Well, I got wonderful news today, and I thank you all for your support and prayers. All my nodules have shrunk except one, and that one just stayed the same! Very positive. I will continue with round 4 of Doxil one week from Thanksgiving.
I will return to see my doctor at Stanford for my voice on December 8th and will update you again at that time. Thank you again! God is so good--all the time!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hello everyone--
Well, I have now finished the third round of Doxil. It's been just about eight weeks and I still haven't lost my hair. I do have the itchy rash they told me about on my hands & wrists, with the worst of it under my arms (I guess from the movement of conducting). I also have some pretty painful mouth sores, making it difficult to eat, drink & talk for about a week each round.
I will be having a CT scan on Monday to see how this drug is working. I pray all is good. If it is, then I guess we will just continue. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers that this drug is working and that I continue to tolerate it well. Thank you so much for your support, everyone.
Well, I have now finished the third round of Doxil. It's been just about eight weeks and I still haven't lost my hair. I do have the itchy rash they told me about on my hands & wrists, with the worst of it under my arms (I guess from the movement of conducting). I also have some pretty painful mouth sores, making it difficult to eat, drink & talk for about a week each round.
I will be having a CT scan on Monday to see how this drug is working. I pray all is good. If it is, then I guess we will just continue. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers that this drug is working and that I continue to tolerate it well. Thank you so much for your support, everyone.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Hello everyone,
I know it's been a while, and since people keep asking for a health update, I thought I'd give you a little one. I started the chemo drug Doxil on Sep. 24th and have had two rounds. It is every three weeks, so the second round was on this past Thursday. So far, so good. I haven't had any real side effects so far, except being a little tired. I'm sure they're yet to come, but so far, I'm just enjoying that. My hair hasn't even begun to fall out, which I was sure would have happened by now. I know it will happen, but it's just a matter of when. I feel good, except for the athsma attack I had on Monday night, which quickly turned into some kind of infection. I started antibiotics right away, so I'm hoping for a quick recovery on that. Speaking of recovery, my voice has begun to come back! I can actually sing a little. I don't have much power yet, but we'll see what happens in the coming days as I get better from this infection. Thanks again for all your thoughts & prayers--they really help!
I know it's been a while, and since people keep asking for a health update, I thought I'd give you a little one. I started the chemo drug Doxil on Sep. 24th and have had two rounds. It is every three weeks, so the second round was on this past Thursday. So far, so good. I haven't had any real side effects so far, except being a little tired. I'm sure they're yet to come, but so far, I'm just enjoying that. My hair hasn't even begun to fall out, which I was sure would have happened by now. I know it will happen, but it's just a matter of when. I feel good, except for the athsma attack I had on Monday night, which quickly turned into some kind of infection. I started antibiotics right away, so I'm hoping for a quick recovery on that. Speaking of recovery, my voice has begun to come back! I can actually sing a little. I don't have much power yet, but we'll see what happens in the coming days as I get better from this infection. Thanks again for all your thoughts & prayers--they really help!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Hi everyone--
Well the results came back this morning from my CT scan and unfortunately, the cancerous nodules in my lungs have begun to progress again. The good thing is the progression is minor (only a few millimeters) and it has not spread anywhere. We want to "nip it in the bud," so I will have a chemo teach for the drug Doxil on Friday, and will begin back on chemo next Thursday, the 24th. I have regained a lot of strength in the past three and a half months being off chemo, so hopefully things will go well on this drug, and maybe we can finally get me into full remission. I truly appreciate your thoughts and prayers. They are getting me through, so please keep them up :)
Well the results came back this morning from my CT scan and unfortunately, the cancerous nodules in my lungs have begun to progress again. The good thing is the progression is minor (only a few millimeters) and it has not spread anywhere. We want to "nip it in the bud," so I will have a chemo teach for the drug Doxil on Friday, and will begin back on chemo next Thursday, the 24th. I have regained a lot of strength in the past three and a half months being off chemo, so hopefully things will go well on this drug, and maybe we can finally get me into full remission. I truly appreciate your thoughts and prayers. They are getting me through, so please keep them up :)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Hi everyone--
I thought I'd just briefly update you. I saw my oncologist for the first time since my last chemo on June 4th. We are going to do CT scans every two months. Unfortunately, the first two month CT is already here, and I will be making an appointment for next week sometime. I say "unfortunately," because it's been so nice not to have to deal with chemo and to start feeling like my old self. I've loved being back at school with my wonderful students. I've had so much more energy! I started my pulmonary rehab class at Lifestyle Rx (it's basically an exercise class in the gym where they closely monitor me). It feels wonderful to exercise again. I am praying for the scan to have good news so I can stay off the dreaded chemo and out of the hospitals. As long as things go well, I will have monthly bloodwork, monthly checks with the oncologist and CT scans every two months. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers for clear news on the CT and bloodwork. I truly appreciate the support you all give me! Your prayers help so much!
I thought I'd just briefly update you. I saw my oncologist for the first time since my last chemo on June 4th. We are going to do CT scans every two months. Unfortunately, the first two month CT is already here, and I will be making an appointment for next week sometime. I say "unfortunately," because it's been so nice not to have to deal with chemo and to start feeling like my old self. I've loved being back at school with my wonderful students. I've had so much more energy! I started my pulmonary rehab class at Lifestyle Rx (it's basically an exercise class in the gym where they closely monitor me). It feels wonderful to exercise again. I am praying for the scan to have good news so I can stay off the dreaded chemo and out of the hospitals. As long as things go well, I will have monthly bloodwork, monthly checks with the oncologist and CT scans every two months. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers for clear news on the CT and bloodwork. I truly appreciate the support you all give me! Your prayers help so much!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Post-op news
Hi everyone--
I had my post-op appointment at Stanford today. All is healing perfectly. The doc says since nerves heal at a rate of 1-2 mm per day, it will be at least 3-6 mos. for all to be normal again. That is the down side to this surgery. The up side is it was a better long-term option for a singer. He said the nerve he used was a "really good one" and that I should expect a good & full recovery, but I have to be patient. During surgery he placed the left vocal cord back where it should be. We looked at my larynx with a scope and he said there was very little swelling and things looked really good. I will go back on Sep. 29th and if he feels I need it, he will inject collagen into the vocal cord to give me more of a voice while the actual healing is still taking place.
I will go for my first monthly check with the oncologist on Sep. 2nd. Please keep the prayers going. I thank you so much for your support!
I had my post-op appointment at Stanford today. All is healing perfectly. The doc says since nerves heal at a rate of 1-2 mm per day, it will be at least 3-6 mos. for all to be normal again. That is the down side to this surgery. The up side is it was a better long-term option for a singer. He said the nerve he used was a "really good one" and that I should expect a good & full recovery, but I have to be patient. During surgery he placed the left vocal cord back where it should be. We looked at my larynx with a scope and he said there was very little swelling and things looked really good. I will go back on Sep. 29th and if he feels I need it, he will inject collagen into the vocal cord to give me more of a voice while the actual healing is still taking place.
I will go for my first monthly check with the oncologist on Sep. 2nd. Please keep the prayers going. I thank you so much for your support!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
successful surgery!
Hi everyone! I was released from Stanford today and am home. I haven't had to take one pain pill since the surgery! I have some soreness, and the doctors said my voice would actually get worse before it gets better. I'm having some troubles breathing and swallowing, but they said that was all normal. The breathing problem is due to phlegm that started from the surgery. The swallowing issue is because they had to cut muscles that help me swallow in order to get where they needed to go. Both problems will clear up--hopefully very soon. He rotated my left vocal cord to the midpoint so that my right cord could meet it. He also grafted part of a nerve from another place in my neck to repair my damaged recurrent laryngeal nerve, and my singing voice won't be back to normal for a few months (3-4), but the speaking voice should be back much sooner. Right now I'm still having troubles talking on the phone, but as soon as it heals I'll be calling you! They also had to cut through many nerves that go to the skin on my face, so the bottom left side of my face and neck are completely numb on the outside. It could be six months to a year for that to completely heal. No big deal. It's not really bothersome. Both my doc and his assistant said the surgery went very well. In fact, the assistant said, "I was right next to him and was his right-hand man the entire time, and I can tell you the surgery could not have gone more perfectly." As if I don't know why. Thank you all so much for the prayers & emails. They help to heal me both mentally and physically!
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