You are so cute! And you sure know how to make a girl feel cared for with that siggy of yours, you sweetie pie!

Ok, BIG FAT update in my blog, but the readers digest version is that I get a bone marrow biopsy next week :fr: (and some other stuff) and then start chemo Thursday, Jan. 13. I will get it every other Thursday for 12 times, for a total of 6 "cycles." She is not recommending radiation at this point, because my cancer is not "bulky" -- meaning I do not have masses. I have lymph nodes almost 5 centimeters in diameter, but they're all separate and dispersed. I am REALLY happy about it, and hope I don't end up needing it, because the radiation is what often causes the Hodgkins survivor to develop a secondary cancer.

I'm not going to get pumped full of steroids, which is EXCELLENT news -- so I will not be in the weight GAIN segment of chemo patients!!! Big relief there....you don't even know... I couldn't imagine fighting for my life and being bald and nauseous for all the time I was, while steadily gaining the standard 30-40 pounds folks do when they're on that regimen. I would have done it, but I would NOT have been happy. I'm planning on trying as hard as I can to eat really, really responsibly and nutritiously in support of the chemo (limited sugar, lots of complex, high fiber carbs, lots of veggies and fruit, etc.) so I won't be in the camp of mac and cheese chemo eaters. Or at least, that's my earnest intention now.

Thanks for thinking of me, everybody......:grouphug:

hey sarah... just popping in to let you know that i have been thinking of you.

Sara thanks for the update! My prayers are with you guys. If there is anything I can do please let me know. I hope it doesn't come to bone marrow for since it will mean more poking aound your body. If you have problems finding a match I'll be more that willing to be tested and donate. Sending tons of healing vibes your way and hugs.

Hi Sarah -

Okay, how cute is Lorraine with the Italian book? She really knows how to get to a girl's heart.

Not only do I think you being responsible nutritionally will be good for your past hard efforts, I think it will be great for your body. I imagine all your nutritionally strong white blood cells like little soldiers, partnering up with their allies - the chemo troop and marching in to fight that cancer. hmmm... I'm much too visual.

Sending you my healing vibes.

Jessica

Tearing up again. I hope it's not in your bone marrow. *hugs*

Sarah you are truly in inspriration to us all. You are hanging in there so well. I hope all goes well with your marrow. I'll try and get over to your blog to read the full updates.

Just popping in to let you know I am thinking about you!!

I was thinking about you today, so I thought I would pop in and give some hugs:
:grouphug:

Thanks for keeping us all updated Sarah

I hope against hope that it has not spread to your bone marrow - I really hope you catch a break! I'm glad you had some 'good' news about the chemo - it's good that you don't need radiation at this stage - yay! And it's good that you don't need steroids - putting on all that weight would not be helpful to your self esteem, and every little bit helps doesn't it?

Do not underestimate the benefits that eating healthy foods will do for your recovery. I used to work in a wholefood shop and we used to get people with cancer coming in who were on complete wholefood and organic fruit and veg diets. It will boost your immune system, which you really need at the moment.

Keep strong - I'm thinking and praying for you often.

Love Amanda x

Good luck with the bone marrow biopsy tomorrow and I pray that there is nothing there and you are still at a lesser stage. Will you find out right away or will it take a few days?

What I have heard is excellent for circulatory system is carrot and beet juice (organic of course). Your urine will be red from the beet juice (scary the first time you see it) and the juice is very tasty.

I'm all for a lot of different holistic approaches to healing but you have to believe that they are going to work or it is a waste of time. My mom has osteoarthritis and kidney disease and I've tried suggesting a million things to her but she has no use for anything like accupuncture or massage therapy so it won't work. I really believe that your mind can do a lot of work healing the body as long as you are open to it. Anyway I"m sure you've heard a lot of this already so I'll just sign off, here's hoping you get good news tomorrow.

Sarah,

I haven't been here for a while, so I did not know about your illness. I'm sending prayers and hugs your way! I'll be thinking about you-we're all here to support you!

Hugs,
Sherry

I'm also on the video fitness 100 lbs yahoo list-the fellow Alarm fan :D Do you want me to post a message there for you? I don't want to do anything without your permission.

Heya Sarah, I know your bone marrow biopsy was today, and I've been keeping you in my thoughts as always. I hope everything went smoothly. I get kind of anxious after a few days of you not being around. I read your blog though, so I am up to date. :)

Hello, all! :wave: Thanks for thinking of me, you guys. Tammy, as you've seen, I'm really on top of the updates over at my blog. I miss all of you!

Phew! What a day! I had the bone marrow biopsy, followed by giving a bunch of blood, a visit to the American Cancer Society, and then back to the hospital for an echocardiogram. This getting sick thing really keeps you BUSY! :dizzy:

As usual, I have a lot more details over at my blog, but the bone marrow biopsy was a word that starts with a "b" and rhymes with, um, sandwich. What an insane amount of pain! She got the marrow -- not fun, but it didn't require repeated attempts -- but then when she was going back in to get a chip......holy SOCKS!! It took at least 6 tries (that's when I stopped counting) of her going in and rooting around trying to find the spot. Apparently it's more difficult if you're heavy -- and I'm a heck of a lot less heavy than I was, but I'm still not exactly "trim" at a size 14/16...that, coupled with my "young" age made it a lot more difficult for her. All pelvises are shaped differently, and then being young and/or heavy makes it tougher. So anyway, she felt awful, but it was a drawn out process. Lidocaine only. Then afterwards I had excessive bleeding from the hole for a while -- through my jeans and onto other stuff -- but that seems to be under control now.

Other upcoming stuff: I'm off tomorrow and then Friday will be my last day at work. Then on Saturday I have an emergency appt. with the dentist, because they tell you to get your teeth cleaned prior to starting chemo. Then on Tuesday, I get my port put into my chest (that's outpatient, general anesthesia) and that will help me a lot during the chemo but I've been warned that it will hurt at first. Wednesday I meet with my oncologist to get some nausea prescriptions, review the bone marrow biopsy results (please GOD let us have caught it before it moved into my bones) and then I start chemo on Thursday.

No rest for the wicked, right? ;) My energy is very low, and I'm still a bit numb about all of it. It's certainly becoming more real the more time I spend at the hospital -- oh yeah, and my chemo class with one of my oncology nurses was great yesterday; Lorraine and I both really benefited from it.

Lorraine's holding up well -- she gets upset seeing me in pain or worried, but overall, we're both hanging in there. She's such an amazing gift -- I'm just in awe of her and so grateful to have her.

I miss you guys a lot -- it's an overwhelming time for me so I'm sure you understand my not participating as much. I just SO appreciate all of your support and prayers -- while I've always known you were all pretty fabulous people, your kindness to me has just blown me away. It really has. I come here and read your words and they always make me smile and often make me cry. In a good way, though! ;)

Stop by my blog to check out my updates too! I send you all love and big, BIG hugs!!!!!!! :grouphug:

Sarah, I think you will find that while so much that is going to happen is very difficult it is bearable and you'll find strength you never knew you had. This isn't going to be the best chapter in your life but I think you'll learn more about yourself during this time more than at any other time in your life. You've already been through a lot, that biopsy sounds like ****. Best wishes and love always!

Sarah,

Thinking of you ~ Prayers, {{{{{{hugs}}}}}}, good vibes, fingers crossed ~ all of that for you!!

Take care