Scuba Strong: Conquered Chemo!

He did it....Steve has conquered Chemo. What a bittersweet day. As much as we dreaded today coming and having to go to chemo it was so nice knowing that it was the last treatment. Today’s treatment was hard for Steve and that just gave us a greater appreciation for being through with chemo. As a lot of you may know the past 6 weeks of treatment has been hard and the last round was no exception. Steve was sick for about 12days of the 14 day interval. But enough about chemo...on to bigger and better things. On December 8th Steve will have another PET scan (3rd) that will confirm that the cancer is gone and to help the Radiation Oncologist map for radiation that will start next month. Then on the 13th of December we will meet with Dr. Beck and the Radiation Oncologist for the PET scan results and to get all the details of radiation...sorry I don't know how many rads (dosage) he will be receiving.

Last with Thanksgiving next week I would like to list the many things that we are grateful for because we know we are blessed in so many ways.....

1. We are grateful to be getting Steve's health back.
2. We are grateful for two of the most amazing little boys that GOD gave us and trusted us with.
3. We are grateful for all of our family and friends that have support us throughout our lives and even more during these past 4 1/2 months.
4. We are grateful for all the research and study that has been put into Lymphoma research. This has given Steve and me the opportunity to raise our boys together, share more holidays together and create a lifetime of memories together that we may have never had the opportunity to do.
5. Oh I could go on and on but I will spare you all with the details.....

Steve and I celebrating Logan's 4th Birthday!

Logan and Cole with their friends.

I can't beleive how far we have come since that dreadful day in July when our world was turned upside down to today. We went from not knowing what the future would hold to knowing that we will have decades ahead of us to cherish what has been given to us.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

XOXO

Brief history for newbies...

In July 2011 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma Stage IIB Bulky at the age of 32. August 10, 2011 I received my first of twelve doses of ABVD chemotherapy (6 cycles of chemotherapy = 12 doses). After 4 doses I had a clean PET scan and it was decided to drop down to 8 doses instead of 12 then after 8 doses prior to starting radiation I had another PET scan and there was metabolic uptake which lead the doctors to believe there may be disease still residing in my chest cavity so we continued chemotherapy for the full 12 doses. After completing chemotherapy I had another PET scan prior to starting radiation and the metabolic uptake increased even more than the previous scan and it also showed it had possibly spread to my T6 vertebrae. Next I had a MRI and surgery by a Thoracic Surgeon that confirmed by a biopsy of the tumor, lymph nodes and a cyst on my heart sac that everything was
benign. NO CANCER! I have now gone on and completed 18 rounds of radiation and I am in REMISSION! (4/9/2012)

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma I hope this site gives you hope that you to can beat this! I will be updating as I reach new milestones post treatment and until the day (5 years from now) I can proudly say I am CURED!

1 comment:

AlDecember 6, 2011 at 8:20 PM
Steve and Angie, you and you sweet family are in our daily thoughts and prayers. I know that you will hear the best news on December 8th. It is so nice to hear that things are so positive as a result of the treatments that Steve has had so far. Keep the positive attitude and I know you will succeed and beat this together. You both are great and inspirational. I am very proud of you.

Cheers,

Al

Family

Conquered Chemo!

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