Good news everyone!

After three months I went up to North Dakota, too early to be back Taylor and I both agreed, to get checked up.  I was to get a PET/CT and a PFT test.  It was Taylor, Dad, and myself going up again.  We stayed at the Air Force base like my Dad always does since it is cheaper.  We arrived on Sunday, the 15th and left for home on the 17th.  We had two early days while we were there, which were tough since I am currently working nights for the remainder of my summer.  Even with that we managed to wake up at 6:30am both days.

Monday was a busy day, waking up at 6:30 being ready to leave by 7.  Once we arrived at the cancer center I checked in and we headed down stairs.  After a short wait I was called back to get the labs drawn, radioactive junk put in, and an hour of waiting in a small dark room.  While I was doing this Dad and Taylor went off to get some breakfast at Perkins.  I tried to nap while I was in there, but to no luck.  I couldn't fall asleep.  Eventually I was let out, instructed to use the restroom and then brought to the room to get the scan, and after an uncomfortable 30-40 minutes I am done.  We leave to run a few errands, get some breakfast for me, and visit my friend Eric for a few minutes.  After this we are back at the hotel, and I can't stay awake any longer and lay down, Taylor and I take a nap.

When we wake up we head back to the cancer center to get the results of the PET/CT.  This is when Dad says that he is a bit nervous, and I don't blame him.  After we get there we were brought back to the exam room fairly quickly.  After the nurse left the doctor came in just minutes later.  He goes over a few things and we look at the scan.

We are told that there isn't any thing PET positive any longer, I am rid of the cancer.  When we got the news Dad and Taylor both say " Yess! " :)

So, I guess that makes me a Cancer Survivor.

Now I will see the doctor every 3 months for check-ups and CT scans every 6 months for a few years.  What I need to do now is stay this way for 5 years, because then the odds of it coming back are very slim I am told.

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The next day was another early morning for the pulmonary function test.  More breathing into this tube thing, and one thing I had not done before.  Walked around at a quick pace while they monitored my oxygen level.
After we went to check out at the hotel, visit the commissary, and check out a garden before heading back to see the lung doctor.  When we go back we are given more good news!  My lungs aren't as good as they were before I started treatment, but they are within a normal range.  This is very much improved.  The doctor isn't sure if they are as good as they will get or if they will continue to get better.  I'll do another PFT in 3 months to find out, but other than that he doesn't think I need to do anything else.


So there you have it, Cancer defeated, lungs recovering.  Hope you are all doing well.

Chemotherapy #9

I am done with 9 out of 12 of my chemo therapies.  I am ready to be done, have to get through three more and then hopefully I am done and cancer free.  This last one was the same as the few before, homework and got my dad his own recliner to sit in.  We did get the results of my latest PET/CT scan though, however we did not get to see the image.  The computer was real slow.  We were told that next time we will be able to see it.  The report was good news, the cancer is shrinking!  By a lot from the sounds of it.  I don't think I completely understood what he said, but I think seeing the image of the scan will help a lot.  He threw out these numbers for the sizes of the stuff inside of me, they were all a lot smaller.  The ENT that diagnosed and did my surgery said himself that he couldn't feel any lymph nodes in my neck anymore.  It's nice not to have a huge lump on the side of my neck anymore, I can live with a scar.  One of the nurses there at the cancer center who has been with this since I have been going there came by real excited after reading the report herself, so that made me and I'm sure my dad feel even better about it.

My oncologist did however say that when we finish my chemo therapies, and I'm assuming after another scan, will talk to a radiologist and see if they need to radiate anything.  Hopefully it won't be necessary, but I have been told by a few people that radiation is easier on you than chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy #8

February 3rd was my eighth chemotherapy, marking the end of cycle four.  Four more to go, two more cycles. This one, I think my Dad will agree, was the quickest we have been in and out of there yet.  Once we got in with the doctor it felt like time flew by.  I was given this stuff called Magic Mouthwash this time for mouth sores / sore throat.  It is really thick and tastes awful.  I've only used it once so far, and it made my mouth numb.  Kind of like at the dentist.

I like that I can pick the room we go into at Altru.  At Coborn they chose for you.  I got a room with two recliners again, one for me and one for Dad.  We both had our own TV's too, however I didn't use mine.  Just like last time I spent the entire time doing school work.  Have to keep up, don't want to fall behind.

My PFT and PET/CT scan now have dates on them.  Feb 13th - PFT.  Feb 15th PET/CT.  Also, our flight has been booked!  Taylor and I plan to spend spring break visiting her grandparents in Arizona.  This is something I am looking forward to.  We will go for the week, and I will come back and have I believe my second to last chemo, #11.  I will be wearing a mask on the plane, and Taylor says she will wear one too so I won't have to do it alone.  I have talked to the doctor about it back a month or so ago, but plan to bring it up to him again next time I am in to let him know that I'll be out of state for the week.

Post-Surgery & a PET scan

Yesterday was my surgery.  Woke up bright and early so we could get there on time at 8:30.  When we got there we checked in and headed over to same day surgery and checked in there too.  After a bit of waiting I was called back, and Taylor was allowed back with me.  Weight was taken, and questions asked and answered.  Then the nurse told me that she doesn't know why they had me come in so early when my surgery wasn't until around noon.  She gave me a pager and said I can walk around the hospital or hangout in the waiting room, just have to be back by around 10:30.

Taylor and I decided to walk around the hospital, we went everywhere that we thought we could to kill time.  It was a long wait, but around 10:00 Taylor's mom Cindy arrived. She had insisted on coming up for it, even when Taylor said she didn't have to.  My dad would have came up too, but he had to bring my mom to a doctor's appointment that she had been canceling for quite some time.  She had to go to it.  Anyway, after Cindy arrived we headed back to same day surgery to wait.  We sat there for hours.  Cindy's aunt, who works in pathology in the hospital came by to visit. That is Taylor's great-aunt.  She seemed nice, and maybe she'll be working with my stuff, who knows. After she left we waited and waited some more, it was around 1pm I believe finally when I was called back.  Taylor came with me, while Cindy stayed back.  I got into my gown, was able to keep socks and unders on, and crawled into bed.  Then Taylor and I waited back there for a little longer while different doctors came back to talk to me. Taylor snapped a couple photos of me in my cap and gown while I was laying there waiting.  I thought I looked silly.

Looking silly

After a few more minutes someone came back and put some stuff in the IV to make me feel sleepy.  I don't remember anything after that until I woke up in recovery.  When I woke up there was a nurse there feeding me ice chips, and after a few minutes Taylor and Cindy were allowed in.  It was so good to see them. I was given water and ice cream and a popsicle. I thought the ice cream tasted funny so I didn't finish it, plus it hurt to swallow.  Eventually I was allowed to get up and go.  By the time we were out of there it was passed 5pm. Cindy drove, and we left the explorer at the hospital, where it still is --we will get it later tonight with the help of my friend Eric.  We went to Walmart and they got me some protein powder, some soup, and some popsicles.  Then we headed back to our dorms and dropped stuff off and had dinner.  After dinner they walked me back to my dorm where I sat until bed.

Over night I woke up every few hours to pee, I had a lot of water after the surgery since I wasn't allowed to drink any before.  Eventually I woke up for good.  I wanted to shower, but I'm not allowed to until Thursday. When I had gotten ready for the day I still had a little over an hour to wait before heading to the Altru Cancer Center for my PET scan. When I got in there I checked in and was pointed downstairs where I checked in there.  Very quickly after I got there someone came out to get me.  I was brought back to a small room where another IV was put in so she could put in the radioactive glucose into my veins.  IV was pulled out and warm blankets were placed on me and door was shut with lights out where I would sit quietly with as little movement as possible for the next hour.  It was really relaxing in there with the blankets on me.  I didn't actually fall asleep, but I was right on the edge in a sort of dream like state, but aware of what was going on hearing peoples voices outside the room and whatnot.  After that hour was up she came back to get me and brought me to the room with the scanner.  A couple quick goes through for CT scans, and then one longer 20-30 minute PET scan.  After that I was able to leave.  I grabbed a cookie on my way out.  Cindy drove me to and from my PET scan and took off after she dropped me off.  I really appreciate her coming up here for me.  My dad does too.  She was a lot of help, and I hope took some stress off Taylor.

I missed a test in Microbiology because of this PET scan, but I talked to the teacher on Monday about everything and can make it up on a later date.  That's the news up til now, until next time.  Take care.

UPDATE: Bandage is off, here's the stitches.

My stitches