Today is a good day! I saw Dr. Reddy, Lymphoma specialist at Vanderbilt, this morning. She looked at both my MRI and PET scan results. She said that my current treatment is effective, and that the lymph node is 100% clear and the cancer on my forehead and frontal sinus are 50% smaller. The knots and swelling that I’m seeing on my forehead are just inflammatory responses to the treatment. She wants to do four more cycles of chemotherapy (6 total), and if my eye area isn’t completely resolved, then we may need to end my treatment with some radiation therapy.

I think she could tell that I am very weary from all of the doctors’ appointments and uncertainty as to my prognosis. This is the best part! She assured me that this is going to be taken care of. That her staging me at 4 had absolutely nothing to do with my outlook (unlike how other cancers can sometimes be interpreted). And just to make sure that she was getting straight through to me, she said, “You will raise your children, see them through college and enjoy your grandchildren.” That’s when Jonathan added a little comic relief on her future-telling and said, “But, we will still wear our seatbelts.” That got her to laugh (a little).

I so desperately needed good news today, and she over-delivered. Just when I felt perhaps I had a rare cancer and that my treatment may not be working, she reassured me that it IS working and she is confident in my future. She outright said, “This will not kill you.” Strangely, such sweet words to me. 🙂

Thank you, thank you for your prayers and overwhelming support! Feel free to quote all of this back to me when doubt sets in. I have every reason to feel confident in my doctor and the treatment she has me on. It’s time for me to be positive and to battle through this with strength.

Thank you Jesus! I have no doubt that You have been walking through this with me.  Every morning I read “the verse of the day” on my Bible app.  I’ve posted two of my favorites from the last couple of months.

I went into my oncologist’s office yesterday with concern regarding my ever-changing forehead/eye area. Just 1 1/2 weeks since my last chemo cycle, and I’m seeing daily changes of swelling (coming and going) and small knots forming on my forehead. This could possibly be some unusual way that my body is responding to the treatment, or maybe it’s an indication that the treatment isn’t working. The best way to determine what’s going on is through scans and my Lymphoma specialist’s interpretation of them.

I had an MRI last night, and I’m currently awaiting the PET scan as I write this. I will then see the Lymphoma expert either Wednesday or Thursday.

Please pray that these scans and upcoming doctor’s appointment help me to get the best treatment specifically for me, and that we see complete healing soon.   Your prayers mean everything!  Just prior to my MRI last night, I had such a great sense of peace wash over me.  I truly believe that our prayers are being heard, and I experienced a little acknowledgment of that last night.  God is good.

On Thursday, December 19th, I’ll be having a PET scan to check the effectiveness of my first two cycles of chemotherapy.  As I noted in the previous post, the lymph node that had been palpable is no longer swollen.  However, prior to the Dec. 5th infusion, my oncologist and I did discuss some new swelling on my forehead.  He believes it may be new Lymphoma growth that occurred between cycle 1 and 2 of chemo.  The scan on the 19th will be important for gauging the progress that’s been made – including the unseen tumor in my frontal sinus – and how to proceed from that point.

Please pray for very clear, good results.

All of this has been a tremendous battle emotionally.  The best moments, I forget about it.  The worst moments are when I walk down the road of “what ifs”.  In September, prior to my diagnosis (but when concern was in full-force) a friend recommended two journaling exercises for me.  First, I listed all of my big struggles that I could recall and how God provided and got me through them.   It is so easy to forget all of those times. . .  One thing I clearly realized is that even the times I was lacking in faithfulness to God, He was forever faithful.  My lack of faith did nothing to diminish His faithfulness – thank God!  The next exercise was for me to write my current fears and, “I will trust you, Jesus.”

Soon after doing this journaling, Jonathan and I were driving in the beautiful Teton mountains and we heard the song below on the radio.  We both felt like God was reminding us of all the times He has been there for us, and that we can trust Him in this as well.