Hello Everyone

I wanted to let you all know that after seeing a specialist at UCLA last week, it was determined that I will not need radiation treatments. That is really great news. So basically I am all done and I am officially in REMISSION. I will have to be tested every 6 months for 2 years, then once a year after that. Then once I reach the 5 year mark I will be officially cured!!!

Hope everyone is well.

Thanks for checking my blog.

Much Love
Linda

Well - I am totally unencumbered - SO COOL!! They removed by picc line yesterday. It hurt a little when she first pulled on it because one unseen stitch was still attached, (OUCH!), but after she clipped that is was totally painless to remove. Now I can freely shower and I look so forward to soaking in a bath tomorrow. I feel really great and ready to get going on getting my strength back and going on my walks my the beach again. Doland also got me a wii fit for my birthday - so we hooked that up, it will be a lot of fun. I will probably just need a nap now and then, hopefully.

Thanks Sue for your note - it all is just sinking in for me too. Love you too.

Hi Dawn - thanks for the note also. Evan's homecoming is on Oct.17th, I don't know if he is going to the dance yet. I bet your boys looked so handsome, do they dress formal for it? Say hello to your family for me. I will keep in touch and talk to you soon.


Thanks everyone for checking in on my blog - I will continue to update things and I will let you know about next weeks visit with the specialist.

Much Love to all
Linda

Hi All

Well, this is it, my last day of treatment is Monday - HURRAY!!! I am so elated and ready for this to be over. They took out my pump yesterday, so no more of that. On Monday I get my last treatment of Rutuxan, which will take about 4 hours. Then time to celebrate, depending on my stomach. Today I am feeling a little yukky, from yesterdays medicine, usually the worst day, but by tomorrow-hopefully better. And I am ready for my hair to grow back - but I am so grateful I never lost my eyebrows and lashes, that was great.

Next - I go to UCLA on Oct. 14th to meet with the head Doctor that specializes in my type of cancer to get a second opinion on whether I should have a little radiation. My doctor just wants to double check everything - I am all for it. Will keep you all posted on that.

I wish everyone good health and happiness. And thank you for all your continued support.

Thanks for the note Pam - much appreciated.

Much Love
Linda

Hello bloggers

Well - just one more treatment to go - HURRAY!!! Treatment #5 ended last Monday and this past week I felt the effects more than any previous treatment. The effects of the treatment have lingered longer than before. I'm sure it is cumulus, what with all the medicines going into me. My stomach has not fully recovered yet, but everyday is better than the day before. I just don't feel like eating to much. But this next week, I should be good and I looking forward to lunch with an old friend and lunch with my bunco group. And a visit with my Doctor to find out if I will need any radiation treatments. I will keep you all posted.

Thanks for checking out my blog.

PS - Evan does have a pick-up - he loves it and he did take the camper shell off, it does look better that way I think.

Much Love
Linda

Opps - Correction, my last treatment starts on Sept. 28th not the 26th.

Hi All

Well - started on my treatment #5 yesterday(Wednesday). Was plugged into my pump which will stay in until Monday morning. Then I will be infused in the treatment room with my two other medicines. Which makes for a long day, but the end is in sight and I am so fortunate for that. My last treatment starts on Sept.26th, so it almost over. I feel really good, just a little touch of stomach fullness feeling, but nothing big.

Hope everyone is well and the new school year is going great for those it applies to. I don't even have to drive anyone anymore, with Evan having his pick-up truck now(1995 ford ranger), he loves driving to school of course.

Love to you all and thanks for your thoughts and prayers Dawn and all.

Much Love
Linda

Hello Everyone

Hope everyone is great. Well, visited the doctor yesterday and he confirmed all the good news. I will definitely only need two more treatments and the pet and cat scan confirmed my tumor is down to two centimeters and non-active. Such good news, needless to say I am extremely happy.

My next treatment starts next Wednesday with my pump infusion which will last until the following Monday. Then two weeks off and then my last one will be the last week of September.

Then we will celebrate for sure.

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.

Much Love
Linda

Hello Everyone

I have some very very Great news. My doctor called me yesterday(Thursday) with results from my pet scan that I had done on Wednesday. He said that the tumor has shrunk very very significantly, from 10 centimeters down to 2 centimeters and that is shows no sign of activity. This is excellent news and means all my treatment are working extremely well and that my two last scheduled treatments will be all the treatments I will have to get. I am, of course very very relieved to hear this excellent news.

Keep up all the great and positive thoughts and prayers. It all contributes to my positive spirit. I thank all of my great friends and family for their love and support.

Love you all

Linda

Hi Elie
Sounds like a fun filled two weeks to me. Thanks for your good thought and prayers. Yes - 2 more treatments left. I get a couple of tests this week, then meet with the Doc on 9/3 for the hopefully positive results that the chemo is working. We will keep you posted.
I love you and think of you often too

Much Love -Linda


Hey Dawn
Thanks you so much for checking in on me, it means allot to have such good thoughts and prayers from everyone. It really helps. Last weekend was the pits, but now I am feeling much better and on my way to my last 2 treatments.

The boys are doing great. Evan is in Palm springs with Troy until Friday. The house is so quiet, because Jordan works all day also. I am sure Evan is having a blast. Do the boys miss sunny California yet? I am sure they are having a great summer with their friends there.

Thanks again for the good thoughts and prayers.
Much Love
Linda

Hey Pam

Thanks for the good thoughts. I am feeling pretty good, just a little wierd. I have to wear my pump until Monday this week instead of getting it out today, Friday, because it was not pumping the right volume all week. So - I guess those things happen sometimes. Monday will be a long day. Becuase they take out the pump and give a different medicine that I sit there for. But then I am done for 2 weeks.

Take Care - nice to hear from you.

Linda

Hello Everyone

Yesterday was the first day of Treatment #4. Two more to go after this one. They hooked me up to my portable pump and all went well. I am scheduled for some tests after treatment #4 to make sure all is going to plan, I think it is. So keep up the good thoughts. Thank you for that.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Love and good thoughts

Linda

Hi Everyone

This past week went very well. Not to tired or anything. I am so gratful for that.

Tomorrow Dol leaves for Eugene, Oregon for a business trip, he will gone until Thursday A.M. He tries to plan his trips for the week right before my next session begins, because I usually feel my best then. We will miss him.

Dol and I went to see Julie and Julia this weekend, it was a very funny and cute movie we would recommend. The movie theater was full, can you believe it. We had a great date night.

Will post soon.

Love Linda

Hey Dawn

Thanks for your post. I'm so glad we got to get together while you were here, it was a great to catch up with you. I'm sorry I did not make it to the garden thing and see you before you left. It did not work out for me. I am glad the boys got to hang out too.

Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers, I really appreciate it all. It all helps so much.

I know we will keep in touch. Talk to you soon

Love Linda

Hi All

Well, I justed finished my 3rd treatment session on Monday. I was there from 9 until about 1pm to receive my retuxin treatment. It went very well with no bad reaction at all. My neighbor came to hang out for awhile and my husband brought me lunch. The time went by pretty fast.

I felt off,kinda of blah and kind of tired on Friday and Saturday. It helped having my neice Brandy here to keeep me company. Her and her husband went home yesterday, tuesday. We loved having them here to hang out with us all.

I have a follow-up dr. appoointment today, after that I am off for about 2 weeks. My next treatment session, #4, starts on Monday August 17th.

I will post again in a couple of days

Hope your all having a great summer.

Love Linda

Hi Everyone

Thanks for viewing my blog. I am in my 3rd treastment session. I was hooked up to my infusion pump on Monday. So I have to wear it, like a fanny pack, until Friday. All is going well so far. I also have an anti-nausea patch to wear all week to help with that. It is working pretty well so far.
On Friday they unhook me and then give me an infusion of a different medicine which will take about 2 hrs., then on Monday, another infusion of retuxan for a couple hrs. Then I am done for 2 weeks. The pump allows for alot of freedom, so I don't have to sit for hours everyday, I really like how it works.

My neice Brandy and her husband Jason are here until Tuesday to help me out, although I am doing pretty well, Brandy is always asking what she can help me with, but I am getting around pretty well, so it is just great having them here to hang out with me. I think they are going to the beach today, I want them to have some fun. Tomorrow they are going to Orange County fair with Jordan and Ali, so that should be fun.

Anyway - thanks for checking in on me. I will post again soon.

Love Linda

Hey Doug - Thanks so much for visiting my blog and your kind words.

Hi Rachel - Doland was in Mountain View in meetings constantly, he wishes he could have visited you instead I'm sure. Good to hear from you again, thanks for checking out my blog. Brandy and Jason will be here on Sunday, wish you could visit to. Hopfully soon

Hi Honey - Miss you and can't wait until you home today.

Hi Penrods - thanks for the good thoughts. Hope your having a good summer.

Hi Brandy - Can't wait to see you guys on Sunday. The weather has been so awsome for the beach. Too bad I can't go, I have to stay out of the sun, but you guys will have a great time, perfect beach weather. Evan is down there almost everyday.

I am feeling really pretty normal this week. Going out for lunch today and also meeting a friend for coffee this morning. My white blood cell counts should be normal this week, so I can venture outside more. I am missing Doland this week, he is in Northern California on business for a couple days. Love you Dol.

Thank you to all our friends who have been bringing us meals, it is so thoughtful and amazingly delicious. We really appreciate it so much.

Love to all and good thoughts too!!!

Love Linda

Hi Everyone

Thanks for the nice comments. I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes, so that is good.

Monday was the last day of my 2nd treatment session. Everything went really well, I did not have any bad reaction at all. It just takes a long time to infuse. I was there from 9:30am till about 3:00pm. My neighbor took me and hung out awhile, then Doland brought me lunch and hung out awhile. I also have my portable dvd player, which is great. I feel really good. My counts are a little low, so I stick around the house until my nuelasta shot kicks in in the next couple of days. It boosts your white cell count. My next treatment, #3, starts on July 27th. I am looking forward to my neice Brandy and her husband Jason visiting me. They will be here on the 26th thru 8/4/09 to help me out, I am so excited.

Pam - I would love to meet your new pup. Thanks for the note.

Love to everyone Check back in a couple days. Love you Sue

Linda

Hi everyone

One more day on the pump, they take it out on friday, I get some meds. in my picc line on friday and monday. Then off for 2 weeks. So far so good. I don't have the jitters like I had the first week of chemo. I am a little tired today, I took an afternoon nap which helped.

Some people are having trouble posting comments. Here is a little help, hope it works.
1. post a comment 2.select a profile; either Name/URL and just type your name in or select anonymous. 3. then click on post comment or preview(?). 4. then you have to retype the secret word they show you. Hopefully that will work.

Thank you all for all the uplifting words of encouragement. I appreciate it!!!

Hi Everyone

Thanks for the Love Sue - I love you too!!

I was hooked up to pump yesterday. That is going well. I will go in everyday to get my nausea medicine, and then of Friday they will disconnect me and give me another medicine which will take about 2 hrs. Then on Monday a retuxan treatment.

I feel really good so far. Just a little jittery from the prednizone I have to take during this week.

Love you all

Linda

july 5, 2009

Today is the first day of my blog. We set this up so my family and friends can check to see how I am doing and where I am in the course of treatment. Please leave me a comment if you want to or just read about whats new. Hopefully I will be able to figure this out.

Thanks for caring and all the great thoughts and prayers from everyone.

Love Linda