tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10382633449492095162024-03-15T21:09:14.200-04:00Melissa Beats LymphomaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-26409100821037309532018-06-20T17:30:00.000-04:002018-06-22T07:47:58.428-04:00OFFICIALLY CURED!!I got the good news today from my oncologist:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm officially cured!</span></b><br />
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Last Monday I had a head and neck CT scan - I haven't had a scan in about 2 years, so this was just a "one last look" for any tumors. <b>That was clear!</b> I also had blood work done as I've had done several times a year over the past 5 years. <b>All good!</b> So all signs point to continued remission!<br />
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With Hodgkin's Lymphoma, after 5 years in remission you're considered cured of the cancer. That means my chances of getting Hodgkin's are about the same as yours. I am at a higher risk of getting a secondary cancer as a result of my chemo and radiation, but that's still fairly unlikely considering I had a relatively small amount of treatment.<br />
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For those of you who are keeping track, I was diagnosed in July 2013 and finished treatment in November 2013. So I'm <i>technically</i> about 5 months shy of 5 years in remission. My oncologist felt comfortable calling this 5 years and cured since I was early Stage I at diagnosis and responded so well to my treatment. I'm comfortable with it if she is!<br />
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If you haven’t read yesterday’s post, please do. I have an important message I want to share with each and every one of you.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After running the Indianapolis Mini Marathon (my 3rd half marathon) in May 2018</td></tr>
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<br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-38428917553367628952018-06-19T17:05:00.000-04:002018-06-19T17:05:03.053-04:00I Don't Deserve You<div>
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<b>To my dear friends and family... </b>you are the ones who kept me going. I read every single Facebook/blog comment over and over. I still go back and read those comments every so often. I drew strength from your support and still do. Your words and compassion mean the absolute world to me; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To the friends who chipped in to hire house cleaners...</b> thank you for helping to keep me healthy when my immune system was so low. You were so selfless; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To the church who brought us meals each week for a few months...</b> while I couldn't always eat them, I know my husband was thankful for those home cooked meals and for one less thing to worry about. Thank you for the thoughtfulness; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To the friend who coordinated with a landscaping company to have our lawn mowed each week... </b>that was so incredibly kind and my husband really appreciated the help; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To the friends and family who sent gifts...</b> knowing the thought you put into selecting those gifts made me smile; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To everyone who sent a card in the mail...</b> I looked at those cards almost every single day during treatment. I hung them on a door in the house and then on the wall next to the door when the door filled up! On days I was feeling particularly bad, I would go over and read all of those cards. You kept me positive; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To the family members who sent us money...</b> while we were never concerned about putting food on the table or paying our mortgage, things were definitely tight. Over $6,000 in unexpected out of pocket expenses definitely put a strain on the budget! Your selflessness allowed us to enjoy a quick trip to Florida after my treatment was complete. That time away, just the two of us, was exactly what we needed; I don't deserve you.<br />
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<b>To those friends who were at my side without a second thought...</b> I couldn't have done it without you. Those of you who came over the night I found out my diagnosis - I will <i>never</i> forget that. What could have been the hardest day of my life, turned into one of the most fun and memorable. You came over to keep me company, drove me to appointments, sat with me through hours of chemo in the infusion room, brought us food, and most importantly brought us laughter and a bit of normalcy; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To my mom...</b> I know how hard it was to be so far away during all this. Thank you for rallying so many people to pray for me. Knowing that many people were thinking of me brought me so much comfort; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To my dad... </b>I can't imagine what that felt like watching your child go through cancer. Having you at one of my chemo treatments and radiation treatments was comforting, and fun, too!! It reminded me of those days at Paws when we would get in trouble for giggling all day - you've always made things fun. I'll never forget that day you took me to the hospital for an entire day of tests - I wasn't allowed to eat all day, so you didn't either. We were both starving by the end! That was so incredibly sweet; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To my brother... </b>you were always there for me when I needed lunch, a ride to an appointment, etc. Thanks for taking me to get ice cream for lunch! I love you big brother; I don't deserve you.</div>
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<b>To my husband</b>... I can't even find the words. 2 years into marriage, you shouldn't have had to deal with all that you did. I never once heard you complain. You took such great care of me and were always positive and supportive. I honestly don't know how you did it and I often wonder if I could ever be as amazing to you if the tables were turned. I love you more than anything and most of all, I don't deserve you.</div>
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As I reflect back on the last 5+ years, I don't know how I am so fortunate to have all of you in my lives and in my corner. I am so undeserving of you. I don't say that in a self-defeating way and I'm not seeking your affirmation (so no need to tell me that I AM deserving); I guess what I mean is I am incredibly grateful and humbled at the support and thoughtfulness of all of you and I will spend the rest of my life trying to re-pay it and pay it forward.</div>
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I fully expect to get good news tomorrow as I have my very last oncology appointment where I'll get the results of my final CT scan and blood work. I fully expect for this chapter of my life to come to an end. I will never ever forget all of the wonderful people who were there for me when I needed it. This experience has changed me in so many ways and I truly believe I'm a better and stronger person having been through it. I love you all; I don't deserve you.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Melissa<br />
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-70491698644934502192017-04-12T12:16:00.000-04:002018-06-19T15:30:59.223-04:00Happy Tears<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Happy tears! Just heard back from my oncologist. My sed rate is back in normal range, so no need for a CT scan; just my normal follow up again in October.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Of course it's frustrating that this could have been a lab error and that my family and I still have to worry about all this... but I don't care about that right now - I'm just too darn happy!</span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">😊</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Thank you to everyone who sent messages, prayers, and positive thoughts. I love you all! </span></div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-70379651252526551032017-04-10T21:29:00.001-04:002017-04-12T08:25:53.126-04:00Not Necessarily Bad News; Not Necessarily Good NewsMy <a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2016/07/3-years-million-emotions.html" target="_blank">last post</a> was almost a year ago. It was on the third anniversary of when I received my initial diagnosis of Stage I Hodgkin's Lymphoma. A few months after that (October 2016) I had a routine follow-up with my oncologist - all good news. Blood work was normal and she found no enlarged lymph nodes upon a physical exam... officially 3 years remission.<br />
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Fast forward to today, when I had another follow-up appointment. Unfortunately, this time my my bloodwork was off. My sedimentation rate - which is explained <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/sed-rate/home/ovc-20207006" target="_blank">here</a>, was elevated. The normal range is 0-20 for a woman of my age. My past tests have all been well within the normal range (usually around 10) but this time that number is 33. There are a few reasons reasons this number could be elevated, <b>but a high sedimentation rate can be an indicator of a relapse of Hodgkin's Lymphoma</b>, which is why it is of concern. Boo.<br />
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While this is all somewhat scary, the positive is that there is a decent chance that this could be an anomaly or a false positive as a result of the lab taking too long to do the test after the blood was drawn (I'm trusting my oncologist on this one - I can't find any sources online to back this up). I have no other symptoms, although I didn't have any symptoms when I was initially diagnosed, so it's hard to say that that's any indicator. My oncologist could not feel any enlarged lymph nodes, so that's good, too.<br />
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So at this point, the plan is to redo that blood test and if the number comes back high again, we'll schedule a CT scan. If the number comes back normal, we will assume all is good and I won't see my oncologist again for another 6 months.<br />
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My oncologist is contacting the lab where I had my blood work done to see if she can get an idea of what their procedure is on this test. She may have me go to a hospital for the test, so they can do the test "STAT" - meaning within 2 hours of the blood draw. I should hear from her tomorrow and get instructions on when/where to have this test redone. Unfortunately, I'm traveling all week for work, so getting this blood work done may end up being delayed if she wants me to go somewhere specific. Boo again.<br />
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Right now I'm remaining hopeful that this is either an anomaly or a lab error. My oncologist says that is more likely than not the case, so that's what I'm focused on. I will gladly take all the positive thoughts, prayers, etc. that you're willing to throw my way. I will be sure to keep you posted in the upcoming weeks.<br />
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Love,<br />
Melissa</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-11043699266818238422016-07-25T12:06:00.001-04:002016-07-25T12:06:26.972-04:003 Years; A Million Emotions<div>
Well hello there! I haven't posted in nearly a year, but you know that no news is typically good news and that's the case here! As of April of this year, I'm officially <b>halfway</b> to being cured of Hodgkin's Lymphoma!!! 5 years is considered cured for this type of cancer, so that puts me at 2.5 years in the clear! I figured it was time to give an update as today is the 3 year anniversary of the day I was diagnosed, so here goes :)</div>
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It was on this day three years ago my doctor uttered the scariest words I've ever heard... "You have cancer." Two years ago I wrote <a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2014/07/one-year-later.html" target="_blank">this post</a> about what that day was like and what I'd learned over the prior year (check it out if you haven't already).<br />
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Just recently I was trying to explain to someone how this day makes me feel, but I found it difficult to put into words or pinpoint any one exact emotion. I very distinctly remember how terrified I felt three years ago, but I also remember the tremendous outpouring of love and support. I feel relieved that I'm in remission but still scared at the possibility of a recurrence. This day brings out so many emotions.</div>
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But one of the strongest emotions I fee today is proud. I'm by no means tooting my own horn here, but I can't help but to feel proud of what I've been through and what I've accomplished since finishing treatment.</div>
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Cancer will definitely make you examine your life in a whole new way. Someone once asked me why I like to run and my answer was "because I can." Three years ago I couldn't, but now I can. Three years ago I sat in the infusion room with 20+ other patients receiving chemo, all of which would have given anything to be able to run, or walk, or even just get out of bed every day. So because I <i>can</i> run, I do. I run for myself, I run for those who are in treatment, and I run for those who lost their well-fought battle. With that being said... here's what I've been up to for the last few years :)</div>
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In the fall of 2014 I ran my first 10k. I like this picture comparison of me "plugged in" getting chemo one year and running a race the next:</div>
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In the spring of 2015 I completed my first triathlon:</div>
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In the fall of 2015 I ran my first half marathon. I was literally moved to tears when I crossed the finish line:</div>
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I completed my second triathlon in the spring of this year (2016):</div>
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My goal for 2016 is to run/bike 2,016 miles. I'm happy to say that I'm officially on pace... As of today I've completed 1163 miles.</div>
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I've run tons of 5k races as well and have another 10k coming up this weekend, which is such a fun way to continue my training. I especially like the races with beer at the finish line... the one this weekend is wine :)<br />
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Halfway to being cured has felt pretty good and I can't wait to get these other 2.5 years out of the way too!</div>
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Love, </div>
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Melissa</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-72015289224755546712015-08-24T19:33:00.000-04:002015-08-24T19:33:29.832-04:00Embracing My Chemo Curls!For as long as I can remember, I've been flat ironing my hair straight. I've always had somewhat wavy hair, but not in a good way. Some parts were stick straight, some were super wavy, and the rest was somewhere awkwardly in between. I was never able to wear it natural, so I was a slave to the flat iron (or the ponytail!).<br />
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But here's a positive thing that's come out of chemo: curly hair... that actually looks good!<br />
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I have actual ringlets of curls! And they're actually quite pretty!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNEFHDW4Ocf6CAHPEoMsKjvUzLB6B8EqSFLQ7G8UFTkhrXh2I4nU80fd6ff4rmB7FokSzb2SphiqZPJMxbU5VogeviLdE6WhSUj9gqe5T1vs7xOcDRZQNqiK3OH_9g77eQjaDz11rQXA/s1600/DSCN2698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNEFHDW4Ocf6CAHPEoMsKjvUzLB6B8EqSFLQ7G8UFTkhrXh2I4nU80fd6ff4rmB7FokSzb2SphiqZPJMxbU5VogeviLdE6WhSUj9gqe5T1vs7xOcDRZQNqiK3OH_9g77eQjaDz11rQXA/s640/DSCN2698.jpg" width="518" /></a></div>
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I will admit, I'm still trying to perfect the curly hair look. Most days they look great, some days they look flat and messy. But for the most part, I've figured out what products are best for me and how to style it to make it look good. It is SO nice to hop out the shower, spend less than 5 minutes on my hair, and be done!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpjDEHMMowmzqXbVcjle2dboqDSX8RqjTnKVFqHP-I_lzQv0utAV45mVE0SjaJAt50MIoLnxFJUFIR7Q_MBkoidDoQSa7mHWLjAksZdf-k8qdAkJXPLPgksc9mWD4_EBDLGTjkmhhmZI/s1600/DSCN3040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpjDEHMMowmzqXbVcjle2dboqDSX8RqjTnKVFqHP-I_lzQv0utAV45mVE0SjaJAt50MIoLnxFJUFIR7Q_MBkoidDoQSa7mHWLjAksZdf-k8qdAkJXPLPgksc9mWD4_EBDLGTjkmhhmZI/s640/DSCN3040.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't be fooled, my brother actually loves me.</td></tr>
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Apparently, it's very common for hair to come back a different texture (sometimes even a different color!) after chemo. Something about the chemo changes the hair follicles, which can change the hair. Many people experience what I have - chemo curls!<br />
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I still straighten my hair sometimes, here's what it looks like when I straighten it:<br />
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Huge difference from last year, right?! Sometimes it doesn't seem like it's grown and filled in all that much since I finished chemo, but then I see this picture from a year ago... holy moly!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlpxVDlBFzt7fTLCuvQyOJ8Hqxe0H8DzX7Ha_Jwt6FajK9efTE44b5zyljbBG4I57cScoZi4aUnaDPji_-NyGlKR6hyphenhyphend_ZOKVtOAcBfWc2bR6_8ExMrJeZlYEqrqrKI3Ko8I6ujG-3JE/s1600/10599183_10101201411648494_7536764492309515987_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlpxVDlBFzt7fTLCuvQyOJ8Hqxe0H8DzX7Ha_Jwt6FajK9efTE44b5zyljbBG4I57cScoZi4aUnaDPji_-NyGlKR6hyphenhyphend_ZOKVtOAcBfWc2bR6_8ExMrJeZlYEqrqrKI3Ko8I6ujG-3JE/s640/10599183_10101201411648494_7536764492309515987_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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There's no telling how long these "chemo curls" will last, but I'm embracing them and loving them while I have them!<br />
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Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-25649874897995637572014-09-03T11:06:00.001-04:002016-07-21T14:03:45.494-04:00Getting My Body Back After CancerI'll never forget the day in January that I stood in front of the mirror, nearly in tears, staring back at the body that cancer left behind. I had new scars, I was half bald, my skin was so dry it was literally flaking off and had a weird gray hue, and I was nearly 30 pounds heavier. My cheeks were puffy and swollen (a side effect from the steroids they give with chemo) and my entire body was soft and pudgy from losing muscle while laying in bed for 4 months straight.<br />
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While I was SO proud to have beaten this stupid cancer, I was heartbroken and frustrated at what was left behind. At that moment as I stared at myself in the mirror, I decided it was time to get my health back on track.<br />
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In the first couple months, I lost 10 pounds - I got back to the gym and started tracking my calories. But my body hadn't fully bounced back from treatment and I definitely pushed too hard too fast and ended up with an injury. It took a couple months to recover from the injury, which was frustrating, but also forced me to slowly ease back into my workout routine, which is what I should have done from the beginning!<br />
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On June 1, I decided it was time to make a drastic change! I cut out 95% of sugar from my diet and went the whole month (minus one cheat day) without any alcohol. I started tracking my food with the Weight Watchers app, which doesn't track calories, but it tracks macros: fat, protein, carbs, and fiber. For me, tracking macros made a lot more sense than tracking calories, so I've stuck with it. By July 1 I had lost another 8 pounds and several inches overall.<br />
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I've started running again, ran a 5k last month, and even signed up for my first 10k (which is in a few weeks!). I incorporated a lot of strength training as well. I still try to limit as much sugar from my diet as I can, but allow myself the occasional treat or adult beverage.<br />
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It's now the beginning of September and I've lost about 30 pounds. I went from a size 12 to a size 6 (and the 6's are getting a little roomy….). Even though I beat cancer last November, I feel like I've finally TRULY beat cancer. I'm stronger and healthier than I was a year ago, and that makes me feel amazing :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiMjzw0R2AIJupfbS0pYgzXpOYqhclI-_ojRUzeKc9sNB-H2L4f89s0QDZ-SQZ5H3eAsuNDZ0Pxr7NEWthG2u4bGYxcN9TS6TZv83hoAXecGzlWEHXnKRcGwYGANoMY-9DwFC9JnQe-U/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiMjzw0R2AIJupfbS0pYgzXpOYqhclI-_ojRUzeKc9sNB-H2L4f89s0QDZ-SQZ5H3eAsuNDZ0Pxr7NEWthG2u4bGYxcN9TS6TZv83hoAXecGzlWEHXnKRcGwYGANoMY-9DwFC9JnQe-U/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2013 vs. August 2014</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLdmO5RC3s7KE9Q32gIN1AEjeSNmVRad8E1_97qSQ0bGm9zFKQTI6nl13A8zH8_tnM53-wn2nFMxXC5-IKCll-zzsD2AACc5Gj0ZKtFa-nhyd2NlFH0lup__tUob91-X9xlt3KIlypiI/s1600/IMG_2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLdmO5RC3s7KE9Q32gIN1AEjeSNmVRad8E1_97qSQ0bGm9zFKQTI6nl13A8zH8_tnM53-wn2nFMxXC5-IKCll-zzsD2AACc5Gj0ZKtFa-nhyd2NlFH0lup__tUob91-X9xlt3KIlypiI/s1600/IMG_2033.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 2013 vs. August 2014</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZUWRxwt0CZ9CF8T0lonNNPWMVuPl3fL-jhf1Y3Adj_8WrOVfIvfwPvLfJoPwpSeTHeJXOLz9ZEEsiXPGaNlD3ApND-gH34PtaiulPZMMzQJhPSNK7OEf58rz5ViJbop2fEKoEg3pD9k/s1600/IMG_2380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZUWRxwt0CZ9CF8T0lonNNPWMVuPl3fL-jhf1Y3Adj_8WrOVfIvfwPvLfJoPwpSeTHeJXOLz9ZEEsiXPGaNlD3ApND-gH34PtaiulPZMMzQJhPSNK7OEf58rz5ViJbop2fEKoEg3pD9k/s640/IMG_2380.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June, July, August</td></tr>
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I'd be lying if I said that hasn't been hard work. But it's been worth it.<br />
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Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-24849779431935954332014-07-25T18:08:00.001-04:002014-07-25T18:12:37.466-04:00One Year Later...<br />
My hope is that none of you reading this will ever have to find out what it feels like to hear the words "you have cancer." For me, that day was exactly one year ago.<br />
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I recently watched the movie <i>50/50. </i>Although my doctor was much more kind than this doctor, my experience was much like this (feel free to skip ahead to 0:53):<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/21RHG4hr25g?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
(Sorry I couldn't find a clip without subtitles!)<br />
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I had prepared myself for the worst that morning, but I'm an optimistic person and I didn't <i>really</i> think I'd be hearing bad news. I know my husband asked a lot of questions in that appointment, but I honestly can't remember a single one. There are only two things I remember from that doctors appointment: (1) the doctor telling me I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, then handing me a box of tissues; (2) all of the nurses staring at me as I walked out of the exam room (it's a small office, so I assume they all knew what had just happened).<br />
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I remember being in a daze the rest of the day. I spent hours on the internet, trying to learn everything I possibly could about Hodgkin's. I shared the news with my family, a few close friends, and my boss. I started this blog. I had dinner with 4 of my closest friends, who took my mind off everything and helped me laugh through the haze.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">What I've Learned and How I've Changed</span></i></b><br />
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It's a full year later now, so today I'm reflecting on the past year. I've learned so much in the past year, but there's one thing specifically that stands out:<br />
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<b>People are incredibly kind</b>.<br />
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I couldn't believe the support Josh and I got! People from all over the country and from all different times of my life were sending their love and encouragement. I especially loved getting cards in the mail. I hung every single one of them on the wall and read them frequently - especially on my "bad days." Here's a picture of my card wall:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgEozthy4ZKCVninZ_sPgS7mM1T0EqnBUEmEuTN6HgB6Vk0Zv74o7ftPBEgv1xLacf8XDUh9yPHsCwBARNVP1S2Ox_vx9cJGyKm11eYCeo2-pqYKoRyYsA5tMp3-BxmF1WujpTIE_bE4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgEozthy4ZKCVninZ_sPgS7mM1T0EqnBUEmEuTN6HgB6Vk0Zv74o7ftPBEgv1xLacf8XDUh9yPHsCwBARNVP1S2Ox_vx9cJGyKm11eYCeo2-pqYKoRyYsA5tMp3-BxmF1WujpTIE_bE4/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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A group of friends and family arranged for our house to be cleaned each week as well (to help avoid nasty infections and to ease the workload off my sweet husband/caregiver). This was such a nice surprise and I'm forever grateful for their kindness and generosity. People did so many nice things for us and I was so touched at their thoughtfulness.<br />
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Because of the generosity I was shown, I have been inspired to "pay it forward." I try to send cards of encouragement and support. I try to call, text, or email more often. I've learned that a small gesture can make a huge impact, especially for someone going through a tough time. Even just a quick note of encouragement can mean so much and make someone's day!<br />
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So a year after hearing one of the most frightening phrases a person can hear, I am pleased to say that I'm healthy, incredibly happy, and most of all I'm thankful for having come through this a better and stronger person. <br />
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Love,<br />
Melissa</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-16691236147671828732014-04-28T17:22:00.003-04:002014-04-28T17:22:38.982-04:006-month Follow Up CAT Scan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeRAX35DdfVfReZkSjORgf4FtK3qm4qrp3rp6bCMT9Kxy7h045UOK-DTWEwcRTSlke6bGhkGXDmvzIfSWip7utsoaGunYIl6-fYyfRL2EyjvoFlD7TykOH4Ax9jq-hR6qUqaS5EH4hlA/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeRAX35DdfVfReZkSjORgf4FtK3qm4qrp3rp6bCMT9Kxy7h045UOK-DTWEwcRTSlke6bGhkGXDmvzIfSWip7utsoaGunYIl6-fYyfRL2EyjvoFlD7TykOH4Ax9jq-hR6qUqaS5EH4hlA/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>
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A week ago I had my 6-month follow up CAT scan. Although my treatment ended 5 months ago, they go 6 months from my last clean scan, which was a PET scan done right after I finished chemo in October.<br />
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Today I got the results - how terrible is it that they make you wait a full week after the scan for the results?! Anyway, it's GOOD NEWS! My scan was normal and my blood work looks great!<br />
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So after 6 months, I'm still in remission!!!!!!!<br />
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My first thought was "I can't wait to tell Tracey!" But I know she already knows and even after <u><a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2014/04/rip-chemo-sensei.html" target="_blank">all she went through</a></u>, I know how proud she would be.</div>
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So… where do we go from here? I'll see the doctor again in 3 months and will have bloodwork done then. In 6 months, I'll have another CAT Scan of the neck and chest along with more bloodwork. In 9 months I'll see the doc again just for bloodwork, and in a year, I'll see the doc for another CAT Scan. At that time, we'll determine how often she'll need to see me and how often I'll need to get scans.<br />
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Thanks again for all the support, prayers, and words of encouragement!<br />
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Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-60598066957412114812014-04-16T08:07:00.000-04:002014-04-16T08:07:27.168-04:00RIP Chemo SenseiMy heart is broken.<br />
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You may remember <u><a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2013/08/a-tribute-to-my-chemo-sensei.html" target="_blank">this post</a></u> about my amazing cousin Tracey, who I lovingly call my "Chemo Sensei."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mur_YgQXoaEn7Ub7DXGcJ8cc9HUw7IsEkgPio9yokB-bjcr3g3snyHhDC3kU20rTpb3ZUb_KxUlpR-f2p3IeKQGAfOiji7N641cRuK_3TRsvIxz1q-P4EuDzpisYjxBrBnNbYamTCqI/s1600/293694_841837728554_1785703_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mur_YgQXoaEn7Ub7DXGcJ8cc9HUw7IsEkgPio9yokB-bjcr3g3snyHhDC3kU20rTpb3ZUb_KxUlpR-f2p3IeKQGAfOiji7N641cRuK_3TRsvIxz1q-P4EuDzpisYjxBrBnNbYamTCqI/s1600/293694_841837728554_1785703_n.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<br />
Tracey was diagnosed with colon cancer last February - 5 months before I was diagnosed with cancer myself. She fought a courageous fight but passed away last night.<br />
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Tracey is a cousin by marriage - she's actually my husband's cousin. I'll never forget the day I met her. It was at our engagement party and she was running around with the kids with some sort of metal bowl on her head like it was a helmet. I remember thinking she was kind of crazy, but so much fun. Throughout the years we had a lot of laughs - we attended two Pittsburgh Pirates games with her and had a blast at each. Eventually I began to associate Tracey with hangovers, haha!<br />
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When I found out I had cancer, she texted me constantly to see how I was doing. We often had late night chats when neither of us could sleep due to the steroids given with chemo. I'll never forget her generosity and support. It was so nice to have someone to talk to that was going through the same thing I was, experiencing the same things physically and emotionally.<br />
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The hardest part of all of this is the intense anger and guilt I feel. Why did I beat this stupid disease and not her? She fought so much harder than I did and deserved to win. Why am I here when she's not? It makes me so angry.<br />
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So today, I'm heartbroken. I'm in tears over my dear cousin and friend. I'm in tears for her husband, who is one of the sweetest men I've ever met. I'm in pain for the sisters and parents she left behind. And most of all I HATE CANCER. In the words of Tracey "Screw you, cancer!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JA9rA7Fu8xOC8FRVLCbj7viiRkthWqace31H8jHTCTc7VMqMVfFpVVVL6GNF8hjY9gpB84sk7oRntw7TWHYthQkuLDhLefH8BBRtjicdgK38dwnp04sBph89_gPbNmBeKBxkH149bj8/s1600/IMG_0547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JA9rA7Fu8xOC8FRVLCbj7viiRkthWqace31H8jHTCTc7VMqMVfFpVVVL6GNF8hjY9gpB84sk7oRntw7TWHYthQkuLDhLefH8BBRtjicdgK38dwnp04sBph89_gPbNmBeKBxkH149bj8/s1600/IMG_0547.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love you kitty cat. Miss you.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-8822013465084691842014-02-19T17:00:00.004-05:002014-02-19T17:00:56.953-05:00My First Time "Topless" In Public!This past weekend I attended a wedding in Altoona, PA and I actually went out in public "topless": with no hat or wig! I was worried about looking ridiculous, but my husband and girlfriends said I looked ok, so I went for it!<div>
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Here I am with my handsome husband Josh:<br /><div>
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Not bad, right? It's a far cry from the super-thick hair I used to have, but it works! My new little baby hairs like to stick straight up, so I used a ton of pomade and hairspray to keep them in their place. :)</div>
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You can see here the sides are still a little thin (please ignore me drinking out of the pitcher):</div>
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And because I love my friends, here's a picture of all (or most) of us at the wedding (that's me right in the middle):</div>
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This was a big day for me! Also, I learned that I can only do this once per wash… The following morning I tried, but the new hair literally stuck straight up in the air (sorry I didn't get a picture of that!) and would not cooperate. But as long as I wash it in the morning, I can go "topless" all day!</div>
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I'm so lucky to have hair that grows really fast. I'm hoping in the next few weeks those new baby hairs will blend in and it will look even better! </div>
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What do you think?!</div>
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Love,</div>
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Melissa</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-38468132668058885942014-01-26T20:27:00.002-05:002014-01-26T20:27:35.204-05:00My Survivor TattooA few weeks ago, I got my survivor tattoo!!<br />
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I'd been planning on it for awhile (since before I was done with treatment) and finally went to have it done. Here's a picture (sorry, it's still healing so it's still a little scabby):<br />
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For those of you who aren't familiar, these are Beatles lyrics. The song goes:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ob-la-di</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ob-la-da</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Life goes on...</span></div>
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I love this song and I thought the lyrics were appropriate and uplifting. Purple is the "official" Hodgkin's Lymphoma color, so I added the purple ribbon.</div>
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The tattoo is on my right wrist and every time I see it, I feel strong and proud and I'm reminded that life does go on. What do you think?!</div>
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Love,</div>
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Melissa</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-61928335933098597362014-01-26T20:18:00.000-05:002014-01-26T20:18:03.242-05:003-month Follow Up With OncologistThis past week I had my 3-month follow-up appointment with my regular oncologist. Hard to believe it's been three months since my clean PET scan!<div>
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We discussed <u><a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2013/12/the-mystery-itch.html" target="_blank">my mysterious itching</a></u>, which has gotten much better. Our conclusion is as expected: dry skin (exacerbated by chemo), combined with stress. According to <u><a href="http://www.webmd.com/beauty/skin/the-effects-of-stress-on-your-skin" target="_blank">WebMD</a></u>: <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. It can also make it harder for skin problems to heal." I tend to internalize my stress (guilt, worry, etc.), so this is a very likely cause… </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Speaking of stress, it's causing a few sleepless nights as well. It's getting better, but I'm giving melatonin supplements a shot.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I had blood work done before my appointment, and apparently my hemoglobin levels are still a little low from chemo. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen. Although my levels are still a little low, they are higher than my last blood test (from October) and are barely below the "normal" range for a healthy person. No cause for alarm and this shouldn't cause any symptoms.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The plan moving forward will be to have CAT scans done every 6 months for several years (likely 5 years). We originally anticipated PET scans every 6 months, but my oncologist says recent studies actually show better results with CAT scans for monitoring purposes. PET scans can show false-positives more often. CAT scans won't be able to highlight cancer the way PET scans can, but it will show any unusual tumors. CAT scans are much easier, shorter, and cheaper than PET scans, so I'm happy for this news!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The doc did a physical exam - which included feeling my lymph nodes throughout my body. She felt no noticeable abnormalities. So now I'll see her again on April 21 (the CAT scan and blood tests will be scheduled for the prior week).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Love,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Melissa</span></span></div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-7880454405275776292014-01-19T15:31:00.000-05:002014-01-19T15:31:29.415-05:00Melissa Beats Karl - Party Time!I officially killed Karl (that's what I named my stupid cancer) at the end of November. I spent the month of December recuperating from chemo and radiation, and by early January I was feeling much more like the person I was before stupid Karl decided to pick on me.<br />
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So last night we had a "Melissa is Cancer Free!" party to celebrate the end of my treatment and for killing Karl. We had some snow come through the city, but luckily most people were still able to make it out and we had a great night!<br />
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I finally got the confidence to wear my wig, so I went from this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBbCfhAJoVk56s90J1llJzY6_sHDeg-TkjzDQhlILbj2dU9I3O_euoXBab_zt1P355eoptFmS8vTaOOgRV9hYE3xHcCRcNWJtp_pqv4GGTj0lL2tOJZ0wsjGRY-dFe0TEgfhCUigt4l8/s1600/IMG_1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBbCfhAJoVk56s90J1llJzY6_sHDeg-TkjzDQhlILbj2dU9I3O_euoXBab_zt1P355eoptFmS8vTaOOgRV9hYE3xHcCRcNWJtp_pqv4GGTj0lL2tOJZ0wsjGRY-dFe0TEgfhCUigt4l8/s1600/IMG_1305.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
To this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-vO-e4eTWobaw6ukpGUCrYQx6WByjEMMihOL_BzcfIz7j6_osqVqQ9x-uodGIHC_INEs3B7qa8qmrO-NqPG2zppe8tnmnAuZeBJtTeUXLTNCX1kJj8m9T-a89C4E98aLxkxSpPnPr3M/s1600/IMG_1306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-vO-e4eTWobaw6ukpGUCrYQx6WByjEMMihOL_BzcfIz7j6_osqVqQ9x-uodGIHC_INEs3B7qa8qmrO-NqPG2zppe8tnmnAuZeBJtTeUXLTNCX1kJj8m9T-a89C4E98aLxkxSpPnPr3M/s1600/IMG_1306.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here are some pictures from the night (the quality isn't great on some of these - cell phone pics in a dark bar…):<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB2jVrV02vytpstEs0vLPdYfm3YWOWwPwKNKeR_BONgN7_Jo5lDzTO-7g5hpNwmKTdcDm_o9GKIjghI9UyOrN54jy9PLn0z_mDHKZjY6sSz31frzj46WhgOizSnKGM2lpA2snAzNzdeA/s1600/IMG_1251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB2jVrV02vytpstEs0vLPdYfm3YWOWwPwKNKeR_BONgN7_Jo5lDzTO-7g5hpNwmKTdcDm_o9GKIjghI9UyOrN54jy9PLn0z_mDHKZjY6sSz31frzj46WhgOizSnKGM2lpA2snAzNzdeA/s1600/IMG_1251.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovers </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dRL4_ilbVGT621reLL5hQL9B09WYPJqCSD48xdGgwnez8Nq3I_ofOsCMvdXfYCacAzZOektdssFoM1VmeX_B74LHG3DX4UYhNBo2LN3HBFeZAtHtVzezNppmZEVApUmWOTEgkZwkMUs/s1600/IMG_1279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dRL4_ilbVGT621reLL5hQL9B09WYPJqCSD48xdGgwnez8Nq3I_ofOsCMvdXfYCacAzZOektdssFoM1VmeX_B74LHG3DX4UYhNBo2LN3HBFeZAtHtVzezNppmZEVApUmWOTEgkZwkMUs/s1600/IMG_1279.jpg" height="320" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sisters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmHru7lHqX9nhbujZK4kg18rqakKgRLyiueBazw71oEKq5QWEY9Oajz9IBgGU86JZgH5Gka3jb3C4OmtF0wQ_S9tYd_ckRVAO8FJ-sQVADwCxVC2kmVHbx8JytIUVgwHHfmE8_VmPe9E/s1600/IMG_1259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmHru7lHqX9nhbujZK4kg18rqakKgRLyiueBazw71oEKq5QWEY9Oajz9IBgGU86JZgH5Gka3jb3C4OmtF0wQ_S9tYd_ckRVAO8FJ-sQVADwCxVC2kmVHbx8JytIUVgwHHfmE8_VmPe9E/s1600/IMG_1259.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting photo bombed</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4A6_LHw3TTQOvgmBIVvwheyTq8BxZVT_tjt76zI8b1_PxRsFwjfyIoA5CCpDbCpkC_mRxBh1sDwHgIgJxndNAjpMcQOw75NR4Cyp7l6IEUcGUKmvcM_CdaptDDTACoX2Zfl9y0Qjdjmc/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4A6_LHw3TTQOvgmBIVvwheyTq8BxZVT_tjt76zI8b1_PxRsFwjfyIoA5CCpDbCpkC_mRxBh1sDwHgIgJxndNAjpMcQOw75NR4Cyp7l6IEUcGUKmvcM_CdaptDDTACoX2Zfl9y0Qjdjmc/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG" height="274" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLelofP19UK4Vd-LDJ4bNfrkjhzeELfhU5dajAv3xcQW3iDraeVYRbTCx-AgxkHbCDutDnzRGUy3iIlQTa5kgqnTxczEF8U4eoVY-eq9wgxl967zonqSV1n145wIU55ZvV2zhHsvVjoTg/s1600/IMG_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLelofP19UK4Vd-LDJ4bNfrkjhzeELfhU5dajAv3xcQW3iDraeVYRbTCx-AgxkHbCDutDnzRGUy3iIlQTa5kgqnTxczEF8U4eoVY-eq9wgxl967zonqSV1n145wIU55ZvV2zhHsvVjoTg/s1600/IMG_1264.JPG" height="310" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bri, Sarah, me </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuAXq2JFr9tOftaK6nUxTmIWrFgD9c6SCmX6xfuEXk4HlDIN38A3Rco3WDoNPu2XgyFFd1sWP90JOzw4EkXtwEVjc_rgApTNR62prs71Whh78I2d-A4Y65J-1Dx3YukVMZp_RL6B31uY/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuAXq2JFr9tOftaK6nUxTmIWrFgD9c6SCmX6xfuEXk4HlDIN38A3Rco3WDoNPu2XgyFFd1sWP90JOzw4EkXtwEVjc_rgApTNR62prs71Whh78I2d-A4Y65J-1Dx3YukVMZp_RL6B31uY/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my all-time favorite people:<br />Jenny, Bri, Sarah, me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnbleDnF-kx1_92QLYgkdFy3jt-1c_C6GZGuaEHh4irx8TYM4n7GBN9d0UMuKhYOkM4pdO8_m6N3mL-kma8wRzafzv9qSSD7913nAxBcZGf3A7ZK3zKhYH0aZjQDk5XVnjA22Q5RRMNw/s1600/IMG_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnbleDnF-kx1_92QLYgkdFy3jt-1c_C6GZGuaEHh4irx8TYM4n7GBN9d0UMuKhYOkM4pdO8_m6N3mL-kma8wRzafzv9qSSD7913nAxBcZGf3A7ZK3zKhYH0aZjQDk5XVnjA22Q5RRMNw/s1600/IMG_1280.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah and me </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vDNYlErJw-Wlpfe6vusblrhtcUAto5I_jHX2o-IFKemv4AzyoOM9oHnhREa8h2DMBWLYBCCQduioCdKnxthDmHkl7H1oaF22jp4SaOFEzdIB38XUqq3FNYoJY3Tw2QarVbhUS2u11lE/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vDNYlErJw-Wlpfe6vusblrhtcUAto5I_jHX2o-IFKemv4AzyoOM9oHnhREa8h2DMBWLYBCCQduioCdKnxthDmHkl7H1oaF22jp4SaOFEzdIB38XUqq3FNYoJY3Tw2QarVbhUS2u11lE/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love these two Erins!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujZcatX3NGw5XQgRARxt5J5Isih9uDd9YubLPE6p7j7gnWoiRfhl48GLkP3MvhKNmrtVi53jnr3rz3jw2ZiW7czkF5mjYkkBKpneZBc9yE8sdcS6ad_lcToMioP20hMXhuYx7umARhqU/s1600/IMG_1283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujZcatX3NGw5XQgRARxt5J5Isih9uDd9YubLPE6p7j7gnWoiRfhl48GLkP3MvhKNmrtVi53jnr3rz3jw2ZiW7czkF5mjYkkBKpneZBc9yE8sdcS6ad_lcToMioP20hMXhuYx7umARhqU/s1600/IMG_1283.JPG" height="356" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband likes to photo bomb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYKiuN1VAP3ZV01Y5ldCFrSDqVEOAbWYDdDkrJu3wyFnn8jmyYDmWdmqjEvurFbRc54xqIE0aF7zwU_uBCiTTZ3vGnTGx3QuaHF34vIxlJ0BGncOsUL5-PT7ZaRvY2uNs-D5zL-jaX1U/s1600/IMG_1284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYKiuN1VAP3ZV01Y5ldCFrSDqVEOAbWYDdDkrJu3wyFnn8jmyYDmWdmqjEvurFbRc54xqIE0aF7zwU_uBCiTTZ3vGnTGx3QuaHF34vIxlJ0BGncOsUL5-PT7ZaRvY2uNs-D5zL-jaX1U/s1600/IMG_1284.JPG" height="323" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin, me, Alyssa </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQbG0saw49dXHafkruutxl1wfoGcvMBuJ7zUaUJk9XPa_h7EmLmt1QErQXBXnInV9C5Tgn0WPM0xubIkk07LJWl7FplqgEWEHtzieao6_iqh6ZOUsuejjKTR1vkEejzo4bujfsIVP4vk/s1600/IMG_1287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQbG0saw49dXHafkruutxl1wfoGcvMBuJ7zUaUJk9XPa_h7EmLmt1QErQXBXnInV9C5Tgn0WPM0xubIkk07LJWl7FplqgEWEHtzieao6_iqh6ZOUsuejjKTR1vkEejzo4bujfsIVP4vk/s1600/IMG_1287.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favorites!<br />Jama, Alyssa, Erin, me, Lindsey, Holly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thanks again to all those who braved the snow and made it out to celebrate. I have the best friends :)<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-33627634927831801052014-01-13T20:22:00.003-05:002014-01-13T20:22:54.705-05:00How Much Does Cancer Cost?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqjsmOLZ2UVkIiEUU7Dj57owRaE6uMEsJRB5rMux62esQvzamdTMOSDwscCLM0LFRg1eJ3NjCu359k1XLI8F8axk1F0XaOIhwmtAc0IFOabz61SuAMfCGKrQLDjUepsx4PB34MF-ksZk/s1600/738f460b9305d03985fa920a8f5ef65a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqjsmOLZ2UVkIiEUU7Dj57owRaE6uMEsJRB5rMux62esQvzamdTMOSDwscCLM0LFRg1eJ3NjCu359k1XLI8F8axk1F0XaOIhwmtAc0IFOabz61SuAMfCGKrQLDjUepsx4PB34MF-ksZk/s320/738f460b9305d03985fa920a8f5ef65a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Cancer is expensive. As if I need another reason to hate it… I'm about to share the cost of my Hodgkin's Lymphoma treatment with you.<br />
<br />
Because mine was caught in Stage I, my treatment was minimal. The time between when I discovered the tumor in my lymph node to the time I completed my final treatment was 6 months. Many people go through <i>much</i> more treatment over a <i>much </i>longer period of time, so keep in mind the amount I'm about to share with you is on the extreme <i>low end</i> of cancer treatment cost.<br />
<br />
Ok, so are you ready to hear how much my cancer treatment was? As of 1/13/2014, the total cost of my treatment has been…. <b>$153,000</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56NDN5GzBOLjhb8-0D_sbiienYg28cp2713UkzoaEC_azb2izrhtG_FZOpHmfpyUlWhh93sAsgCPDgA1drv_zQdKsqY7kbDoi882OXe1MSsVPmXObDUNef8QzPt8WqN2uuCKw8yCfkBg/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56NDN5GzBOLjhb8-0D_sbiienYg28cp2713UkzoaEC_azb2izrhtG_FZOpHmfpyUlWhh93sAsgCPDgA1drv_zQdKsqY7kbDoi882OXe1MSsVPmXObDUNef8QzPt8WqN2uuCKw8yCfkBg/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, let me clarify - $153,000 is the amount that has been charged to my insurance company. Thankfully I have a good insurance plan, so my personal expense this year was somewhere around $4,000 (deductible, out of pocket expenses above deductible, prescriptions, and over the counter medications).<br />
<br />
So, how does $153,000 break down? I've been tracking all of my bills over the last 6 months, so I have that answer! Here's the short(ish) answer:<br />
<br />
It cost <b>$26,300 to diagnose</b> - including doctors visits, ultrasound, blood work, CT scan, needle biopsy, and excisional biopsy.<br />
<br />
Once I was diagnosed, it was <b>$33,300 to prepare me for my first chemo session</b> - this included oncology appointments, port placement surgery, PET scan, heart and lung tests, and bone marrow biopsy.<br />
<br />
Each chemo treatment was a little different in cost because the cost of each chemo drug is constantly changing. On average, each chemo treatment was around $3,200 (the most expensive one was $3,600) totaling <b>$13,000 for 4 chemo treatments</b>.<br />
<br />
If you recall, my white blood cells kept dropping, so I had to have several Neupogen shots at $430 a piece. I still haven't seen the bill for the two Neupogen shots I had to get at the ER over one weekend… But for the 8 shots I had at my oncologist's office, the total was <b>$3,500 for Neupogen</b>.<br />
<br />
The total cost of<b> radiation was $54,000</b>! This includes doctor visits, radiation planning (done by doctors before treatment), and 10 radiation treatments.<br />
<br />
It was another <b>$8,000 for my last PET scan</b> to make sure I was cancer- free. Then <b>$11,000 to have my port removed</b>.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind I'll have four appointments with my oncologist (about $200 each) and two PET scans a year ($8,000-$10,000 each) for the next 5 years. I'll list all costs below for those of you who want to know. Some of these expenses may surprise you:<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$165</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Initial Doctors Visit</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$790</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ultrasound</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$115</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Follow Up Doctors Visit</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$50</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Work - CBC</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$2,309</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">CT Scan</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$3,597</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Needle Biopsy</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$170</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Consultation with Surgeon</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$19,102</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Excisional Biopsy</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$310</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Consultation with Oncologist</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$250</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Detailed Blood Work</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$10,805</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Initial PET Scan</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$1,036</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Lung Function Test</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$209</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Heart Test</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$16,698</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Port Placement Surgery</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$3,992</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Bone Marrow Biopsy</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$2,682</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Chemo #1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$309</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Draw from Port</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$2,585</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">ER visit</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$110</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Doctors Visit - Nurse Practitioner </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$95</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Work </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$3,382</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Chemo #2</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$430</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neupogen shot</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$430</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neupogen shot</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$50</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Work </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$110</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Doctors Visit - NP</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$108</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Work </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$3,622</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Chemo #3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$430</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neupogen shot</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$430</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neupogen shot</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$514</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neupogen shot</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$80</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">IV fluids</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$430</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neupogen shot</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$430</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neupogen shot</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$95</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Work </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$430</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neupogen shot</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$95</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Work </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$3,281</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Chemo #4</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$50</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Work </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$110</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Doctors Visit - NP</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$115</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">GP doctors visit</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$7,959</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">PET scan</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$248</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">CT (w/ PET)</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$165</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Doctors visit </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$95</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Blood Work </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$587</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Radiation Oncologist consult</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$514</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Radiation Planning (Simulation)</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$4,370</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Planning Appointment</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$110</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Radiation Simulation</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$3,735</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Treatment Plan & Scans</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$3,222</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Radiation </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$39,636</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Radiation </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$610</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Radiation Treatment</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$667</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Radiation Oncologist Physician Services</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$10,873</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Port Removal Surgery</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 66.5px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">$30</span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-color: #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6 #d6d6d6; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px 0.2px; height: 28.2px; padding: 1.0px 2.0px 1.0px 2.0px; width: 67.8px;" valign="top">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Follow Up with Radiation Doctor</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-5845915564948605382014-01-10T16:48:00.001-05:002014-01-10T16:48:13.000-05:00Hair Update!Lots of people have been asking about my hair, so I'll share a few pictures. My hair is definitely growing back (finally!) and it does look better than <u><a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2013/12/ports-out-hairs-cut-and-other-some.html" target="_blank">my last update</a></u>. It's still a little thin, but I'm making progress!<br />
<br />
Thankfully my hair grows pretty fast, so I'm hoping that within a couple more months I'll be able to go out without a hat!<br />
<br />
Speaking of hats, I got a couple new ones for Christmas. Here's one:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9y4wa1CbGQN-w39CMX3XNbxon0z3tD5-5y2Yoh-NnMMcb5b90CvcQs8SkCO9EVDF_RcqC_jWFwyifGadMQAcDP8G-Jxdf4vQPHfu_Mf7zEYcEezk60bpNv4lb83dDLQtBKw_2Dl3Y70/s1600/IMG_1144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9y4wa1CbGQN-w39CMX3XNbxon0z3tD5-5y2Yoh-NnMMcb5b90CvcQs8SkCO9EVDF_RcqC_jWFwyifGadMQAcDP8G-Jxdf4vQPHfu_Mf7zEYcEezk60bpNv4lb83dDLQtBKw_2Dl3Y70/s1600/IMG_1144.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a></div>
<br />
Ok, so onto the hair pictures…<br />
<br />
Here's the view from the front and my goofy face:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Mnr_x7KynU792wBr2Eu5Dc6HyY5nW0Hl8nmhyphenhyphenScUrg5FW28osBN8tsygGYBl7TXxJMOAzu58cSw0Gj4CPF_LAcpmcgUBod0HI-vs7S8oqtv1LlxQBD_gMHGZXjvfMnvxB4qr5XTl-JE/s1600/IMG_1227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Mnr_x7KynU792wBr2Eu5Dc6HyY5nW0Hl8nmhyphenhyphenScUrg5FW28osBN8tsygGYBl7TXxJMOAzu58cSw0Gj4CPF_LAcpmcgUBod0HI-vs7S8oqtv1LlxQBD_gMHGZXjvfMnvxB4qr5XTl-JE/s1600/IMG_1227.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have these little baby-hairs sprouting from the front. I tried to part my hair on the side to cover it up, but it just looks like a bad combover. I'm hoping that once these are long enough to blend in with the rest of my hair, the front will look somewhat normal:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6Fy-TpuBtsEXNMh96gg-PNtKuhTH5kO_GbQao8lsogoeLuEWYFSaSRD1l5R_RWBlZAgzQyPAEYZA0UD8xMrS3psgLXKJZqTvmgxKui0J1PmwGO-RxgMa_kjTmScdXIWJ7bJYHzxjZd0/s1600/IMG_1226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6Fy-TpuBtsEXNMh96gg-PNtKuhTH5kO_GbQao8lsogoeLuEWYFSaSRD1l5R_RWBlZAgzQyPAEYZA0UD8xMrS3psgLXKJZqTvmgxKui0J1PmwGO-RxgMa_kjTmScdXIWJ7bJYHzxjZd0/s1600/IMG_1226.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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Here's a view from the side. This side still looks really thin - no amount of styling makes this look better:<br />
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View from the top - still pretty thin:<br />
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I also have a Miley Cyrus thing going on on the sides - the hair's really short and I have these awkward sideburns:<br />
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I haven't used <u><a href="http://www.toppik.com/" target="_blank">Toppik</a></u> lately (<a href="http://www.toppik.com/" target="_blank">Toppik </a>is the product that's hair fibers I have to make my hair look thicker… I used it in <u><a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2013/12/ports-out-hairs-cut-and-other-some.html" target="_blank">this post</a></u>). I don't think it would do much good right now, but once these short little hairs get a little longer, I think it will help. I'll keep you updated!<br />
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Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-13569578165425068552014-01-06T15:37:00.001-05:002014-01-06T15:37:37.803-05:00Radiation Oncology Follow-UpIt's been a few weeks since I've blogged - haven't had anything to share!<br />
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Last week I had a follow-up appointment with my radiation oncologist. He just wanted to see me about a month after my last radiation treatment to make sure I was feeling ok.</div>
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I did get a little nauseous as I pulled into the parking lot of the Cancer Center. After a month away from that place, being back just stirred up a lot of emotions. I don't miss that place!</div>
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The appointment went really well - uneventful really. I feel pretty good at this point; I don't notice being fatigued anymore (that lasted about 3 weeks after treatment, but each day seemed to be better until I was back to normal). The doc did a physical exam, feeling the lymph nodes in my neck, armpits, and groin. He said none of them felt enlarged or unusual and since I was feeling back to normal, there was no reason to see him again!<br />
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At this point, I'll see my regular oncologist every three months for a couple years and have scans every 6 months for 5 years. Once I hit 5 years, I'll be considered CURED! My next appointment is in a couple weeks (January 22) with my regular oncologist. She'll do a physical exam as well and then I'll have my next scan in April.<br />
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Lots of people have been asking about how my hair's coming in, so I'll be posting some pictures very soon. <br />
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Many people have asked about the mystery itch, too. Luckily, it's <i>much</i> better than before. Our conclusion is that it was a combination of dry skin (exacerbated by the chemo) and stress (it's very common for people post-treatment to worry and stress about recurrence, I can attest to that). I've been using a great moisturizer called Cetaphil which has helped. I still take a prescription on occasion that helps with anxiety, relieves itching, and helps me sleep. I don't take it too often (less than once a week), but it's helpful for when I need it.<br />
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2013 has been an interesting year - lots of great things happened: a trip to our favorite city (Key West), an amazing 8 day cruise to celebrate our second wedding anniversary, and kicking cancer's butt. The year had its challenges as well as I went through months of testing followed by a cancer diagnosis and then treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma (not fun at all). I leave 2013 behind feeling stronger than I knew I was and more loved than I realized. I'm really looking forward to a year of good health and I'm hoping to have a great year professionally since I was sick and miserable (and limited to work) for about half the year last year.<br />
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Happy New Year everyone. All the best, and more updates to come!<br />
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Love,<br />
Melissa</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-86388990996217782022013-12-20T22:02:00.001-05:002014-01-06T15:43:20.522-05:00Post-Treatment VACATION!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, as soon as Josh and I knew when my last chemo and radiation treatments would be, we booked a long weekend trip in Florida. We thought it would be a nice way to celebrate the completion of my treatment and a nice, romantic weekend for the two of us! This past weekend was that trip and it was wonderful! We got to leave cold, snowy Indiana and spent one day in Orlando visiting Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, then spent the rest of the weekend at Clearwater Beach. Here are some pictures from the trip:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCooIH6GB_EFTj8LSOmwPuZoyteC70d-3jpcsrU-J_HOZj8NeZ95XQdMrGK6HVBBsYFQLdPZFF04w3FkkOdkDyaKwbaSZoC3LwDnyPw70wQLR2i409MOO4w-YeguEk1zO1DCE0gULAVYs/s1600/IMG_1040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCooIH6GB_EFTj8LSOmwPuZoyteC70d-3jpcsrU-J_HOZj8NeZ95XQdMrGK6HVBBsYFQLdPZFF04w3FkkOdkDyaKwbaSZoC3LwDnyPw70wQLR2i409MOO4w-YeguEk1zO1DCE0gULAVYs/s400/IMG_1040.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to take off!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgoyB7_jf59irgDnuSsObacYBdw5u4k9Vz3h2xnDN5rjBACJV1_BkTUbWHQUPfayKS_ez0lspP04aJrpRGbfbWUKiOI9RVFCI2xQS-UkJb89aIwVRp8jYaJ2yVpWwAkNenbJbSITkGUY/s1600/IMG_1066.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgoyB7_jf59irgDnuSsObacYBdw5u4k9Vz3h2xnDN5rjBACJV1_BkTUbWHQUPfayKS_ez0lspP04aJrpRGbfbWUKiOI9RVFCI2xQS-UkJb89aIwVRp8jYaJ2yVpWwAkNenbJbSITkGUY/s320/IMG_1066.PNG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We left this behind! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiMHD4fAt9P_PO5aG2WIlRg_h-2iK00BP-f6co4_dqAd7ZGjLn1NCdo9PqQWjuSJKpVtokGjFOo9N6JBD0BG4Pp1Lhh9W_IlrVE5Tu758fcFafU3MWbWlDIjLdDLBGpRCTsWLTpBr9r0/s1600/IMG_1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiMHD4fAt9P_PO5aG2WIlRg_h-2iK00BP-f6co4_dqAd7ZGjLn1NCdo9PqQWjuSJKpVtokGjFOo9N6JBD0BG4Pp1Lhh9W_IlrVE5Tu758fcFafU3MWbWlDIjLdDLBGpRCTsWLTpBr9r0/s400/IMG_1041.jpg" height="400" width="371" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First stop: Islands of Adventure!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj944VYtfuRFsgv3MdnENFNGEPLwbygVaWCtGleBOgc2BSQQ04CN1FhrY8en6IhIcRzdecH5oWrfq1RxF33n0aLCQphVRw99yiZNP0HG8QPZffqUBCb5epCjIHDC-UN8kYSbNXPSZ65a0/s1600/IMG_1050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj944VYtfuRFsgv3MdnENFNGEPLwbygVaWCtGleBOgc2BSQQ04CN1FhrY8en6IhIcRzdecH5oWrfq1RxF33n0aLCQphVRw99yiZNP0HG8QPZffqUBCb5epCjIHDC-UN8kYSbNXPSZ65a0/s400/IMG_1050.jpg" height="400" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the Hulk coaster behind us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOu1qqcioWTz3mv6kl2-QdhOVXSMFF5wjLv4GE0kyhaEkn9n2AnjXwsgMZluHMCcRFG__5I76AyrjSiDAXXRWWAWBbjVceH98U9ZE9k9SglQNyzuVy-9NX9p-bUuU8-A219v7iqSk-jc/s1600/IMG_1045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOu1qqcioWTz3mv6kl2-QdhOVXSMFF5wjLv4GE0kyhaEkn9n2AnjXwsgMZluHMCcRFG__5I76AyrjSiDAXXRWWAWBbjVceH98U9ZE9k9SglQNyzuVy-9NX9p-bUuU8-A219v7iqSk-jc/s400/IMG_1045.jpg" height="400" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved all the Christmas decorations at the amusement parks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoP9j9cPAg_FMlf7kYxT_LDSSy6GnpWTdIQyLj0MwDOrMJNS05CMNmYSREd-3ayWOD2_iL8I4jrZJ_U0GNFRJn-Rc8jI1gDmNuGuy7aUDBMtDe0wpQtWqXwd-FjMj63FnkbrSxDbjiHA/s1600/IMG_1046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoP9j9cPAg_FMlf7kYxT_LDSSy6GnpWTdIQyLj0MwDOrMJNS05CMNmYSREd-3ayWOD2_iL8I4jrZJ_U0GNFRJn-Rc8jI1gDmNuGuy7aUDBMtDe0wpQtWqXwd-FjMj63FnkbrSxDbjiHA/s400/IMG_1046.jpg" height="395" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Seuss-ville all decorated! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fKhBi2a_uVxS4XLVKA1x9M7LoO0dFm05JkFp0Lnt01H-ZDb3Mfj1kjO-mafI2SkWoywuiXtFwSGMO8Jm7dak8E3BOeJqR0wbdcY8oUnUYpSvMMsLskI-iBCQFZxR0iCovhyphenhyphenLYpcLhE8/s1600/IMG_1055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fKhBi2a_uVxS4XLVKA1x9M7LoO0dFm05JkFp0Lnt01H-ZDb3Mfj1kjO-mafI2SkWoywuiXtFwSGMO8Jm7dak8E3BOeJqR0wbdcY8oUnUYpSvMMsLskI-iBCQFZxR0iCovhyphenhyphenLYpcLhE8/s400/IMG_1055.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOcqDluuPRUVeLMXtGFSsejfsZe1E8pFYwAk-XeTD-ZlOduEf_Rpow8TsPpmubWr8z1bPAJP7MkikCnrBe_45PEotRwa9C1Rup00VbjmR0c08PtZIHj__VWfWHAlMzB08xI9nc2nwL4w/s1600/IMG_1056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOcqDluuPRUVeLMXtGFSsejfsZe1E8pFYwAk-XeTD-ZlOduEf_Rpow8TsPpmubWr8z1bPAJP7MkikCnrBe_45PEotRwa9C1Rup00VbjmR0c08PtZIHj__VWfWHAlMzB08xI9nc2nwL4w/s400/IMG_1056.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant ball</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K1ORsWds4Xgk6-OE9MZkv0rIMmbLN_SYLGsx3mpKBHKh1iI9pQCNN28y-cQkCGyKefOYI76NZtJsTrHYBFFsql50oNTi_t99zc58UZel8YV_7lY2-oarIbj7gNomjmJ6TjXdYVlIDwo/s1600/IMG_1062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K1ORsWds4Xgk6-OE9MZkv0rIMmbLN_SYLGsx3mpKBHKh1iI9pQCNN28y-cQkCGyKefOYI76NZtJsTrHYBFFsql50oNTi_t99zc58UZel8YV_7lY2-oarIbj7gNomjmJ6TjXdYVlIDwo/s320/IMG_1062.jpg" height="304" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next stop: Universal Studios!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdHDVixwLY5FYwvRk9UoeuDKmNiiCwx0_GMMUNaem08zZaaEqR63XcH3VIc5WTsKlKHstJVaznmx0hbVClzjg3n0zFbUbnqvMrda46Th2qnqMZgh5dUCwKinVuNBEapQ4GpfccTUS5IU/s1600/IMG_1054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdHDVixwLY5FYwvRk9UoeuDKmNiiCwx0_GMMUNaem08zZaaEqR63XcH3VIc5WTsKlKHstJVaznmx0hbVClzjg3n0zFbUbnqvMrda46Th2qnqMZgh5dUCwKinVuNBEapQ4GpfccTUS5IU/s400/IMG_1054.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This roller coaster was awesome! <br />
You literally go straight up (on the left of the picture) <br />
before the huge drop (right of the picture).<br />
So scary, yet so fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQspNyW61EUScR0YGpU0RsrkX9-OQPt2XcHqO0vekTZU3bZPUNfa8KX9uhH_1q5-5M1nrpp7pTsHMHVQlB17bvbaXImtYuduhNUTC5rJEUxJFmRlyKCV7MUAals5x6DQGOwi5Mwb6q-Q/s1600/IMG_1057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQspNyW61EUScR0YGpU0RsrkX9-OQPt2XcHqO0vekTZU3bZPUNfa8KX9uhH_1q5-5M1nrpp7pTsHMHVQlB17bvbaXImtYuduhNUTC5rJEUxJFmRlyKCV7MUAals5x6DQGOwi5Mwb6q-Q/s320/IMG_1057.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blues Brothers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfO6TkpHZ7WTgxXti4RROERTBBO8pfiT3w_j_p3ioPAT1SPAc_FlqOfMVYXainhEZN8EgtSaBLBUXrVfaGz1rG42lYXinB07FeFXsOliY0NVBcrcH-Rk1_2wtTWA03tQQo2WTz0a2TkZQ/s1600/IMG_1058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfO6TkpHZ7WTgxXti4RROERTBBO8pfiT3w_j_p3ioPAT1SPAc_FlqOfMVYXainhEZN8EgtSaBLBUXrVfaGz1rG42lYXinB07FeFXsOliY0NVBcrcH-Rk1_2wtTWA03tQQo2WTz0a2TkZQ/s320/IMG_1058.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade balloon.<br />
They had these parade balloons displayed all over the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9funiXjbikP2h7BXp6kcfYzC-thfoFRE2Y1sTrKVdMqqvIozo5QL62qAHknHrQrLMLVE76B_g2RkAQQRCdkJAIcq8rM5-_kG6SYy2yVYDs5n5QuEeRA4xWsToltKUGHANbkL05uVBGgQ/s1600/IMG_1059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9funiXjbikP2h7BXp6kcfYzC-thfoFRE2Y1sTrKVdMqqvIozo5QL62qAHknHrQrLMLVE76B_g2RkAQQRCdkJAIcq8rM5-_kG6SYy2yVYDs5n5QuEeRA4xWsToltKUGHANbkL05uVBGgQ/s320/IMG_1059.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas parade!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5qGVoG15RoMX70fWFipsQp9q2x1GT7h4WrAXiOjAgv2iPQua8hTZM0I1NQ7SVJUUJZRaaSrPM_O9u1R3pn7czMtOp6MFzzMfJiaTdnBvovHcMARR9lkRtvUccfy_SKe_dIs4oSSK8uw/s1600/IMG_1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5qGVoG15RoMX70fWFipsQp9q2x1GT7h4WrAXiOjAgv2iPQua8hTZM0I1NQ7SVJUUJZRaaSrPM_O9u1R3pn7czMtOp6MFzzMfJiaTdnBvovHcMARR9lkRtvUccfy_SKe_dIs4oSSK8uw/s400/IMG_1060.JPG" height="330" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa!!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xb8GaFXIzpL9YQ6fnjQAAC8csAEsMA757jIo44yORqT77-L89Pvr1TQ8faJNtaBKMaOaR8J0SN7hMExj2vOYP426G61Yqq6BcqG9NP4LPm2n9a9iYhbmenlkchZSD9EsBjPMluHIxJ0/s1600/IMG_1065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xb8GaFXIzpL9YQ6fnjQAAC8csAEsMA757jIo44yORqT77-L89Pvr1TQ8faJNtaBKMaOaR8J0SN7hMExj2vOYP426G61Yqq6BcqG9NP4LPm2n9a9iYhbmenlkchZSD9EsBjPMluHIxJ0/s400/IMG_1065.jpg" height="400" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday night we arrived in Clearwater. Josh found some<br />
fresh oysters and a local beer and was happy! Later that night<br />
we found a sports bar playing the Penguins game. Great night!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixStluoBCk7JZgUfeamoRGvqfuJ-JLOkDyofCzlN9289gtykF5AJQVtBr5nBTVshNqaJ_Go3RX1J-ISXBfOj4mwUmjhZ4HqlveKM0VTPYY1uVDY1Gbu3OfpAii8IDmAWYLFFjUNI4t0Ow/s1600/IMG_1084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixStluoBCk7JZgUfeamoRGvqfuJ-JLOkDyofCzlN9289gtykF5AJQVtBr5nBTVshNqaJ_Go3RX1J-ISXBfOj4mwUmjhZ4HqlveKM0VTPYY1uVDY1Gbu3OfpAii8IDmAWYLFFjUNI4t0Ow/s400/IMG_1084.jpg" height="400" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stayed at this Hilton, right on the beach.<br />
(This is a picture from the pier)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnlQADsiHyKOEjOZ6O-hLyNIjja9rwp4mWxaWC5AclsqOVCanh9Ff-PnIqJ2QQwpWdW7NN5XB-ka7Cp7apkcZ_D0cItUYGzzzVEbzKPaq3WgdjE3eA6JPasf3B4JwVHUElkZKhxRvO30/s1600/IMG_1067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnlQADsiHyKOEjOZ6O-hLyNIjja9rwp4mWxaWC5AclsqOVCanh9Ff-PnIqJ2QQwpWdW7NN5XB-ka7Cp7apkcZ_D0cItUYGzzzVEbzKPaq3WgdjE3eA6JPasf3B4JwVHUElkZKhxRvO30/s400/IMG_1067.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a picture of Pier 60 from our balcony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SURPGi41JwLBWcam2mUu1kb_l3Be7_uFvmtfzOWExzxGEf8lAaAkxgFTo5rthGuYweZpt_Sd-qRWi4neGqmFqJ6EAU9m6xxH36TQIN8CiIQ2UnP0w7Yf3bRn_ghAFBgg5fF10EaLfio/s1600/IMG_1068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SURPGi41JwLBWcam2mUu1kb_l3Be7_uFvmtfzOWExzxGEf8lAaAkxgFTo5rthGuYweZpt_Sd-qRWi4neGqmFqJ6EAU9m6xxH36TQIN8CiIQ2UnP0w7Yf3bRn_ghAFBgg5fF10EaLfio/s400/IMG_1068.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another picture from our balcony.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgijT4wqIpFyVNkjmROK8fePqPzq3WDlcHK9HmqrK2ltggDJa8CTzcnZHCejByZ3xaEFTUgD3VL4aZZNDs_A2jsJiqQ9Viu1Rhoy3NtKTMhtv4FZL1mUVIvWbAJeXxfDCEtMNAtdX_JhY/s1600/IMG_1071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgijT4wqIpFyVNkjmROK8fePqPzq3WDlcHK9HmqrK2ltggDJa8CTzcnZHCejByZ3xaEFTUgD3VL4aZZNDs_A2jsJiqQ9Viu1Rhoy3NtKTMhtv4FZL1mUVIvWbAJeXxfDCEtMNAtdX_JhY/s400/IMG_1071.jpg" height="363" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day. We lounged by the pool with<br />
buckets of rum for awhile then lounged by the beach with more<br />
buckets of rums later!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzr-uGwumS5Mo1rLP2lnCodQ545z3IA_E1XHURWUng_DJty3dqQVDYyP3Ucb4Mjg7wOBxjp82wyThBQxHb_Y_ypvgw53clY_T2RUXmplip6_xCDgo9N8O5Rxe0s26xRreSUhLcbWSFU4/s1600/IMG_1072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzr-uGwumS5Mo1rLP2lnCodQ545z3IA_E1XHURWUng_DJty3dqQVDYyP3Ucb4Mjg7wOBxjp82wyThBQxHb_Y_ypvgw53clY_T2RUXmplip6_xCDgo9N8O5Rxe0s26xRreSUhLcbWSFU4/s400/IMG_1072.jpg" height="395" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm…. buckets…...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVopqm5hSZvGZw-K5BaPTwNbbeH3ZIkOg1qsRj_COLJaUGI4x_akbgiow3eAkYfxcW14OsD2-Nwm6j4a9Hbbpwmr9m-dQgSWvnYpE019iiVTdaOsbidl7MjwgQm6XO1tLqx6j1GYpDcs/s1600/IMG_1075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVopqm5hSZvGZw-K5BaPTwNbbeH3ZIkOg1qsRj_COLJaUGI4x_akbgiow3eAkYfxcW14OsD2-Nwm6j4a9Hbbpwmr9m-dQgSWvnYpE019iiVTdaOsbidl7MjwgQm6XO1tLqx6j1GYpDcs/s400/IMG_1075.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh finally met his hero.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3ZBlXGcZpAa_2ztiYnTKm2WcVa8S7DrakrBNOAWIbr9OwZYY_YcmSOcEXoZMHhhSWAmOUOv4BUBQ_7tVwhCE0t_15Ij9TF6ewaV6AjWelFv9tuaHY68vfDWi3bf2awlfWEHvnjYZHdY/s1600/IMG_1074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3ZBlXGcZpAa_2ztiYnTKm2WcVa8S7DrakrBNOAWIbr9OwZYY_YcmSOcEXoZMHhhSWAmOUOv4BUBQ_7tVwhCE0t_15Ij9TF6ewaV6AjWelFv9tuaHY68vfDWi3bf2awlfWEHvnjYZHdY/s400/IMG_1074.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had lunch at this little beachside cafe. Not a bad view, huh?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv44krWUoM-tfjizQAhGfhRpWSbn6Ma3vcEgo6dhEsmCy_paT4yxINCNolrwCv163zL41-D81_CBEG6cDlB9S0W-Cg3VT340-1IGDiKR7edYyBr0AWpqNTCTQipnKnZnQyim4Fjn-8rs/s1600/IMG_1081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv44krWUoM-tfjizQAhGfhRpWSbn6Ma3vcEgo6dhEsmCy_paT4yxINCNolrwCv163zL41-D81_CBEG6cDlB9S0W-Cg3VT340-1IGDiKR7edYyBr0AWpqNTCTQipnKnZnQyim4Fjn-8rs/s400/IMG_1081.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturday night we went to the Sunset Celebration at the Pier.<br />
They have street performers, street vendors, live music, etc.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ3ZIz63j9fvIHhu2JNWK_pU3Y7dM0MAH7_htfCbwvxRLrZepPmxrqueHdsXFoYEIMd3Ma08qyIecNk5pS1I3IeqB_tsVtvUj4mYaF1QyIVF4YUCYpIf_JaDTrkefEZMuSFYk4G8KFPU/s1600/IMG_1076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ3ZIz63j9fvIHhu2JNWK_pU3Y7dM0MAH7_htfCbwvxRLrZepPmxrqueHdsXFoYEIMd3Ma08qyIecNk5pS1I3IeqB_tsVtvUj4mYaF1QyIVF4YUCYpIf_JaDTrkefEZMuSFYk4G8KFPU/s320/IMG_1076.jpg" height="320" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of the vendors - he creates beautiful paintings with spray paint!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrSvkHYFAK9XEEKhFeMxNzgKIRgE6XBv4MtQz1QlZ8oqySbzmWOJ8KHZjUn5_-MAdFXtclWmCsV0ROmBRXIxihHts00KPx4F_N7jp6EKBloH8t16O-rAiJEJJ2fmasssVZu3jKt_7HUs/s1600/IMG_1078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrSvkHYFAK9XEEKhFeMxNzgKIRgE6XBv4MtQz1QlZ8oqySbzmWOJ8KHZjUn5_-MAdFXtclWmCsV0ROmBRXIxihHts00KPx4F_N7jp6EKBloH8t16O-rAiJEJJ2fmasssVZu3jKt_7HUs/s320/IMG_1078.jpg" height="320" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's so fast and finished this painting in just a few minutes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgcVq0hA988BxxM-s8vZR0-gvfL4VxQqtGg0_B94utX4QjtZMYizx0ZEK0XveZbzODEp5q_c0IdWHqk8Jw8zWVR9TQtUCL9rGIBox2V1qOqZwW3A6NuS6xj9q2JzEVKG8-pqpWIusmmQ/s1600/IMG_1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgcVq0hA988BxxM-s8vZR0-gvfL4VxQqtGg0_B94utX4QjtZMYizx0ZEK0XveZbzODEp5q_c0IdWHqk8Jw8zWVR9TQtUCL9rGIBox2V1qOqZwW3A6NuS6xj9q2JzEVKG8-pqpWIusmmQ/s320/IMG_1080.jpg" height="320" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished product</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dL2qhF7PnYO8Xvlr5LdnupU4S7oSIXaA9YmqNRT9jmYFIhsvobsvIr6VmJSJj0IlXld1NOa2avGvvPJqbuHzmpGemTQjCT_4z6HowEn-1Ql9R2LXsnrCx5PXlPmuSrRQ9A4jObe-gfs/s1600/IMG_1095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dL2qhF7PnYO8Xvlr5LdnupU4S7oSIXaA9YmqNRT9jmYFIhsvobsvIr6VmJSJj0IlXld1NOa2avGvvPJqbuHzmpGemTQjCT_4z6HowEn-1Ql9R2LXsnrCx5PXlPmuSrRQ9A4jObe-gfs/s400/IMG_1095.jpg" height="400" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We walked out to the end of the pier - Josh found a friend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9HnyaddYJQzie8msvA9YPt6B27W46P4gXQ8WN-Upr1ugeHGhn_Ek5fmsa3rhHS4l4rSWFyDgZKNpngGloTyynHMpjvME6yO6xroNUx7BJSd8kI_PpIvKkiWss43TCzCMbAXvRiVMAUo/s1600/IMG_1096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9HnyaddYJQzie8msvA9YPt6B27W46P4gXQ8WN-Upr1ugeHGhn_Ek5fmsa3rhHS4l4rSWFyDgZKNpngGloTyynHMpjvME6yO6xroNUx7BJSd8kI_PpIvKkiWss43TCzCMbAXvRiVMAUo/s320/IMG_1096.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While on the pier a fisherman caught this hammerhead.<br />
Gross, but cool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0Ms6rq3sNdsPtQ3_pmFUirmnEYyV-_fj4Nac04QRcfeZCiSjarvHb2zAYFiRSY475_OxONdUdwCm8ROlY_AhBz1dCD0SBHNGaU7tap9Cq_bg4CAy1t3vRbSnuIPFGnxrPzIatPVmDeY/s1600/IMG_1087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0Ms6rq3sNdsPtQ3_pmFUirmnEYyV-_fj4Nac04QRcfeZCiSjarvHb2zAYFiRSY475_OxONdUdwCm8ROlY_AhBz1dCD0SBHNGaU7tap9Cq_bg4CAy1t3vRbSnuIPFGnxrPzIatPVmDeY/s320/IMG_1087.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pier was really windy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-vuktanv28DIhQkHydOUmlz42y5QA4N5J-6DofVP_zDTDPL6Bt2OwtdZNSNORAJY88NzBr6Cc0HG1vPTYOMP2rDIWjWJKQ5npryrfVpiohhXPmZnM5lKxdXVVIqsvRKigyPlIAUfJkU/s1600/IMG_1089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-vuktanv28DIhQkHydOUmlz42y5QA4N5J-6DofVP_zDTDPL6Bt2OwtdZNSNORAJY88NzBr6Cc0HG1vPTYOMP2rDIWjWJKQ5npryrfVpiohhXPmZnM5lKxdXVVIqsvRKigyPlIAUfJkU/s320/IMG_1089.jpg" height="320" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But the sunset was beautiful</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyBRLD1IvQPSGD_pohuR5_GxRln5X1dIyTYwvE-u028LoNITTYmMDUsQppSCUuIlG1ePyraWjiGMW-0H6ILC3o069Pcv2qabkkSNYJP0LoEkoodDVgGtBNMJvFEJYz-wfuZilKD0SsbE/s1600/IMG_1107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyBRLD1IvQPSGD_pohuR5_GxRln5X1dIyTYwvE-u028LoNITTYmMDUsQppSCUuIlG1ePyraWjiGMW-0H6ILC3o069Pcv2qabkkSNYJP0LoEkoodDVgGtBNMJvFEJYz-wfuZilKD0SsbE/s640/IMG_1107.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTRUl-VFJItiznLpoc6O5YG-d_j3r_gtFei3c9JbxlNl9c8QCjIMIomSc9t5ja9FH2RhrymKrvn9QlJtXkePHcXHPBfQdlab8UxG7zNWg0F9L-CpNkzZ-CQ8DO-17-Mb_h7D0SDzEbms/s1600/IMG_1112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTRUl-VFJItiznLpoc6O5YG-d_j3r_gtFei3c9JbxlNl9c8QCjIMIomSc9t5ja9FH2RhrymKrvn9QlJtXkePHcXHPBfQdlab8UxG7zNWg0F9L-CpNkzZ-CQ8DO-17-Mb_h7D0SDzEbms/s320/IMG_1112.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's another street performer - balancing a sword on <br />
another sword on his forehead...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPXBuP0MD3K_qQRA0ETk132FHatVBRRPpiJm5eDa7cKw8xBW4uHQ5uTcseG0AAK-Wm0NyN4P5mpzTXsQ8fkdvZJ3Uk9BPbuiweJyDeFlvcPODG23OHP65y7gCd4WH3a6W9ofao3WDtfY/s1600/IMG_1115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPXBuP0MD3K_qQRA0ETk132FHatVBRRPpiJm5eDa7cKw8xBW4uHQ5uTcseG0AAK-Wm0NyN4P5mpzTXsQ8fkdvZJ3Uk9BPbuiweJyDeFlvcPODG23OHP65y7gCd4WH3a6W9ofao3WDtfY/s320/IMG_1115.jpg" height="320" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flaming whips</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju24X5ei91rrUpQQ9ItMRzVPD2eq9yFToxZcHNCVgW9E7jok2NDbaoh0m93FBRI8UvJrKXj-0a-EuB1vf8DR9u8FUiwYzBIgDlXMddIOeO6Er8sslteIzQSQjNjtI8uh-r7J2ieUb6Emk/s1600/IMG_1117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju24X5ei91rrUpQQ9ItMRzVPD2eq9yFToxZcHNCVgW9E7jok2NDbaoh0m93FBRI8UvJrKXj-0a-EuB1vf8DR9u8FUiwYzBIgDlXMddIOeO6Er8sslteIzQSQjNjtI8uh-r7J2ieUb6Emk/s400/IMG_1117.jpg" height="356" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday morning we found a little cafe for breakfast</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3bFLvOFZb20nRpcMGGbOGSz0zxAQHwXMRyarhnQjAoCrfFjZRMG_NfD0Q5zxpk6iCoC9C2UYQmYoRybjVVxdjubSKnGOQEsn50faHP0HeqSQKitZKume0aKiMIVoNJKQiwm4-u_VwjA/s1600/IMG_1120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3bFLvOFZb20nRpcMGGbOGSz0zxAQHwXMRyarhnQjAoCrfFjZRMG_NfD0Q5zxpk6iCoC9C2UYQmYoRybjVVxdjubSKnGOQEsn50faHP0HeqSQKitZKume0aKiMIVoNJKQiwm4-u_VwjA/s400/IMG_1120.jpg" height="400" width="348" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday was a little cooler, but that didn't keep us from drinking<br />
buckets at the beach bar!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Mh8exD7lArxAwdvnFxCE-w8iw2Bb4sQpWokGhz7CiIBuYTY1XuT-HbsRaj5iD2LJkz1P8YqYvX2rxALAQxaybzR7uo3VO8Fx_rYMCwtDZ_BE0Oo_0bP5HconVTGK3VpJ7Q5pGgtN6RE/s1600/IMG_1121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Mh8exD7lArxAwdvnFxCE-w8iw2Bb4sQpWokGhz7CiIBuYTY1XuT-HbsRaj5iD2LJkz1P8YqYvX2rxALAQxaybzR7uo3VO8Fx_rYMCwtDZ_BE0Oo_0bP5HconVTGK3VpJ7Q5pGgtN6RE/s320/IMG_1121.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday afternoon we found an open-air sports bar and watched football<br />
all day. My friend Caleb lives in Tampa and came up to visit!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnlZTkqtFz-6Xyai7Pmn48HDfM-KIrAfCyLQIwENHVwYJN1qd3ZbhwZ9HUQg6f7FGLX6llXk6_Ku72LdsMAcyTwFiPieOJoGz9fXRHVQwGFLQSO25NZ1MDS5QUNB-eeJbT4DBpb6i8Qw/s1600/IMG_1122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnlZTkqtFz-6Xyai7Pmn48HDfM-KIrAfCyLQIwENHVwYJN1qd3ZbhwZ9HUQg6f7FGLX6llXk6_Ku72LdsMAcyTwFiPieOJoGz9fXRHVQwGFLQSO25NZ1MDS5QUNB-eeJbT4DBpb6i8Qw/s320/IMG_1122.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate covered pretzel shots. Yummy!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkS9tngzS7IovfhODPQCsEZ91dVUS8dJxze_TBEEa43BM7kCrDr0CE4mw77FBE_SvFjr4tB3bI90ZxBJiCTqQMI9ar6-FHjqGRG1cNgpd4foZIV6g943I5yrIrK18l-7jWxdld4RhLJpk/s1600/IMG_1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkS9tngzS7IovfhODPQCsEZ91dVUS8dJxze_TBEEa43BM7kCrDr0CE4mw77FBE_SvFjr4tB3bI90ZxBJiCTqQMI9ar6-FHjqGRG1cNgpd4foZIV6g943I5yrIrK18l-7jWxdld4RhLJpk/s400/IMG_1125.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We headed home Monday morning and were very sad.</td></tr>
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The trip was so much fun! Besides Universal Studios on Friday, we didn't really do much - which was perfect! I felt really good all weekend, just a little tired by the end of each day. And I was in bed and sound asleep at 8:30 on Monday night after we got home - worn out! We were so thankful to have been able to take this little trip, it was very much needed!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-9214160958917906072013-12-09T19:56:00.001-05:002013-12-09T19:56:29.538-05:00The Mystery ItchAbout 4 weeks after my last chemo I developed an itchy leg. I assumed it was dry skin, slathered lotion on, and mostly forgot about it. The itch got worse and then moved to the other leg. It was a dee, intense itch that couldn't be satisfied. I scratched so hard I had bruises all over my legs and eventually broke the skin and bled. No amount of lotion seemed to help. <br />
<br />
And then it moved to my stomach and chest and I thought I was going to lose my mind. The oncology nurses said to try Benadryl (both oral and topical), Cortizone cream, and cold compresses. Nothing really seemed to help. My oncologist said it could be stress related (people who are in remission are often stressed about recurrence - I'm no exception) and had me start taking Zyrtec (an antihistamine) and give it another week or so. Still no relief.<br />
<br />
It's been about a month and a half since the itching started. I'm all bruised up and the itching has been keeping me up at night. I literally got about 3 hours of sleep last night it was so bad. My oncologist recommended I see a dermatologist. I couldn't find a dermatologist in the city that could see me in less than 4 weeks, so I made an appointment with my General Practitioner.<br />
<br />
I saw my GP today and she's not really sure what's going on either. She thinks it's likely severe dry skin that's gotten worse due to chemo and the cold, dry winter air. She ordered blood work to test my thyroid and liver enzyme levels. There's a super slim chance there could be a problem with my liver (which causes itchy skin), but she says it's unlikely. Theoretically I could have liver damage due to the plethora of drugs I've taken lately (pain killers in particular can be hard on your liver). Again, it's unlikely but she's testing it just to rule it out. I already have an under active thyroid which I take medication for. An under active thyroid can cause dry skin, so if my dose is too low on my current medication it could make my skin even more dry. So she's testing that too to see if we need to adjust my dose.<br />
<br />
She recommended a hard core skin cream called Cetaphyl. It comes in a tub and is really thick. I used it earlier and I really like the way it feels - it's nice and thick and soothing, but not too greasy. She says to slather that on at least once a day and see how that does.<br />
<br />
Blood work will be back in a couple of days. If it doesn't give us any answers, the doc is going to have her nurse call a dermatologist directly and try to squeeze me in as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, I've been prescribed Atarax, which is an antihistamine that's often prescribed for itching. It's also a sedative, so it'll help me sleep too :)<br />
<br />
So that's where we're at with the mystery itch. Hopefully it is just dry skin and I can get it under control soon because it's really driving me crazy!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-83263011927663369342013-12-05T18:05:00.000-05:002013-12-05T18:10:02.857-05:00Port's Out, Hair's Cut, And Other Some Other StuffI haven't had too much to update on lately, so I'll throw a handful of updates in this post!<br />
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<b>Port Removal</b></div>
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I had my port removed yesterday! It seemed like a symbolic end to all this, so it was a great day!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1scnc9N6DzcUK7GSjdG4TqK8DNA6UpJQohewSZoGY7QXTh_Syv5u9K5WEn4iGkm3w5qy8WujWkW76e_dNrAcsO7JBZHftBLFqLoyXZF0EqxSv-ASfcUpaeRA2vxrMWz-eOFmid6nJ_ss/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1scnc9N6DzcUK7GSjdG4TqK8DNA6UpJQohewSZoGY7QXTh_Syv5u9K5WEn4iGkm3w5qy8WujWkW76e_dNrAcsO7JBZHftBLFqLoyXZF0EqxSv-ASfcUpaeRA2vxrMWz-eOFmid6nJ_ss/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My surgeon originally told me I would not be under full anesthesia - just a local anesthetic with light sedation. I was quite nervous about this… being awake during the procedure… listening to everything that's going on. I was worried about hearing gross slurping noises as the port was pulled from my body. Ick. <b>Thankfully</b> my surgeon changed her mind (I didn't ask why - didn't want her to change her mind back!) and I ended up under <u>full anesthetic</u> and was sound asleep for the removal!</div>
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Everything went very well. It was a quick procedure and I was home in just a few hours. The only issue was getting the IV placed. The poor nurse had to try three times (in three different locations) before finally getting a vein. She was able to place it in the top of my right hand, which was not pleasant. The anesthesia going into the IV in my hand burned really bad, but I was sound asleep in seconds so no big deal :) I'm left with a pretty ugly bruise on my hand (it's actually worse than this picture shows, but I bruise really easily, so I'm not surprised!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jEiAh6SN6hTIgAuPo5_LpVd61F8ngcib2w-gabCQzYjoSMoBycLj6ZzyGPMu9qYjMOf3UwOqexUGxcyXaeIDaRLwuVWEX-akP0KPxFwBV-WdXsY5J-RIPyCaYFMjASU4Txm0tThR3Fs/s1600/photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jEiAh6SN6hTIgAuPo5_LpVd61F8ngcib2w-gabCQzYjoSMoBycLj6ZzyGPMu9qYjMOf3UwOqexUGxcyXaeIDaRLwuVWEX-akP0KPxFwBV-WdXsY5J-RIPyCaYFMjASU4Txm0tThR3Fs/s200/photo+6.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
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I was pretty sore at the incision site yesterday. I took plenty of pain meds and slept all day yesterday - today I feel good! It's a tiny bit sore still, but really not bad. This is what it looks like now (I can take those steri-strips off in a few days):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UX3ijHpmypj-BqYdkT1iJ1GevjIHGPSGnnDlhPk52Prx3Ck6L5Z1ELq2EiY_3ly7TPAL9p44bBDDJ5su2I-KllCENZ6KRQs3FjBEjkpuuNmmFWQjLjm82Mwd86pjcdig_XKNX2SbvB4/s1600/photo+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UX3ijHpmypj-BqYdkT1iJ1GevjIHGPSGnnDlhPk52Prx3Ck6L5Z1ELq2EiY_3ly7TPAL9p44bBDDJ5su2I-KllCENZ6KRQs3FjBEjkpuuNmmFWQjLjm82Mwd86pjcdig_XKNX2SbvB4/s320/photo+copy.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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They went through the same incision as when they placed the port, so I'll just have one scar on my chest. I choose to think of it as a battle scar.</div>
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<b>Hair Update</b></div>
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Today I had the big hair appointment! If you recall <u><a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2013/11/facing-hair-reality.html" target="_blank">this post</a></u>, I unintentionally threw myself a little pity party about being partly bald. I didn't mean to sound like a Debbie Downer, but I was frustrated! I was super duper close to shaving my head and starting from scratch, but luckily I was talked out of doing that! My second choice was to get a short pixie cut, but after meeting my stylist today, she said my hair was too thin for a pixie to look good. So after all that, she did a tiny little trim to shape it up a little bit and colored it a nice dark auburn color (which I love!). </div>
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The dark color seemed to help make my hair look a little fuller, which was promising. My stylist also recommended this stuff:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYl5SgQPoX1Cw0yucGJPkNZ8fuGgy95PVYWj0ADdfAlC3Yb0MUQb30tcRUKmMAqUF0zVtI9PcmWFUWwpnrwFmRu2x7X3u7Us_3p-HH7q_PkQVEM8uWYzN-VAiJlAg-g8B_ZswxblETBk/s1600/toppik_hair_building_fibers_review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYl5SgQPoX1Cw0yucGJPkNZ8fuGgy95PVYWj0ADdfAlC3Yb0MUQb30tcRUKmMAqUF0zVtI9PcmWFUWwpnrwFmRu2x7X3u7Us_3p-HH7q_PkQVEM8uWYzN-VAiJlAg-g8B_ZswxblETBk/s400/toppik_hair_building_fibers_review.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><a href="http://www.sephora.com/hair-building-fibers-starter-kit-P379005?skuId=1529551" target="_blank">Click here for more info and to watch a video.</a></u></td></tr>
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I was skeptical, but decided to give it a try and it actually works pretty well! It's like a powder you can put onto the thin spots, but it's actually little fibers that stand up and fill in with your existing hair. It's not something I'll use every day, but for those days I don't want to wear a hat, I think it looks pretty decent - it'll do for now! Here are some before a after pictures (the "after" pics are <u>with</u> Toppik in my hair:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5tAOfY7HSbH5kbulcyiD2vJx5lxsIlFe82Lu_sJQ58IJBiMHRcdvLXuecEg60hA7kCxU_UeAPJtTJ93TYbfFfq7Sk_LlcHIBc3HYbMpc1Rt5XDYOas4VA8cIKbuTwMiGVCh6THnsE00/s1600/photo+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5tAOfY7HSbH5kbulcyiD2vJx5lxsIlFe82Lu_sJQ58IJBiMHRcdvLXuecEg60hA7kCxU_UeAPJtTJ93TYbfFfq7Sk_LlcHIBc3HYbMpc1Rt5XDYOas4VA8cIKbuTwMiGVCh6THnsE00/s320/photo+8.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-u7JwJQxaY6K04WplNlIXJCCs1d2zY866BsDe2Kvf-hxbkgGJVyXaFSO5clXYxTM74_PKRqSMfr3bETn2aGlu1Ddd-kqCzDObwN2agRkAoDsrUambRbZzllEBoQLPmUUtHHRg-z-0HnI/s1600/photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-u7JwJQxaY6K04WplNlIXJCCs1d2zY866BsDe2Kvf-hxbkgGJVyXaFSO5clXYxTM74_PKRqSMfr3bETn2aGlu1Ddd-kqCzDObwN2agRkAoDsrUambRbZzllEBoQLPmUUtHHRg-z-0HnI/s400/photo+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo5wxUcTnoh3nmp6ss3KOtrH_yXw7TNqkWS2JPGyhT1QT8UgBPOXAuNkAKFtKlTcBFLd4qJHpR2V7Cx6RbQTMMgnGyiYIkHOxvl8qhguKFV0vPJ_mbkE1R19vbynMzdUMXsPO-FQOrHM/s1600/photo+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo5wxUcTnoh3nmp6ss3KOtrH_yXw7TNqkWS2JPGyhT1QT8UgBPOXAuNkAKFtKlTcBFLd4qJHpR2V7Cx6RbQTMMgnGyiYIkHOxvl8qhguKFV0vPJ_mbkE1R19vbynMzdUMXsPO-FQOrHM/s320/photo+7.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY81n4danlkINTYFe9kzGNxLyiDCbY1cT_ZNffgKTlSd32QCCO2pY6Dtxs_5SUkQt0uL3RmxVK8XEdpk92kqDMaxH8GHSBQF3WFkq5M9Mqm2Dkk7J1S9Rux7-7Up0u0-ih9OQeTlDkN7g/s1600/photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY81n4danlkINTYFe9kzGNxLyiDCbY1cT_ZNffgKTlSd32QCCO2pY6Dtxs_5SUkQt0uL3RmxVK8XEdpk92kqDMaxH8GHSBQF3WFkq5M9Mqm2Dkk7J1S9Rux7-7Up0u0-ih9OQeTlDkN7g/s400/photo+3.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0e7lCMKZ3wC7of8xL14gyK7NzaKfIi53hKlE49jURuJ-EcJPrcz6_P09ScHck65yn65ivTV9ZohQDvlGHDubmpVPJjZDqBultovLKZ022ydr2fjgRI6ttpjLEhyphenhyphenqoZV_hFIw8HGTV39Y/s1600/photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0e7lCMKZ3wC7of8xL14gyK7NzaKfIi53hKlE49jURuJ-EcJPrcz6_P09ScHck65yn65ivTV9ZohQDvlGHDubmpVPJjZDqBultovLKZ022ydr2fjgRI6ttpjLEhyphenhyphenqoZV_hFIw8HGTV39Y/s400/photo+4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(After) You can see it's still a little thin up front, but I wore a hat most of the day after my cut,<br />
so that made it look a little worse than it did earlier. I'm not sure why I look so angry in this picture, haha!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA02ujs73U5jwoHnRX8eggiYsn5ofYZ_Y3av3i7Q9UTuzFknS0HXIKE6glAHwL_zA0HAr5BFmqeWdX4UFVCe5CEir31gQhVZUymd4-Ve4LkcCAcfTNfKAPUqXJzbaFQEK5akqixtp3Lfw/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA02ujs73U5jwoHnRX8eggiYsn5ofYZ_Y3av3i7Q9UTuzFknS0HXIKE6glAHwL_zA0HAr5BFmqeWdX4UFVCe5CEir31gQhVZUymd4-Ve4LkcCAcfTNfKAPUqXJzbaFQEK5akqixtp3Lfw/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(After) I'm really impressed with the back! My stylist shaped it <br />
up a little bit and with a touch of Toppik, it looks pretty good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Radiation Side Effects</b></div>
<div>
My last radiation treatment was 9 days ago and up until a couple of days ago I had a really sore throat as a side effect. Radiation was given to my left side of my neck, and that side of my throat was really sore for about a week. It felt really raw, it's hard to explain… it was painful to swallow and even to yawn and my voice was a little scratchy for awhile. Luckily that's all gone now and I just have a tiny bit of a sore throat as a result of being intubated during yesterday's surgery.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The fatigue as a result of radiation is mostly at bay. Sleeping all day yesterday after surgery helped I think :) I feel a little tired today, but nothing like the fatigue I felt last week.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Mystery Ailment</b></div>
<div>
So I'm dealing with a mystery ailment that my oncologists can't figure out. About four weeks after my last chemo treatment, the outside of my right thigh began itching really bad. I figured it was just from dry skin (chemo is horrible to your skin), so I slathered it with lotion and didn't think much of it. A week or so went by and it only got worse. Then it started on the left leg. Then it started on my stomach. I tried <i>really, really</i> hard not to scratch it, but I couldn't help myself. Josh said he even caught me scratching in my sleep. It's an itch that can't seem to be satisfied. I've scratched so hard I've bled and given myself bruises. Here's what my right thigh looks like today (sorry it's kind of gross):</div>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkAcapbkbGo0w1HYi8ADo2SYXsJPTirOWPyyy2MLQebA_XTRUu2TJygCaYq1ZMHuajGtIZZAHIRqw-Cz1A0eSCWX7nZxlSvTOFYlxZ0WF7z0dR8TfSmUZ8vvXtOkJKRAFlNgHNRcvORw/s1600/photo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkAcapbkbGo0w1HYi8ADo2SYXsJPTirOWPyyy2MLQebA_XTRUu2TJygCaYq1ZMHuajGtIZZAHIRqw-Cz1A0eSCWX7nZxlSvTOFYlxZ0WF7z0dR8TfSmUZ8vvXtOkJKRAFlNgHNRcvORw/s200/photo+5.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The oncology nurses had me try Benadryl (both oral and topical), Cortizone, ice packs, and Zyrtec (allergy medicine). Nothing helped and the nurses and my doctor are stumped. The have just referred me to see a dermatologist to try to figure it out. I will call them tomorrow morning to set up an appointment. I'm on an oral steroid now to help with the itching, which is helping some, but not completely. Will keep you updated on that!</div>
<div>
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<div>
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<div>
I think that's about it for now! We're ONE week away from our Florida vacation and we're SO excited! Until next time!</div>
<div>
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<div>
Love,</div>
<div>
Melissa</div>
<div>
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Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-72011666075292304002013-11-26T18:57:00.002-05:002013-11-26T18:57:44.188-05:00Radiation: Done!Today was my 10th and final radiation treatment which means I'm OFFICIALLY done with all of my cancer treatment! I think this calls fore more champagne!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqshJTtWWp7qGD0RRYNHXU5_eW9ApWL0GCDOE_KBXPbdKPpkvYbPdUql82flY3u5szgmghjr0-TJ_An4J8Bymac_VclOLwsayEjXyH_m5fHsVIHdET8OznzrZq8Vr_p4nrQcw0SYgun4/s1600/images+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqshJTtWWp7qGD0RRYNHXU5_eW9ApWL0GCDOE_KBXPbdKPpkvYbPdUql82flY3u5szgmghjr0-TJ_An4J8Bymac_VclOLwsayEjXyH_m5fHsVIHdET8OznzrZq8Vr_p4nrQcw0SYgun4/s1600/images+2.jpeg" /></a></div>
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No, fireworks! Definitely fireworks!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGBArFKK_leyakD8BFJ5bD0Iys2awaKA_h6_xXCM-YsHg8tBkP77kxuWl6bu1Q4YAQe41YQuVtvHCs6wR4y-GADqwvCGECAcPby6DLNK2-L3IBWWfKAn5Ga7ac3gd9ujZovim-wsuc1I/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGBArFKK_leyakD8BFJ5bD0Iys2awaKA_h6_xXCM-YsHg8tBkP77kxuWl6bu1Q4YAQe41YQuVtvHCs6wR4y-GADqwvCGECAcPby6DLNK2-L3IBWWfKAn5Ga7ac3gd9ujZovim-wsuc1I/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
Overall, my 10 radiation treatments were pretty easy. There were a few days that they had trouble lining me up properly with the radiation machine, but most treatments were super quick with no issues. After they put the mask on me, they take x-rays to make sure I'm lined up right - they literally measure to the millimeter and a few times had to come in a scoot me around on the table or have me wiggle my face around in the mask. But even on those days, I was in and out of the office in under 30 minutes.<br />
<br />
As for side effects, I'm <i>extremely</i> tired. It's hard to put into words how tired I am. I'm exhausted all day long. The only other side effect is a sore throat. The left side of my esophagus is really raw, which is painful. I'm currently eating a bowl of ice cream which is helping :)<br />
<br />
The radiation technicians sent me home with a little stuffed bear to congratulate me… and they gave me the mask to keep. I personally don't want the mask, but my dad does so he's getting in early Christmas present :)<br />
<br />
So… where do we go from here? I follow up with the radiation oncologist on December 30 - he'll just check in to make sure my radiation side effects are improving (the side effects usually last 4-6 weeks). Then I meet with my regular oncologist in late January. She'll do a physical exam and unless she sees a reason to do it sooner, I won't have to have another PET scan until April. In April, I'll have a full PET scan to check to see if I've relapsed (which I won't!).<br />
<br />
<b>So now that I'm all done with treatment it's time to CELEBRATE! Josh and I would like to celebrate with all of our amazing friends and family who have been there for us during this stupid cancer. I know December is a tough time to get people together, so we're going to wait until January and then throw a big PAR-TAY! More to come!</b><br />
<br />
Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-49813519908765090182013-11-18T18:11:00.000-05:002013-11-18T18:12:09.926-05:00Facing the Hair Reality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had a tough reality check this weekend: I miss my hair.</div>
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<div>
For the first time in months, I got dressed up and headed out for dinner and drinks in downtown Indianapolis with a group of friends. Most of the time I wear a baseball hat or a comfy slouch cap since I'm not comfortable being out in public without a hat. But for "special occasions" I wear this fedora:</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjtjIXXBK5thLdUiuDSq9OITvqwf8THC2945ezc-4Kq_b3EuTsx5LnTC2t9fXi2A-FBzojF0yK6abXmEdhyphenhyphentmu9-Wgd54wkqtk31x06n9VP6-0oRs-2-eafO1Y5cWZfRSGjUfgossqQI/s1600/IMG_4812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjtjIXXBK5thLdUiuDSq9OITvqwf8THC2945ezc-4Kq_b3EuTsx5LnTC2t9fXi2A-FBzojF0yK6abXmEdhyphenhyphentmu9-Wgd54wkqtk31x06n9VP6-0oRs-2-eafO1Y5cWZfRSGjUfgossqQI/s320/IMG_4812.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am with a few of my beautiful friends (sorry guys, they're all taken)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="text-align: center;">All night I found myself admiring all my girl friends and their long beautiful hair, full eyebrows, and luscious eye lashes (all things I no longer have) - and their ability to leave the house without a hat. My hair loss had never really bothered me until then. I think the reason it hit me so hard that night is because my hair isn't really growing back in yet. I know it <i>will</i>, but guess I didn't think it would take this long (my darn optimism got me again!). Plus I'm sick of hats.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
I shed one or two tears when I got home that night and decided I needed to do something about it. I haven't decided yet what that "something"is… In all honesty, I may just end up shaving my head and starting from scratch. But I'm considering a short pixie style hair cut. Hey, Jennifer Lawrence did it and she doesn't even have cancer!</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDhNtHyyMGN5NR54ga4oK0GThpy3r_uo90AvJP8Aj9m2TConICRDIWrd19B34QEgCLXO7uJ4QzGDZtfWnhitqs3s-eIswdeaPKpyaqueZW14jVp0_fwvGlUFKw7yGhor_IENJ5IUlN1g/s1600/b27847cb385e9159_J-Law.preview_tall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDhNtHyyMGN5NR54ga4oK0GThpy3r_uo90AvJP8Aj9m2TConICRDIWrd19B34QEgCLXO7uJ4QzGDZtfWnhitqs3s-eIswdeaPKpyaqueZW14jVp0_fwvGlUFKw7yGhor_IENJ5IUlN1g/s320/b27847cb385e9159_J-Law.preview_tall.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my radiation technicians told me I look like her, so maybe I'll try to look even <i>more</i> like her!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Here are a few shots of how my hair looks now:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAnDLn57XHYqUVoK0nYnRUdKSRxuEiw3d8CBwJVePj4-fBnOQfeWTmqZPdwaIQK9IF6vxtrO3n3ECN_0tPWgxLoMFhFXeDL6afIsIvTaaW89GgRzdYdSi4O2uNIp_6Y9HNaBanmmeC2I/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAnDLn57XHYqUVoK0nYnRUdKSRxuEiw3d8CBwJVePj4-fBnOQfeWTmqZPdwaIQK9IF6vxtrO3n3ECN_0tPWgxLoMFhFXeDL6afIsIvTaaW89GgRzdYdSi4O2uNIp_6Y9HNaBanmmeC2I/s320/photo.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After shower (yes, I'm in my bath robe)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglHT7JFqHFzCXMyf-muVZtd6RgtBIA-mVeVI8IU1LJxy3RzWRbNA342821OGOgDb8t9wGf1RrtuQ7I08PV29F4PI_j2xP9Y_EihqdGEx7ENpEVuVJdH4NQJ4rOMBIWyn0l5i2ka9-iNw/s1600/photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglHT7JFqHFzCXMyf-muVZtd6RgtBIA-mVeVI8IU1LJxy3RzWRbNA342821OGOgDb8t9wGf1RrtuQ7I08PV29F4PI_j2xP9Y_EihqdGEx7ENpEVuVJdH4NQJ4rOMBIWyn0l5i2ka9-iNw/s320/photo+2.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this mole on my head - I named it Chuck and <br />
consider it good luck :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDjUSAewpICZ-lm15k0bEZkdBRS0hoTAZ-6cxv6dSNd73Pvtiq69zLNvxwBxFt13FlzynxYvtJ1NIis4RJ2IaCFsoFv_jJ2p4-iEAHcG1LfB0fPxqD4gsaRNzubiMrLCmcre_xr7TXvQ/s1600/photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDjUSAewpICZ-lm15k0bEZkdBRS0hoTAZ-6cxv6dSNd73Pvtiq69zLNvxwBxFt13FlzynxYvtJ1NIis4RJ2IaCFsoFv_jJ2p4-iEAHcG1LfB0fPxqD4gsaRNzubiMrLCmcre_xr7TXvQ/s320/photo+1.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry hair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoXPYH4OeYkjqQcwIV92f7WJd7Zhh3CfI0QzNBlC17i30soS-9pJk5rLNAejMI9UfgwaiMeZy9IuJcNRXd2Tu1QDEeKH2HgrpqyJW8E47wlZcqk1AK7lVuWnFv9orqOn48nOWkHhVmF4/s1600/photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoXPYH4OeYkjqQcwIV92f7WJd7Zhh3CfI0QzNBlC17i30soS-9pJk5rLNAejMI9UfgwaiMeZy9IuJcNRXd2Tu1QDEeKH2HgrpqyJW8E47wlZcqk1AK7lVuWnFv9orqOn48nOWkHhVmF4/s320/photo+4.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">From the front (after spending about 10 minutes trying to get it to look this "good")</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What's weird is I think it actually looks <i>better</i> in pictures than in real life. Anyway, I'm hoping to get in with my hairstylist soon and see what she recommends. I'm 99% certain I will make <i>some</i> sort of change very soon. I think that if I leave it the way it is, it'll only get more awkward looking as the bald spots fill in. If I leave it alone, I'm afraid it will be several months before it's "filled in" and I'm comfortable going in public without a head covering of some sort. And I'm impatient.</div>
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I'm taking suggestions, so if you have a hair style idea that might work, please share! And of course you'll all be the first to see what I end up doing.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Melissa</div>
Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-65747937503276547662013-11-14T19:22:00.000-05:002013-11-14T19:22:51.416-05:00Radiation: Day 2 (A Bazillion Times Easier)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UvDLgzdVX8tp-8UzEReSVGNhSZb6CbJTLiTXakvTR8GU2hCAuZMmBTgWDz6ctzTUUhhIqfG4Sn9sxv3F7A9Ysjmy3swL4iyeGww7n4b1Aa5asM0-2u70zLM4JsCbXBd9o9UnwJRlHMw/s1600/photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UvDLgzdVX8tp-8UzEReSVGNhSZb6CbJTLiTXakvTR8GU2hCAuZMmBTgWDz6ctzTUUhhIqfG4Sn9sxv3F7A9Ysjmy3swL4iyeGww7n4b1Aa5asM0-2u70zLM4JsCbXBd9o9UnwJRlHMw/s320/photo+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Today was my second (of 10) radiation treatments. Holy moly, this time was so much better. I was in and out in less than 15 minutes!<br />
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Again, I got there and changed into the sexy gown (here's a reminder from yesterday):<br />
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I waited for about 4 seconds in the waiting room before they called me back - I really hope it's quicker next time :) I hopped up on the table, they put the mask on me, and less than 5 minutes later I was done! For some reason the mask felt tighter this time. If it was that tight yesterday when I was in it for 30 minutes, I may have died.<br />
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Here's the only waffle-face I was left with this time:<br />
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That's it! Wham, bam, thank ya ma'am. Hope the next 8 are as easy! Oh by the way, I woke up this morning with a tiny bit of a sore throat. Could just be a coincidence… not sure if it has to do with the radiation. Feels fine now.<br />
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Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-43184988984052682002013-11-13T18:54:00.001-05:002013-11-13T18:56:22.834-05:00Radiation - Day 1 of 10I had my first radiation treatment this afternoon. It was weird and uncomfortable, but I survived! <br />
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The doctor explained what the hold-up was with my insurance (as I complained about <a href="http://www.melissabeatslymphoma.com/2013/11/radiation-delayed.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a>). Apparently the placement of my tumors - well, where they <u>used</u> to be - was awkward. It took a little extra planning and they decided to use a different machine. This machine is used for prostate cancer, brain cancer, and others… but not typically Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The machine will only "zap" the places that need it; if they used the original machine, it would treat a larger area than needed. So the insurance company needed an explanation from them as to why they needed to use this other machine. Anyway, blah blah blah, insurance approved it and here we are!<br />
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I got to the radiologist's office and changed into my awesome gown (it only covers my top half):<br />
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Right on time, they came and got me and took me into the radiation room and had me lay on the table:<br />
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The technicians get me all lined up on the table:<br />
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And the put on the dreaded mask:<br />
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At this point, the mask is attached to the table and I cannot move at all. For the next several minutes, they continue lining me up with the machine:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeIsgcmK82THntIC3O6SF1VZZ4Drd48cW7L82zSzD2INcCJF0aw9Cmss6H-6DhWvh5N0UcIxLr8RfPhq6hME7hWh9JyqPYI60ByX4gVxjgs0p2KK7lIQUj0XzuHYc4RKRlCetH7uOArg/s1600/photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeIsgcmK82THntIC3O6SF1VZZ4Drd48cW7L82zSzD2INcCJF0aw9Cmss6H-6DhWvh5N0UcIxLr8RfPhq6hME7hWh9JyqPYI60ByX4gVxjgs0p2KK7lIQUj0XzuHYc4RKRlCetH7uOArg/s400/photo+6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird, huh?!</td></tr>
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Now that I'm in place (the green lines above are what they use as reference points), they take an X-ray and then get with my Radiation Oncologist to make sure everything is lined up as planned. One technician comes in and scoots my body one way. The other technician comes in and scoots my body the other way. Then they readjust the tape pieces on the mask and make new permanent marks on the mask. Then I have to lay there and wait for the doctor's approval.<br />
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Laying there and waiting was the WORST. The back of my head hurt from the hard table - but I couldn't move my head at all. My neck hurt because there was a hard plastic piece underneath it - but I could move. My back hurt from the hard table - but I couldn't move. At that point I started to panic slightly. It's such a weird feeling be so restricted like that. Nothing major, I just had to take some deep breaths and imagine I was on a beach sipping an ice cold Yuengling. <br />
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Finally the technician came over the intercom and told me they were approved to start the radiation. The treatment itself only took about 2 minutes. <br />
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The yellow part of the machine in the picture above moves from one side of my head to the other and then back again. And that was it. I literally felt nothing.<br />
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The technicians came back in and freed me from that awful mask. I was in the mask this time for almost 30 awful minutes. All of my other treatments will be less than 15 minutes.<br />
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When I was all done, I looked like a turtle:<br />
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I got my schedule for the rest of my treatments. I'll go every day (Monday through Friday) for 9 more treatments. The doctor seems confident that I'll be able to to be done two days before Thanksgiving. Woo hoo!!<br />
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Doc says to put a good lotion on the area every day after treatment to help with any skin issues. He said I may have a sore throat next week after I have a few more treatments. Fatigue will be the only other side effect but he says it will likely be minimal since I'm having a shorter treatment plan. I feel fine tonight - no different than I did before treatment!<br />
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Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038263344949209516.post-59894215179061440312013-11-12T11:08:00.000-05:002013-11-12T19:37:18.691-05:00Radiation: DelayedI'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever start radiation! I thought I'd be almost done with radiation at this point, but instead I haven't even started!<br />
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I met with the Radiation Oncologist on Monday, October 28. I had my planning appointment with the radiation technicians on Wednesday, October 30.<br />
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The techs said they would call in 3-7 days to schedule my first 10 radiation treatments. On Thursday, November 7 (8 days later) I finally called them to try to figure out my schedule. They said they weren't complete with the treatment planning, but would be complete the next day. On Friday, November 8 they called and said they were still waiting on my insurance to approve the treatment plan but scheduled me for Tuesday, November 12 (today) with the expectation that the insurance approval would be complete by then.<br />
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Yesterday, they called and said the approval STILL wasn't in from the insurance company and they needed to reschedule me for Wednesday, November 13. I have appointments for work on Wednesday morning that I cannot reschedule (nor should I have to!), so they were going to try to "squeeze me in" for Wednesday afternoon. They called back yesterday and said they were going to try to get the treatment approved this morning and put me back on the schedule for today.<br />
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So then this morning, they call and say they won't be able to get treatment approved in time for my appointment today. So now I'm waiting for them to call me back after my insurance has approved my treatment to schedule me. I honestly have no idea when that will be. Tomorrow? Next week? Who knows?!<br />
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I'm so frustrated. I'm ready to get this last leg of my treatment started so I can be complete done with treatment and move on with my life!<br />
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<b>UPDATE:</b><br />
I got the call - my insurance has FINALLY approved my radiation treatment! I'll be starting tomorrow (November 13) at 4pm. If all goes as planned, I'll be finished with treatment two days before Thanksgiving. Will be a year to be <b>extra</b> thankful!<br />
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Love,<br />
MelissaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10954091182934799618noreply@blogger.com0