Guess what today was my last day of treatment!!!! Officially. I don’t have to go back to the Dr. for 3 weeks, in which she will do an internal exam and then I will meet with Jeannie Shildler they Gyno Oncologist and she will exam me….and in 3 months I will go back for a PET scan to see if there is any evidence of disease….Hopefully there won’t be but if there is then they would probably do a surgical proceedure called extrafaschial hysterectomy…which is a less invasive surgery than a radical hysterectomy. So I completed 5 Chemo treatment, 28 external radiation treatments, 1- 60 hour intracavity implant (internal radiation that included 4 day hospital stay) and a 4 treatment external radiation boost to my lymph nodes.
I have gone through things that I never thought that I would have to or be able to endure. But you know what I did it and I am really kind of proud of myself! Also, Larry, myself and my Mom are pretty well versed on Cancer and all the lingo that goes along with it….I can tell you all the acceptable ranges for blood levels…..I have learned tons about medications and what they are used for…and most importantly I am so excited to get back to living. It is really weird because It’s kind of like you don’t know what to do with yourself….even though I am feeling better I am not completely well and they stressed to me that I need to ease back into my life and not over do it…..they said it would be 8 weeks before I would feel like I did before treatments….
So I am done with my treatments and am so happy! I hope to return to work the week after Thanksgiving and just take it slowly. In the meantime I am going to start walking and building up my strength so that I don’t get a case of chicken stick legs…gotta have some muscles on my legs!!! Plus I need to let my WBC count levels to go back up to acceptable levels.
Thank you all for your support and well wishes and prayers….I felt them all and really appreciate all your generosity and love. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving…it is my favorite holiday! Family and good food!!!!
Well,
I am going to go rest for a bit and then get up and be productive…for a bit…then rest for a bit….and so on and so on!!
I just got my bill for my hospital stay….guess how much? $31,000.00 Just for 4 days!!!!! Cancer isn’t cheap thank goodness for insurance! Those bills make the other ones kind of nice and seem small….IPL, Gas, Water, etc….all decent….but not one bill for almost as much as I make a year! Yikes!!!
Oh well I would pay monthly for any amount of time to be cancer free so bring on the bills…..they really don’t matter….I just want to be here to pay them :) and I am pretty sure that I will be….I have a good feeling about my treatment! I am very happy for it to be over and I am anxious for that 3 month mark when i have to have a PET scan…I may have to take some anti anxiety meds before that scan…they really can make you nervous!!!!
Hopefully my next posts will be about what I am doing not going through!
Lisa
2 Responses
Tina McNees
20-Nov-2009 1Dearest Lisa
I have been following your blog since your diagnoses and one thing is for sure..you are my Hero!! The interesting thing is from your experience I have learned so much. You have educated me, made me cry for you, but mostly made me laugh (out loud) You are a very special person and I think everyone would agree, we are all better people for know and loving you. Keep, keeping on!!
Jim and I will continue to send you love and healing light!! I’ll be looking in on you from time to time, take care
Love
Tina & Jim McNees
Stephanie Greenlee
21-Nov-2009 2WOOOOO~HOOOOO!!!!!!! Ahh, being finished feels great and soon your life will get back to what is important… grocery lists, cleaning the bathroom, watching your beautiful girls do something silly, sitting on the couch watching reality TV with your supportive husband, taking care of the never-ending house and yard projects, laundry, hitting the snooze button and filling your car up with gas. Soon you will forget all those cancer details and NOT need to know what your counts are.
You are heading into the holidays and I can’t think of anything better to celebrate!! Way to go!!! I knew you could do it!!
So glad it is over,
Stephanie
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