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.