but when Dr. Londer did a side-by-side comparison of the scans showing no active cells I was floored!  I had no words.  He said that there could still be active cells that are just not being picked up on the scan because they're so small, so we'll definitely continue some form of treatment plan.  It just may be altered slightly based on how good I'm reacting to treatment.  This may mean a trip to the U of M to get their take on what the best form of treatment may be in my case.  Option 1 would be that we just continue with what we've been doing, finishing out all 12 treatments, and then no radiation. Option 2 is that I have a few more treatments putting me at 8 total, and then a round of radiation straight to the chest mass to kill whatever is left.  The downside to radiation is that it's a localized form of treatment so if there were other spots left in my body with active cells, the radiation wouldn't hit those spots whereas chemo hits all locations where there is cancer.  Also, with radiation, Dr. Londer said there is a very small chance I could develop breast cancer later on in life since it'd be hitting the chest where obviously being a woman, I have breast tissue.  Being that it'd be one round of radiation, there isn't too much concern, but they still need to tell you the risks.  I have a few more treatments and another PET scan to go through before a decision needs to be made, but that's currently where we are at.  The mass may always be in my chest even when this is all said and done, but the important thing is that everything will be dead and take the form of scar tissue if anything at that point.

It was just all around a good day after receiving such good news from the doctor, and to make it even better, a very special friend that I met through her husband back in 2007 drove 3 hours today to visit me at Hubert Humphrey during my treatment.  She too as fought and kicked Hodgkins Lymphoma in the butt, and oddly enough also had the same Oncologist and nurse during her journey so it was nice she got a chance to catch up with everyone while she was there.  She shared stories of her journey including struggles she faced, fears she had, and the success of coming out on the other side.  She's a mom of 2 little girls too.  The perfect role model to look up to as I'm on my way to being cancer free!  Megan - Thanks for making the long haul today!  You're such a strong and amazing woman! 

For those of you who know me well know that my faith is somewhat of a new thing that has been developing over the course of a couple years now.  I wasn't raised in a very religious home, not that my parents didn't try because they definitely did. I just wasn't receptive to it at the time so church wasn't in all honesty a comfortable place to go when we would.  I just felt so out of place which is sad when I think back on it now because I feel so much peace when I'm there now.  When Josh and I started this journey of finding our church home we were told by several people that when you go through hard times and all else fails, you always have your faith and support of your church community to lean on.  They were so right!  Mt. Olivet is our church home and we just love it there! Pastor Beth came to our home before round 4 of treatment just to spend some time with us for a while and she brought me a beautiful purple shawl from the church, which is beautiful and so thoughtful.  Little did she know, purple (violet if you want to get specific) is the color for Hodgkins Lymphoma.  Call it a coincidence if you'd like.  I'd like to think it's a small way of God letting me know he knows what I'm fighting and that he's with me every step of the way.  When I wrap that shawl around my shoulders, it's him wrapping his arms around me.

Pastor Beth - if you're reading this, I just want to thank you again for taking time on a busy Sunday to meet with Josh and I.  It meant a lot to both of us! =)

God is Good!