In August, my chest x-ray showed that the mass in my chest had shrunk from the size of a grapefruit to a golf ball. Last week, I shared the preliminary results of my second PET scan. Today, after repeating the old adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” Dr. R. showed me the images you see above. (FYI, despite the fact that my body looks larger in the second scan, I haven’t gained weight, but in fact have lost some.) He’s very pleased with my progress, saying the scan shows, “near complete response after 4 cycles of chemo, and the patient appears to be going into remission.” Best news I’ve heard in months!
Month: October 2013
PET Scan Shows That We’re Kicking Lymphoma’s Butt
Chemo: Four for Four
Selfie, taken this morning. Note my Mac Classic on the book shelf!
With round four last week, chemo is two-thirds done, and I’m happily still sailing through!
Side effects continue to be minimal, and I actually felt a little better this round than the last one, when I felt great except for some fatigue. That’s somewhat of a surprise, since chemo has a cumulative effect, with each round having the potential to tax your system a little more. The only new side effect is a slight tingling and numbness in my hands, which is common, but it doesn’t interfere or hurt at all.
Some have been concerned that instead of “no news is good news,” the radio silence (should we update that to internet silence?) has meant that I haven’t been feeling well or up to blogging. In fact, it has been very much the opposite. As the dust has settled and treatment has become more routine, I’ve been able to work steadily and focus on other aspects of life, so my posts here have been less frequent.
I will be going for another PET scan on Thursday, and will find out the results when I start round five the following Monday. As of the last chest X-ray, following round one, the large mass had shrunk from the size of a grapefruit to that of a golf ball. Want to venture a guess how small it will be in the PET scan? Just add a comment!
Thanks and lotsa love to everyone who has reached out to ask how I’m doing, and has continued to keep me in their thoughts and prayers.
Smooth Mornings
Makings of a breakfast smoothie.
Medicine doesn’t necessarily have to come from a pharmacy. I take prescription and over the counter drugs to manage the side effects of chemo, but what and how I eat is also an important part of that plan. When it comes to my first meal of the day, I had always been a drink-coffee-first-eat-later kinda guy, but since my diagnosis, I’ve been making sure to limit caffeine, stay hydrated, and have a nutritious breakfast within an hour or so of getting up. One of my favorite menu options is a smoothie, because it’s a quick and easy way to boost my fiber and fluid intakes, and it never comes out the same way, twice.
I don’t measure anything or work from a recipe, but there is a general method. First, I take a carrot, a stalk of celery, some frozen and fresh fruit, and maybe some greens, and toss them all into my blender. For the liquid, I splash in a bit of pomegranate juice, then pour in enough orange juice to cover everything. After adding some flax meal for protein—probably a tablespoon or two—and remembering to put the lid on (important!), I blend up some breakfast.
All smoothed up!
The carrots, celery, juices, and flax seed are standard, but I change up the other ingredients based on whatever I have on hand. Because I vary the amounts of the fruits and vegetables each time, the smoothies always taste a little different, even if what they’re made from may be the same. This week, I discovered a combo that I really like: macintosh apple, spinach, and white grapes. Some others that have worked well: blueberry and peach; clementine and peach; mixed berries, pears, and romaine lettuce; pineapple, strawberry, and watermelon; and plum and raspberry. If I’m out of flax meal, I’ll add a little peanut or almond butter, or skim or almond milk.
To save time, I wash, peel, and chop stuff in advance, and store it in bags or containers. That’s good, too, for making sure I can grab a quick snack during the day, and for cutting down on prep time for other meals. I’ve been freezing any fruit that’s getting too ripe, which also cuts down on food waste. Hot tip: freeze cut up produce flat in a zip top bag, leaving some space between pieces, so once it’s frozen you can take out whatever amount you need and put back the rest. Also, store bags vertically, like books, and it’s easier to get them in and out of the freezer.
Smoothies work for me because they’re a fast and easy way to start the day off right, and they don’t get boring if I change up the ingredients. Drinking fruits and veggies in the morning instead of coffee: who would have thought?