Chemo starts Monday morning

[Already Bald]

Good to hear from you Hippie. I'm sure your CT will be fine, I know these next few days will feel like weeks... You're going to be clean, I just know it.

[Hippie]

90 day CT

Hey All,


Haven't came by in a bit, but I had my 90 day CT's today first ones since being off chemo for awhile.. Now the 2-3 day wait to hear results is going to be fun, Feeling great except for some neuropathy in my feet that the doc says SHOULD go away with more time, Has me on Lyrica 3 times a day to help deal with it.

[dadmo]

Hippie:
Congratulations on your cure, hair, anniversary and cruise. It's good that you will be able to throw your cancer overboard and it's wonderful to wear another one as a reminder of how much still needs to be done.
Our individual success stories are special because they are about us, but once cancer touches this close to home it take the them out of other patients and really does make them us.

[Hippie]

Hello All,

Well just an update the Jan 9 results came back as all is normal, All lymphnods within normal size range of under 10mm. my largest one that was almost a 1 3/4 inch is now down to 8mm.

Actually really surprised how fast my hair is growing in, It looks like I just keep my hair short its all filled in and is about 1/4 inch plus.. having to shave on a regular basis again also..

It will be 2 months since my last day of chemo on Feb 1. And I go to Onc on March 1 to setup for my every 3 month CT scan, I am feeling great except for some continued neropathy in my feet mainly one side.. very annoying..

Going on a Cruise in a weekish with the Wife to celebrate our 20yr wedding anniversary and my recovery... My Lance Armstrong bracket I wore the whole time through this will be thrown out to sea and thats where I will leave my cancer so it can hopefully NEVER find me again... I will put a new one on for everyone else that is still fighting and will have to fight this, My friend I have told everyone about when all this first started that I meet that has been fighting another type of cancer for 2 years, She was changed to another chemo type yet again a bit back and just last week got test results back that the new chemo is making HUGE progress and her tumors in her body are shrinking and some are totally gone.


Just thought I would say hello to all and give a quick update..

[dadmo]

Congratulations and have a happy and hairy new year.

[Hippie]

Well made it through my last round of chemo about 3 weeks ago and feeling pretty good, just got back form my CT scan this morning and will have the results on Jan 9 cause my Onc is out of town till then. Have a little neropathy in my feet/toes but thats getting better also, still on the potassium but doc says probably by next month I will beable to stop taking that also, still dealing with some heartburn but thats getting better also.. ready to start sprouting some hair back and hoping it doesnt come back in gray was starting to gray a little before I lost it Had a GREAT Christmas with my family and was SO SO nice not being sick or feeling like crap for the holidays.

Happy New Year All and Livestrong,

[nlferraro19]

Almost there Hippie! Keep your positive attitude. Thoughts and prayers are with you for your next CT scan. Happy Holidays!

Lisa & Nick

[Karen]

Hippie,
Glad to hear you're hanging in there!!! Look to Friday and celebrate all you've overcome.

Peace back at ya!
Karen

[Hippie]

Well day 2 over of my last round just have my sights set on Friday getting here... So far so good this round feeling ok tonight, tired as normal but thats just something you almost get used to going through this.. After this week my CT scan is sceduled for right after the first of the year to see weather or not will have to have the RPLND or not... but will worry about that if and when the time comes..

just wanted to check in with an update, Time to sleep and get ready for hump day in the chemo room...


Peace Out!!

[petep]

great to hear from you hippie...

emotions...strange, I was so focused on getting thru chemo, when I finally had my ct scan etc after chemo I completely forgot that all of the past weeks had been for this moment...about 2 minutes before the results came in I was nervous...but I knew my markers were normal so I expected good news...

try to get in the mindset that you have been thru something that is physically and emotionally probably one of the hardest things a person can go thru...and you've faced it well.

I got to see a couple people speak live in the last few months - yossi ghinsberg who survived in the amazon for some weeks and nando parrado who was one of the "alive" rugby team members who survived in the andes mountains for 72 days...you listen to them talk about not knowing if you will live or die and the various scary emotions...and you think, yes, I know that feeling...and most in the audience do not know that feeling...I always assumed cancer would have a negative "badge" for me...and it's not that way at all...almost like an honor, if I can say it that way.

[Hippie]

First Thanks Everyone for the kind words and encouragment.!!!

Last weekend sucked as usaul after round 3, but rough part seems to just last the weekend and monday then things go up hill quick...

Seen Onc Yesterday, Blood still holding great except a little low potasum still even with 2 Potasum pills a day. other then that all ok... Final Round of Chemo will start Monday after Thanksgiving weekend and last day of chemo will be DEC 1, I can see the light at the end of this tunnel and gearing up mentally and physically to get there as smooth as I can...

I am curoius what kinda of emotions will be in my head that Friday will be like when Kim says ok your done, lets get you unhooked and out of here and knowing by the grace of God I will be never have to sit in that chair and do that again EVER, I am SO damn ready to have them whatever they be...

just a little update..
Peace Out!!

[nlferraro19]

Hippie,

Hey, first of all - way to go on your ability and strength during this difficult time. My fiance went through 3xBEP, and also did very well with it. Your mind is very important during this treatment. Keep your head up!! My fiance did end up with a residual mass (which could be scar tissue, teratoma or live cancer) after chemo and we are seeing the doc tomorrow to see if a RPLND is required, which from research it seems to look that way. I am nervous, but also know that whatever needs to be done, we will get right on it. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to take the precautions that are needed, and be on our way to "SURVIVOR MODE"!!!! Always remember "LIVESTRONG"! You are in our thoughts, and BEST OF LUCK!!

Lisa & Nick
(nlferraro19)

[mikeygti]

Hippie,

Way to go !

This will all be a thing of the past soon enough !

Best Wishes

[Scott]

I'm glad to hear things are going well. You're nearly there!

[Karen]

Doing good, Hippie!!!! It's great that you've managed side effects well and they haven't been too bad for you !!!! ALMOST DONE