Treatment Week - December 20th

Forever God is with us, Forever God is strong, Forever God is Faithful....Forever.

My hope is that you had a very blessed and meaningful Christmas and you were able to celebrate the gift of time with your loved ones. That is what matters most!

I had chemo this past Monday, December 20th. All went well. I didn't feel great on Thursday, but I wasn't nearly as sick as I had been with past treatments. What a great Christmas gift that was! I have a MRI scheduled this coming Wednesday, December 29th. It's a safe bet to say, I am very anxious to find out what's going on in this ol' head of mine. I'm fairly confident...nothing is!! ;-D

My life has been and continues to be blessed by your constant prayers. Keep the peace my friends and I will blog when I get the MRI results are in.

Much love and keeping you all in my prayers!

+Sandy

Update...

I live with open eyes and an open heart to fully experience the goodness of the Lord.

My last chemo treatment on November 22nd was uneventful. My blood counts were just okay. Didn't feel well on Thanksgiving Day, but there will be many more Thanksgiving Days to feel well. I bounced back as I always do and for that I am thankful.

For the last week or so I've been experiencing hives again. Not quite sure what that's all about, but I will discuss with my doctor on my next visit which is Monday, December 20th. I'm praying this is not a repeat from last March and the fiasco that was. Although this morning, they seem to be better. Who knows...I guess I'm just a medical mystery!

My next chemo treatment is Monday, December 20th. Let's pray my 'sick day' will be before Christmas! That would be a wonderful present! My next MRI should be during the first week of January and I am anxiously looking forward to good news.....you know me...always the optimist!

Take time to feel the hope and peace of this miraculous season.

Stay warm!
+Sandy

11/17/2010 Update

I find God's peace amid the chaos! HE is raising me up to face the challenge.

I apologize for not updating my blog in a while. There hasn't been much going on lately...'health-wise' that is. Most days I am feeling very well!

I saw my oncologist on Nov. 8th, everything is going okay. My blood counts were coming back up from treatment on 10/25. My next chemo treatment will be on Monday, Nov 22.... just in time for Thanksgiving! My history indicates unfortunately that I will probably be sick on Thanksgiving Day...bummer. However I am undeniably thankful that I will see another Thanksgiving Day!!!

As I blogged before, my veins are becoming difficult to access by IV, so I had a 'port' put in on Wednesday, 11/10 to make it easier in the long run for blood draws and chemotherapy. It's been a week and I am still pretty sore from the procedure. The port was put in just below the collar bone but above my chest on my right side, so I can't raise my arm above my head, nor can I lift anything for about a month. Anyone who knows me, knows that's a difficult order for me to follow....but I'm doing the best I can! Fortunately, I will have had 12 days to heal before it will be used for my next treatment.

I will blog after my treatment next week. Thank you for your continued prayers. Get out and enjoy this wonderful fall weather....I certainly am!

With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

+Peace
Sandy

Happy Anniversary to me!!

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

One year ago today, I was diagnosed with a 'worrisome' brain tumor. One year ago this Wednesday, I had a craniotomy to remove the 1.6cm tumor. It was then determined to be cancer. I remember this life-changing week like it was yesterday. But...this year has flown by and look how far we've come! I am healthy, I am strong and I am determined.

You all have inspired me to stand faithful, hopeful and to never give up....and I have no intention of giving up.
Together, everyone, our prayers are making a difference. Thank you for your faithfulness in traveling this journey with me. We have so much more life to live and to give.

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you".

+Peace,
Sandy

10/25...A treatment week

I envision us healthy and whole.

I saw Dr. Hu on Monday, 10/25. I briefed him on my visit to Duke and he was very happy to hear their thoughts and future plans for me. My blood counts were on the low side this time, so my chemo dose was the 10% less than the norm in hopes to keep them from plummeting too low. As usual, had the Neulasta shot on Tuesday. I was feeling good until Thursday, which was 2 days after chemo as par for the course, then unfortunately I didn't feel so great. Today, however I'm feeling much better.

This was my 8th month of treatment. The nurses had a difficult time with the IV....3 different nurses, 6 different sticks. One word to describe it....YOW-OUCH!!! My veins are becoming tough, apparently that happens the longer one is on chemo, and more difficult to get a good IV insertion. Painful for both them and me! They certainly feel bad not being able to get the IV in and I feel bad for them because they feel bad! Since I will continue to have blood draws every 2 weeks, chemo every 3-3 1/2 weeks and MRI's with dye every 6 weeks, the best option will be for me to have a port put in. I was trying to avoid having to do that, but I don't think I have a choice. That procedure will be scheduled sometime within the next 2 weeks or so. Ya know, we just do what we have to do and it will be fine.

The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps. Proverbs 16:9

Have a wonderful weekend.
+Peace
Sandy

Trip to Duke - Fabulous!!

I am grateful for the experiences that have brought me to this moment.

Our trip to the Duke Brain Tumor Center was nothing less than very informative, encouraging and motivating. We came away from there with so much HOPE, and are so energized as we continue the pursuit to beat this cancer. Friends, we WILL beat this!!

My first appointment was for a MRI Thursday evening, October 14th. I'm so getting used to that routine...I think I don't even hear the machine's loud claps, beeps and horns anymore. All I hear is my conversation with God as we talk about life.

My appointment with the Brain Tumor Center doctors was Friday morning. We met with Dr. Ashley Sumrall and Dr. Annik Desjardins, who will be my team of doctors and also met with my contacts on the nursing and social work staff. They are all awesome. Obviously, brain tumors is their area of expertise, but what struck me was their extensive knowledge, encouragement, compassion and committment that they are with patients every step of the way in whatever capacity they need to be. They shared the results of my MRI....no tumor growth..at all...anywhere. Oh one other thing...the 'nodule' or 'enhancement' that exists in the tumor site that was thought to be resistant tumor or scar tissue...the Duke doctors believe that is a blood vessel. Are prayers working?...To that I answer "Amen"!! Oh ya!

They were very complimentary of the St. John's staff who have been caring for me up to this point. They expressed how well the surgery was performed when the tumor was removed, the successful radiation therapys and how well my ongoing chemotherapy treatments have gone. Their comments validated for me that the right things have been happening because it's working. St. John's will continue to administer my treatment under the direction of my doctors at Duke. I will only need to travel to Duke about every 12 weeks.

The Duke doctors also shared some statistical data with us that is truly awesome. Listen to this....they have 172 GBM patients that are long term survivors...long term meaning 5 years or greater. How about that for exciting statistics? Even more exciting is what they told me next. Because of the tumor size and location, the successful surgery to remove the tumor, my response to treatment, my good health, positive outlook and my strong faith, I too have the makings of being in the category of a long term survivor. How about that for exciting news? I absolutely believe the Brain Tumor Center motto is accurate...At Duke, there is HOPE! I couldn't be more hopeful!

With all that great news, here's what's next:
* Continue the same chemotherapy regimen through February 2011 resulting in a full year of treatment.
* MRI scans every 6 weeks.
* PET scan on January 10, 2011.
* Appointment to see Dr. Desjardins at Duke on January 10, 2011.
* If scans indicate no tumor growth, I will stop chemotherapy in February and we will monitor with MRI scans. If growth exists, I will continue 6 more months of chemo and then determine course of action from there.

Believe it or not, I'm coming up to my 1 year anniversary of diagnosis. It has been quite a journey. I have learned so much about myself, about what's important, about how to not take anything for granted, especially to not take for granted that I've been given another day to enjoy. I've learned (or maybe still learning) what to worry about, what not to worry about, and that I couldn't have made it this far without all of your prayers and all of the love and support that surrounds me. I learned that God didn't inflict me with this disease, it just happened. But because of this, I learned that God is carrying me and giving me the strength to live every day and to trust HIM with my life. Because He's given me my life.

Thank you for praying and sharing this year with me. And God willing, we will have many more to share.

+Peace,
Sandy

Oh My Goodness...It's been a month since my last post?

The healing power of God and the Spirit renews me.

Yikes...I didn't realize it has been so long since I last posted on my blog. My apologies to my followers. Here is what's been going on in my world...

My last chemotherapy was Thursday afternoon, September 23rd. All of my blood counts looked good enough to get the full dose of Carboplatin. As usual, I went home and went to bed after treatment. On Friday I was feeling pretty good, went to work and then went out to get a Neulasta shot. I was feeling good until Saturday evening, when the bottom fell out. It seemed like all of sudden exhaustion over took me and I began to feel nauseous and just ached all over. I went to bed about 7pm Saturday night, didn't get out of bed on Sunday, didn't get out of bed on Monday, tried to get out of bed on Tuesday. I got up Tuesday morning thinking if I just took a shower, I would feel better. Let that living water pour out it's therapy over me. I went to work, stayed for about 10 minutes, came home and went back to bed. By early afternoon, thankfully, I began to feel somewhat better. I got up, sat outside and soaked up the suns warmth. It felt amazing and helped tremendously. Thank God for sunny autumn days!!

I saw Dr. Stroud, my radiation oncologist, on Thursday, September 30th. He was very pleased with my last MRI results. Will see him in 6 months!

Now that I am back feeling great again and enjoying this fabulous autumn weather, I am so excited about my upcoming visit to Duke!

All of my scans, medical records, physician notes,etc. have been sent to the Brain Tumor Center at Duke University in Durham, NC and we leave tomorrow (Wednesday, October 13th). I have a MRI scheduled for Thursday and my treatment consultation is on Friday. The only thing I know for sure is that they will direct and colaborate with my doctors at St. John's for treatment, although I'm unsure as to how often I will have to travel to North Carolina for follow-ups. I imagine I will be overloaded with information from the neuro-oncologists at Duke and I will share that with you when I return.

I am so excited and blessed for the opportunity to continue my healing journey as I partner with the doctors at Duke and at St. John's. Please pray that God will guide these doctors' skillful hands and creative minds. Your prayers continue to give me strength, thank you.

Trust God!

+ Unshakable peace to you,
Sandy