Cancer Update.

19 February 2009

Hello Friends & Family,

Well by now I'm sure you've heard the news. In a few words: My Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is -- basically -- kicking my butt. I've been in treatment now for 5 1/2 weeks, with very little progress, unfortunately. They thought it was Mono in December, but that was just a bit of calm before a storm. The chemotherapy doesn't seem to be working -- yet. I feel like it's just a matter of finding the right combination of medications to treat this disease process.




Many people don't know what NHL is, so I've attached a couple of websites that are pretty helpful in you are interested. I have diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. There's a great information packet available on the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society Website.



http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/non-hodgkin

http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=7087

I've got a few things I wanted to share with you, friends and family, as well. A few shots from my scans (each scan is like 80 pictures, so I obviously can't show you my whole scan, nor would you likely be interested in it!!). And I few pieces of information.

November '08, Soft Tissue Neck & Chest

February 2009 Soft Tissue Neck & Chest

I apologize it's taken me 5 1/2 weeks to write. This is hard for me to do because, for some reason, posting it on my blog makes it real, and it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to say. I guess all I want to say is that cancer sucks, but...


And -- I have to end this depressing post with a smile. I just have to. If you can't laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at? Really?

Two of the best bumper stickers of all time:

So the question is: will I beat it? As my newest song in my playlist to the right promises, "I won't back down." The other question: do you need to worry about me? Maybe a little. It's hard to keep a good attitude when you don't feel well and you feel alone. I am so exhausted all the time on treatment I've had to cut down -- to a bare minimum -- my work and school obligations. Eventually I may have to stop work altogether and go on disability since I work with pretty sick patients. But as for now, my biggest complaints are the sores in my mouth and my upset stomach and the fact that I want to sleep like 23 hours a day. But I figure that if that's all I have to complain about then I'm doing pretty well. My friends here in Gainesville -- Gainesville 3rd Ward, my friends at work, and my other friends in Gainesville and Jacksonville, have been a priceless support system that I've come to heavily rely on. For them I am eternally grateful.

So keep me in your prayers, and check up and me every now and again, and I'll try to "keep up" on my blog a little bit better.

-I just hate blogging bad news! It seems so.... dark & twisty. -

Love always & forever,

Rachele

PS. Christian is driving me crazy through all of this, but what else is new? :)

P.P.S. The "Color" for Lymphoma is lime green... so wear lime green, for me! :)