Love for Adrienne

Although I claimed to stay away from my blog and updates (and I will, for myself), I needed to take some time today to ask you all a favor...

A dear friend, Adrienne, (the beautiful woman in the middle of this picture)

....who has been the inspiration for my treatments in the clinical trial world, and her mother, Alison who has been a huge medical advocate for me and some many Hodgkin's patients are having a difficult time right now. Although Adrienne has had Hodgkin's for more than half her life -- She is leading a wonderfully colorful-good quality of life (just as I) thus far; therefore, when she was recently admitted to the hospital and now is in the ICU, it was a complete shock to most (especially Adrienne herself, and her family), as we were all just power walking through NYC together two weeks ago.

I ask for you, today, with everything you have. To please send your love, thoughts, and positive prayers to this amazing woman. She is not only a dear friend, but a pioneer in the world of Hodgkin's Cancer treatment everywhere. As she has taken the first steps... for all of us. Into new treatments, new trials, and a new-possible way of living.

And if you have enough love, to give more today -- please stop by her blog. Click HERE. And leave Adrienne and her family, a message of support. Adrienne and Alison are warriors on their own, but even warriors now and then need our love and positive thoughts of support.

Again, please continue to check Adrienne's blog for updates, as they are taking things a day at a time, and our hope is she will be out of the ICU and home with her family, as soon as possible.

Love,

Bekah

Hiatus

It has taken, a heartbreaking passing of another hodgkin's warrior, to take some pause and put some of my thoughts into perspective....

Eric, passed on August 9th. A kid who completely blew us away with his smile, and his legacy of living life to the fullest.

In addition to Eric's passing, and my oncologist team confirming, that my disease is small enough to receive a break from treatment. I decided to slow down even more, smell the roses, the sunflowers, the raspberries, the mangoes, and the classroomwalls of Lesley University, and my social justice internship... and put cancer, treatment, and hospital visits, on the back burner for a few months. And focus appreciate, every thing/one else in my life, instead.

Which in turn, gives me hope that you turn to those you adore-

things you love to do-

and appreciate the gratitude you have in your heart of your life.

I've decided to fully dance on the edges of new beginnings.

And for the next few months, that is what I plan to do.

So, farewell for now -- I am taking a small hiatus from my blog.

But will venture back here, to share all of my new beginnings (most likely a new treatment as well), come the early months of Winter.

Sending each of you laughter, strength, integrity, kindness, wisdom, empathy, excitement, compassion, tolerance, euphoria, perspective, warmth and patience.

And above all. Love.

Bekah

Can I get a 'hell yeah?'

First, I just want to say -- I LOVE sharing wonderful news with all of my family and friends. But, this does not mean I am naive of how short-lived this good news can be, nor the fact that a lot of my fellow warriors are still in the trenches themselves. Before I begin my own update, I just wanted to take a moment to send some love to four hodgkin's survivors who have supported me in some form over the last few years, who are still facing some battles (however, are totally finding their inner strength to keep moving forward). If you have a moment today, please visit these fellow warriors' blogs:

* Adrienne who is having difficulty with pain management, and looking for new treatment as she proceeds down the clinical trials track, please send her love and pain-free positive thoughts.

* Hillary, who recently had a biopsy done after her second transplant, which revealed her cancer has returned and is now starting another treatment protocol. Please send her words of encouragement as she prepared to undergo another treatment plan.

* Chris, who recently relapsed after his tandem SCT and is starting the SGN-35 Trial today. Here's to a smooth transition Chris, with minimal side effects.

* And Eric, who has kicked the Hodge to the curb, but doctors are suspicious of him now having a blood disorder (aplastic anemia) in which he is now receiving treatment (ATG) for -- and experiencing not-so-fun side effects. Please leave a comment for Eric and his family and they are now battling another disease..

Sending love to all of you...

-----

So... onto the Bekah update! I received a CT scan yesterday after just barely two cycles of Doxil. And the reports, came back wonderful! The Doxil is working! Which is cause for celebration. To break it down for you, I have three major tumors in my body (the other two are small outside spleen lesions, below 1cm in diameter) that were managed throughout the last year. These nodes shrunk... as the evidence is all in the numbers :) My lymph nodes are measured by centimeters. The numbers in Green are from my May scan, the numbers in PUPRLE are from yesterday's (August) scan.

Portacaval lymph node : 1.8 x1.7cm verse 1.2 x 0.8cm

Mediastinal Node: 3.9 x 1.5 cm verse 1.8 x 1.3cm

Right paratrachael node: 3.4x1.8cm verse 2.1x1.6cm

As you can tell there are significant decreases in these nodes. After speaking with my oncologist he believes that after another two infusions (cycles of Doxil), that the nodes might be so small -- there might only be scar tissue left. Therefore, my next scan will be a CT and PET scan. The PET scan measures metabolic activity (cancer hot spots), so if those nodes do not light up -- that means, there is only scar tissue left. But, let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

This scan is great news! It means my disease is still very responsive towards treatment. Therefore, we will do two more infusions, and scan again to see where we are at the end of September. I will be meeting with the lovely and famous Dr. O'Conner next week, which coincidentally will be on the same day Adrienne and Alison will be there! So, we will be having a party in Dr O's office and then a meal somewhere in NY, as I can't wait to see the girls again! And they will get to meet the moms this time :)

During our meeting, I hope to gauge our next steps after Doxil. It appears if this treatment continues to do what it's doing -- I will get some time off after theis next set of infusions. Possibly 1-3 months off of treatment. No drugs, no chemo, no side effects for 1-3 months! How AMAZING is that?! And to discuss when to scan, again. Because, as I've said before -- most likely my disease is not curable. It will come and go, for years on end. Now we have to balance when to treat and when not to treat. And, how much time we allow my disease to grow back again before we put a next set of treatments in place. In other good news... though, this means full steam ahead with three classes and a fall internship starting in late August.

However, for NOW. I get to celebrate. The treatment is working! The cancer is shrinking! and I am feeling great! Right after I got my scan news, I seized the day and bought cheap Jason Mraz tickets and dragged Amy and Mandy out with me to celebrate, right on the water, at an outside venue in Boston, with beers in hand...

It was a great night -- and yet again, I could not stop smiling :)

Again, I can't thank you all enough for your words of support and love these last two months, with the new adjustment of treatment. I hope you take my good news, and celebrate this in your life as well! As you all have contributed so much to my happiness too :)

Cheers!

Sending tons of Love,

Bekah =)