Great news today

I had my PET scan yesterday. It was a little like a CT scan and a little like an MRI. I was shot with a syringe of radioactive isotopes, "relaxed" for an hour as they made their way around my body, and then spent another 45 minutes in the machine being slowly scanned from eyes to thighs.

Today I had my appointment with Dr. Lu, my oncologist, to find out the results. I had wound myself up so tightly I forgot to take the notebook I have been using to capture what everyone tells me or asks me to do about this disease. So I can't tell you exact numbers but... In Dr. Lu's words, "The tumor shrank significantly and the brightness of the cancer (how it was lit up by the isotopes) was significantly diminished."

So, he had called Dr. Aye yesterday to share the news and Dr. Aye says I am a candidate for the surgery to remove the portion of my lung that contains the cancer! Dr. Lu told me to be sure and call Dr. Aye to set up a consultation for next week.

Because the surgery may not be until the end of the month, evidently Dr. Aye is going on vacation, Dr. Lu suggested we think about doing another round of chemo. There is always a chance the tumor could re-grow. For us there was nothing to think about; we would rather be safe than sorry. Dr. Lu tried to fit me in this afternoon, but the chemo infusion center was booked solid so instead I will have a new chemo therapy regimine tomorrow morning.

As we were driving home Dr. Aye's office called us. We will travel to Seattle to see him at Swedish hospital next Tuesday to talk about the specifics of the surgery.

I know many of you have been praying and sending good thoughts for me. I appreciate them all and I believe they helped make a difference. I hope you will continue. Because the chemo has worked so well and I am going to have the operation, Dr. Lu says there's a very good chance I can be cured of the lung cancer. I hope you will continue to help me achieve that result!

Chemo 2 and thanks giving

Wow.... it took me a little by surprise how hard chemo 2 was. I think in the back of my mind I thought it would be easier - like when you have had some practice, the task goes better, or smoother or something. I was just knocked off my feet. Still, it was easier than many people experience and for that I am grateful. I just was not prepared to be so very tired or to take so long for the shakes and wobbliness to go away.
Thank you to everyone who texted and sent cards... little boosts everyday made a BIG difference.

Today is the start of week three and I feel good.

As this holiday approaches, I hope you find a lot in your lives to be grateful for and to give thanks for.
1. I am grateful for family and for all the joy they have brought me over the years. My husband is a saint and without his good cheer, coaching, and help I would not be able to get through this.
2. I am thankful for good work to do. Our jobs in education are so important and so meaningful. And I am grateful for the blessing of being able to work with amazing, talented, caring people. Some I just get to watch and marvel at fro afar and some I work closely with. My office mates, from Chuck to Brenda make my life so much richer. The teachers I have the priviledge to know and associate with make me smile, warm my heart, and really give purpose to what I do (hopefully again soon).
4. The many, many survivors of this nasty disease in all it's forms, deserve special thanks. It is like that saying, "walking on the shoulders of giants". I did not realize just how many people in our system have been through cancer. The stories they share, the tips they lend; all of it helps to give confidence and to make the journey bearable and better in many ways.
If you know one of them, please think about saying thank you for what they have done and continue to do.

I have my PET Scan on Tuesday. Please pray this tumor has shrunk, if you are so inclined. Then on Wednesday Dr. Lu, Mark and I will talk about the next step. We hope the tumor shrinks enough to do surgery... removing the lung hinges on that. Now that I feel better, I will try to stay a little more current with this blog. I love your comments and I am sorry I took so long writing this time.

I give thanks for you every single day, I really do. I am so grateful for the support and the keeping in touch and for all your good wishes. I hope for you all that Thursday is restful, fun, and filled with even more reasons to be thankful !

Chemo number 2

  This is the chair that Kathy sat in (for 4.5 hours)



  This is the machine that delivered the chemo to Kathy who sat in the chair.


  This is some of the chemo meds/infusium delivered by the machine that stood by the chair that Kathy sat in.


  This is the port that made it easy to put the infusion straight into the blood as delivered by the machine that stood by the chair that Kathy sat in.


  This is Muriel, who monitors the meds moving through the port, delivered by the machine that stands by the chair that Kathy sits in.. She's been with me through it all so far! Love her.

Treatment 2 went amazingly well!  We appreciate your texts, your cards (more on that in a later post).
And most of all your prayers and good wishes!