Thursday, March 24, 2011
Prayers for a fellow Warrior
I have been following a young women's blog - Adventures with my enemy . . . Melanoma - her name is Chelsea and she is 23 with stage 3 melanoma. Yes, 23 years old and battling this beast. This young lady is a fighter and has a team of supporters with her, but I would like to send in my troops. She is having another surgery today to remove lymph nodes from under her left arm and right side of her neck. My prayer/positive vibe warriors, you have all done so much for me. I'm now asking that you take a moment to send some to her and her family for calmness and strength today as she goes into surgery and for positive results afterwards (no melanoma). Thanks everyone!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Information on Treatments
A fellow warrior, Melanaoma in the City, posted information on the newest melanoma treatments. It is a really good article. Here is the link if you would like to read it. FYI - GSK436 is the treatment I am on.
http://melanomaandthecity.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-info-on-some-treatments-out-there.html
http://melanomaandthecity.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-info-on-some-treatments-out-there.html
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Great News
CT results are back and they are much better than I imagined they could be. Dr. Gordon called to tell me that overall my tumors shrunk 60%. Some are gone while the rest have shrunk! Wow, there are no words for how happy I am. I was speechless after he told me the news. I expected good results, but not of this magnitude. Poor Todd when I went to tell him I was crying and he thought it was bad news. I was just overcome with emotion and relief I couldn't stop. I had to blurt out, it's not bad news.
I'll post more when I have the details, but for now thank you Lord, prayer warriors and positive vibe senders. What a fantastic day!
I'll post more when I have the details, but for now thank you Lord, prayer warriors and positive vibe senders. What a fantastic day!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Where has the time gone??
Geez, where did the last month go! Well it seemed to fly by, but the good thing is I feel great! 2 months of treament now under my belt. I have my CT scan scheduled for March 10th. I look foward to the results and see the progress the treatment has made.
I don't think I wrote about my allergic reaction to the contrast dye for the CT scan. It seems I now am allergic to the dye used during my CT scans. During the last 2 scans, once the contast dye was injected I got hives all over my body. I was hot, itchy and miserable. The reaction during my last CT also included severe pelvic pain. I was rushed to the hospital via Ambulance as SMIL (CT scan place) didn't know what was happening. Not fun. So, now I have to get my scans done at the hospital. I'll be pre-treated with steriods for 3 days prior which we are hoping will combat some of the reaction. Let's hope so!
In addition to my BRAF treatment, I began high dose vitamen C (or ascorbic acid). This is given through an IV. This treatment is being given to me because it is anti-inflammatory, anti-melanoma and immune system activating. It also helps the body to resist spread of melanoma. If you are interested in more information, there are some great lectures at http://www.riordanclinic.org/education/symposium.shtml.
An update on Vita - I love, love, love Vita!! I use her at least once per day and have made so many yummy things. My morning smoothie, peanut butter, almond butter, almond milk, soups and to chop cabbage and cilantro for a salad (this was cool as you place the cabbage and cilantro in Vita and then add water to cover. Turn it on quick and shut off. Drain in strainer and you have choopped cabbage and cilantro.). I love making my own foods! They taste so much better and there are no yucky added extras to worry about.
I don't think I wrote about my allergic reaction to the contrast dye for the CT scan. It seems I now am allergic to the dye used during my CT scans. During the last 2 scans, once the contast dye was injected I got hives all over my body. I was hot, itchy and miserable. The reaction during my last CT also included severe pelvic pain. I was rushed to the hospital via Ambulance as SMIL (CT scan place) didn't know what was happening. Not fun. So, now I have to get my scans done at the hospital. I'll be pre-treated with steriods for 3 days prior which we are hoping will combat some of the reaction. Let's hope so!
In addition to my BRAF treatment, I began high dose vitamen C (or ascorbic acid). This is given through an IV. This treatment is being given to me because it is anti-inflammatory, anti-melanoma and immune system activating. It also helps the body to resist spread of melanoma. If you are interested in more information, there are some great lectures at http://www.riordanclinic.org/education/symposium.shtml.
An update on Vita - I love, love, love Vita!! I use her at least once per day and have made so many yummy things. My morning smoothie, peanut butter, almond butter, almond milk, soups and to chop cabbage and cilantro for a salad (this was cool as you place the cabbage and cilantro in Vita and then add water to cover. Turn it on quick and shut off. Drain in strainer and you have choopped cabbage and cilantro.). I love making my own foods! They taste so much better and there are no yucky added extras to worry about.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Feeling Great
A quick post to let everyone know that I am still feeling great. I had a "check-up" with the fab, Dr. Gordon, last week and everything looks good. The tumor under my left breast is still tiny. Dr. Gordon was excited to hear the news (I waited to tell him in person) and said that sometimes when a tumor dies it doesn't completely go away. Kind of like scar tissue will be left behind. I had a derm appointment in January and my skin looked normal. (My treatment has been known to cause non-melanoma skin cancers, so this is very good news.)
I'll keep you posted, have a great week!
I'll keep you posted, have a great week!
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