Last Treatment Completed!

After a very long week of feeling extremely crappy, I am delighted to report that as of today, I have completed my cancer treatment!!  That felt so good I think I need to say it again, louder.  I HAVE COMPLETED MY CANCER TREATMENT!!!!!

My EMPTY bag of Miracle Juice!

Why feeling crappy, you ask?  Nothing to worry about, really.  It's just that my immune system was too busy fighting cancer to be bothered with something as mundane as attacking a bug bringing a low-grade fever and common cold.  I pretty much spent the week reading, watching TV and napping, as I had absolutely no energy to do anything else.  Luckily by Saturday my fever was gone and I was just feeling the annoying cold-like symptoms of congestion and a dry cough.  I had been on the phone with the advice nurses and emailing Dr. V during the week, but there was nothing they could do for me other than telling me to rest and drink lots of water, which I was doing anyway.  Dr. V did ask me to go in to get blood drawn on Sunday.  We were both a little worried that I would have to postpone my last treatment.  But my bloodwork checked out -- just a little high white blood cell count, probably due to having this stupid cold.  Dr. V checked in with me before I went in this morning and gave me the go-ahead, as long as I was feeling good.

It was Gavin's turn once again to be my care-taker today.  I was pleasantly surprised to be led to the Royal Rituxan Suite, the same room where I had been for my first treatment with the flatscreen TV, DVD player and private bathroom.  I had called last week to request it, but they told me that Monday was crazy-busy, and there was no way.  Not sure what caused the change, but I wasn't about to complain!  I had yet another different nurse, Lisa, who was fairly warm and friendly.  I climbed into the super-comfy-deluxe hospital bed and we got started right away with the same drill. Luckily, I had no reactions to the Rituxan this time, but the Benedryl hit me hard, and I pretty much slept on and off for the first few hours.  My nurse ramped my Rituxan slowly, since I had reacted in the past, but we didn't have to stop it at any point which avoided delays, so we finished earlier this time.  We were there for about 5.5 hours from start to finish.

At home, right after finishing my treatment:  I give you, the smile of a cancer SURVIVOR.

So now what are the next steps?  Well, my MRI is scheduled next week on Monday 11/15.  I am very anxious to find out these results, as you can imagine.  I have an appointment next Thursday with Dr. Suddesh, the ophthalmologist (by the way--interesting aside-- I am very proud to report that, as a result of my cancer journey, I can now actually spell "ophthalmologist" correctly without looking it up.  Can you?  Try it without looking first.  Consider it your challenge for the day!)  This is a follow up to take more measurements and look at my MRI so he can hopefully tell me, "Julie, your tumors are GONE.  KA-BLAM!!"  I have another appointment the next day, Friday 11/19, with Dr. Vempaty to discuss the MRI and the next steps.

Now, it is possible that I still will need to do further "maintenance" treatments in the future, but it should only be one treatment at a time, perhaps every three to six months.  She did tell me that it is not guaranteed that the Rituxan will completely eradicate my tumors.  My type of lymphoma is supposedly "treatable, not curable," and is considered to be treated more like a chronic disease such as diabetes.  Still there is a chance that the Rituxan WILL completely dissolve them and send them packing, never to return.  That is what I am praying for, my friends, and what I humbly ask you to continue to pray for.  Based on the dramatic progress I have seen in my eyes so far, I truly, truly believe that this has been the work of God, and our powerful answer to prayers.  I hope to have some wonderful news to report to you next week, just in time for Thanksgiving.