Eager Beavers -- this is for you!

I've been meaning to post pictures, but between the move, treatment, and life, I've again lost my 'transfer' to do such. So, you will all have to be patient. However, the apartment is definitely almost up to 'Bekah' quality. But! You did not sign in today, to look for that.

For my eager beavers, who have been texting, calling, and emailing.
Here is the run down from last week:

• Met with Dr. O, we did NOT do a scan, we stopped SGN-35, the pain was TOO much for all of us, and there was no quality of life left. In addition, there wasn't any reduction. Which equated to, another end of another trial. This was the 6th treatment I've been on in the last three and a half years. I feel old.

• We switched to Bendamustine, a drug that has been used in Europe since the 60's and is FDA approved here for CLL and specific Lymphoma's (just not Hodgkin's yet). It has had great (fast, but short) responses. Therefore, if it works, it might give me some room to breathe without a lot of disease, but most likely the disease will come back fast. The catch: I am only allowed six cycles of this drug, and then no more... Another Hodger Kirsten is on this right now, you should cheer her on and see that she's been having a decent quality of life on it too. 

• As soon as we switched the drugs. My night sweats, fevers, pain, and other symptoms. STOPPED. (Yay! this is incredible news) This probably means something is happening to the cancer (so keep your fingers crossed).

• Main side effect of Bendamustine: low blood counts. To yield my counts bottoming out, we inject a shot called Neulesta into my lovely body. The day after my drug infusions. This makes my stem cells/blood counts go UP! but causes my pain in my back and my bone pain in my body to be earth shattering to the core.  Although I hate pain medications, to deter the pain, I utilize narcotics for most of the weekend that I've had my treatment. This means, I usually don't respond to people -- or if I do, you tend to get a pretty humorous response ;)

So, it's Monday evening, at the moment... and, I'm just about drifting out of my chemo-brain, narcotic-fog. I  would say that this is how my schedule is going to be for those who keep track :)

• Treatments will be on Thursdays and Fridays (next treatment August 19th and 20th)
• Neulesta Shot will be on Saturdays (August 21st)
• Pain, chemo-fog, unable to communicate well will occur between Saturdays and Tuesdays (August 21st-24th). 
• And we hope for good days... until the next round (September 9th and 10th).  

I'll be checking in again, to update you on other things BESIDES cancer. As I am slowly starting to plan my fall schedule, I have some incredibly exciting news about this coming winter, my new roomie! (my pup lilly), my amazing family (yet again!) and sharing silly tears over the fact that this last 'check in' with Dr. O was my two year anniversary working with him. 

Your cheers, posts, emails, and energy keep me going -- and this has been, and still is a small rough patch transitioning into a new treatment SO sudden. I thank you, I thank you, I thank you, from myself to my family, to all of you, for what you've given me everyday and what you provide me in the future.

Pictures to come soon, promise!

- B