This past week has been full of a lot of holding my breath. I haven't been this stressed (the last few months) in a long time and it really put my body through a lot. The start of this past week was full of blood tests, CT scans and PET scans. Another 6 months had past. Being tired is an understatement, for sure. I was working all day (until 8 pm each night), having little sleep and no weekends to recover. The old self would have no problem handling those hours, but the new me was just trying to keep a smile on my face. Deep down I was just wondering how my body was going to react. My mind was going to extremes for sure.....everything was put to rest when all my tests came back NORMAL! It was such a relief.
I am still doing blood tests every 3 months and will still go for another round of tests in 6 months. Because I finished treatment less then 2 years ago, he still wants to be pro-active.
My goal over the next few weeks is to find myself again. I am settling into a new job and still have a lot to learn (not only in the job, but about myself). I am not a selfish person and my needs typically come last. I am working on changing that. I am eliminating people from my life who add drama and take energy from me. I am not interested in that anymore. I am interested in taking care of me and making sure I am happy. Happy Erin = Happy Brent!
Brent and I fly to Boston on Friday and we have so many fun things in store. We are looking at the wedding location, we are finalizing the food, meeting with our photographer, I have a dress fitting.....Ahhh, so exciting!! This will determine a lot for us. More to come after the trip, along with photos :)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Updates, Updates, Updates
I don't even know where to begin. I feel like there isn't a lot worth writing about, but yet I have been so busy I don't have time to write. I will keep it short, not sure who even reads this anymore....
1) Got a new job at TYR. I am currently still doing my old job too, so definitely in a transitional period. I am working more on the sales side and will catch you all more when I settle into the job.
2) We have been having visitors throughout the summer. My brother Matt came by and we spent the day at Universal Studios. It's always interesting how you don't ever go to things in your backyard unless you have company!
3) My mom is working on her PhD, not sure if I said that before?!? I am so proud of her to take on that challenge. It's only going to bring her more and more success. She and I are very alike, the idea of sitting around all day when we get old isn't in our genes.
4) My brother Jon, sister in law Monica and niece Katherine are coming to visit TOMORROW! They haven't seen the house since we moved in. It will be great to show them how far we've come.
5) Brent and I are planning a trip back east in September (Labor Day Weekend)...we have a lot of wedding plans to finalize. We are definitely doing a small, intimate wedding. It's our style and we wouldn't have it any other way.
6) We are in a slight neighbor war....basically the lady across the street feeds all the stray cats in the neighborhood. What that means for us is that our yard becomes their litter box. Not okay with us! I ended up calling Animal Control, because the LA County law is that she can have 3 cats (if they stay outside) and 5 (if they are in door cats). At one point I think we counted 15 cats, yes 15! I appears the problem is getting less and less of an issue...but they have to know its us, because they have seen Brent chase cats out of our yard numerous times. The last time they were just starting at him from their driveway. Hey, I love animals, but cleaning up other peoples animals' feces isn't my kind of fun.
That's the abridged version of our life in a nutshell....I will try to be better about updates.
1) Got a new job at TYR. I am currently still doing my old job too, so definitely in a transitional period. I am working more on the sales side and will catch you all more when I settle into the job.
2) We have been having visitors throughout the summer. My brother Matt came by and we spent the day at Universal Studios. It's always interesting how you don't ever go to things in your backyard unless you have company!
3) My mom is working on her PhD, not sure if I said that before?!? I am so proud of her to take on that challenge. It's only going to bring her more and more success. She and I are very alike, the idea of sitting around all day when we get old isn't in our genes.
4) My brother Jon, sister in law Monica and niece Katherine are coming to visit TOMORROW! They haven't seen the house since we moved in. It will be great to show them how far we've come.
5) Brent and I are planning a trip back east in September (Labor Day Weekend)...we have a lot of wedding plans to finalize. We are definitely doing a small, intimate wedding. It's our style and we wouldn't have it any other way.
6) We are in a slight neighbor war....basically the lady across the street feeds all the stray cats in the neighborhood. What that means for us is that our yard becomes their litter box. Not okay with us! I ended up calling Animal Control, because the LA County law is that she can have 3 cats (if they stay outside) and 5 (if they are in door cats). At one point I think we counted 15 cats, yes 15! I appears the problem is getting less and less of an issue...but they have to know its us, because they have seen Brent chase cats out of our yard numerous times. The last time they were just starting at him from their driveway. Hey, I love animals, but cleaning up other peoples animals' feces isn't my kind of fun.
That's the abridged version of our life in a nutshell....I will try to be better about updates.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Crazy Hand Cysts!
Its been a while and saying I have been busy is an understatement.
Here are a few highlights....
I had two cysts removed from my left hand. I have one on my wrist and the second on the palm of my hand, the base of my middle finger. I was under the impression the procedure would be pretty simple, 30 minutes tops. Lets just say I was completely wrong! Here is a little picture of what I had going on:
The ganglion cyst got its nickname of "Bible cyst" because back in the old days, the cure for one was for the doctor to whack your wrist with a bible while you held your hand or wrist flat on a table. I just had family members hit it instead. Needless to say, this caused some bigger issues when the surgeon went to take it out. I was put under and the procedure ended up being about 2 hours long vs 30 minutes. They are out, so hoping I never have to do that again. I was in a soft cast for about two weeks and I still don't have my flexibility back in either my wrist or fingers. So fun!
I also went in for more blood work and it all came back CLEAR! I am now about 1.5 years out. In September I will have another full body scan and if all goes well I can move to yearly scans instead of every 6 months. I am very excited about this!
The wedding plans are coming along well. Brent and I are getting more and more excited about our big day.....more to come!
Here are a few highlights....
I had two cysts removed from my left hand. I have one on my wrist and the second on the palm of my hand, the base of my middle finger. I was under the impression the procedure would be pretty simple, 30 minutes tops. Lets just say I was completely wrong! Here is a little picture of what I had going on:
The ganglion cyst got its nickname of "Bible cyst" because back in the old days, the cure for one was for the doctor to whack your wrist with a bible while you held your hand or wrist flat on a table. I just had family members hit it instead. Needless to say, this caused some bigger issues when the surgeon went to take it out. I was put under and the procedure ended up being about 2 hours long vs 30 minutes. They are out, so hoping I never have to do that again. I was in a soft cast for about two weeks and I still don't have my flexibility back in either my wrist or fingers. So fun!
I also went in for more blood work and it all came back CLEAR! I am now about 1.5 years out. In September I will have another full body scan and if all goes well I can move to yearly scans instead of every 6 months. I am very excited about this!
The wedding plans are coming along well. Brent and I are getting more and more excited about our big day.....more to come!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
TWO YEARS!
Two years ago, I was sitting in Dr. Berman's office being asked if I came to my visit alone. The day I heard words I had never heard in reference to myself "Lymphoma, tumor board, chemotherapy" One thing I know for sure is that the body is an amazing thing. If you chose to beat something (or someone) and set your mind to it, it will happen. I hear about those victories every day.
These past two years seem like forever ago and like they didn't happen (does that make sense?) I beat cancer, bought a house, became an aunt, got engaged....so many good things have happened, its hard to reflect and feel sad. I am more empowered! When things truly get hard in life, the true support networks step forward. You know you aren't alone and that is something I treasure more then anything else.
Today I celebrate the Cancer survivors as well as give strength to the ones that need it. You can beat this and you will!
These past two years seem like forever ago and like they didn't happen (does that make sense?) I beat cancer, bought a house, became an aunt, got engaged....so many good things have happened, its hard to reflect and feel sad. I am more empowered! When things truly get hard in life, the true support networks step forward. You know you aren't alone and that is something I treasure more then anything else.
Today I celebrate the Cancer survivors as well as give strength to the ones that need it. You can beat this and you will!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Backing it up a bit.....
There has been so much going on in my life that I can hardly keep up. I couldn't not go back to tell you all about my trip to Austin.
When something major happens in your life you truly realize how important some people are in your life. It's not easy to deal with someone who has cancer and I can not expect anyone to behave is a certain way. All I know is that I had some amazing people around me. Ones who truly supported me (and Brent) and one who were right there with me fighting. Until you go through something like this, you really have no idea what it is like....You think you know, but you don't.
During treatment I had friends donate her hair to Locks of Love
(http://www.locksoflove.org/) it was my college team mate Bethany and my cousin Meaghan. They did the most unselfish thing anyone could do!
On my recent trip to Austin, I was there to share the moment with another friend Lara!! See video below:
When I say you can't know what it's like to lose your hair, you can't. I am a strong person and I can put up a good front....but the day that I knew it had to come off was one I will never forget. There is a huge difference between choosing to do something and having no control over it. I thought I was going to be one of the "lucky" ones. Beat the odds and never lose my hair...until I wake up with a pillow full of hair. The emotional drain and physical power it has over you, you can't put into words. I was not only fighting a battle inside myself, but now I was going to look the part as well.
Flashback....
Bethany, Meaghan and Lara (along with thousands of others)stepped outside themselves to help someone else having to deal with the new "me". I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror when my brother cut it off. We all just stood there crying.
If you want to give back and you want to help someone who has to deal with a life changing experience, look into Locks of Love(http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html) - it will truly change someones life!
Thank you ladies, I love you!
When something major happens in your life you truly realize how important some people are in your life. It's not easy to deal with someone who has cancer and I can not expect anyone to behave is a certain way. All I know is that I had some amazing people around me. Ones who truly supported me (and Brent) and one who were right there with me fighting. Until you go through something like this, you really have no idea what it is like....You think you know, but you don't.
During treatment I had friends donate her hair to Locks of Love
(http://www.locksoflove.org/) it was my college team mate Bethany and my cousin Meaghan. They did the most unselfish thing anyone could do!
On my recent trip to Austin, I was there to share the moment with another friend Lara!! See video below:
When I say you can't know what it's like to lose your hair, you can't. I am a strong person and I can put up a good front....but the day that I knew it had to come off was one I will never forget. There is a huge difference between choosing to do something and having no control over it. I thought I was going to be one of the "lucky" ones. Beat the odds and never lose my hair...until I wake up with a pillow full of hair. The emotional drain and physical power it has over you, you can't put into words. I was not only fighting a battle inside myself, but now I was going to look the part as well.
Flashback....
Bethany, Meaghan and Lara (along with thousands of others)stepped outside themselves to help someone else having to deal with the new "me". I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror when my brother cut it off. We all just stood there crying.
If you want to give back and you want to help someone who has to deal with a life changing experience, look into Locks of Love(http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html) - it will truly change someones life!
Thank you ladies, I love you!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Scan Results
Okay, this one I had to sit on for about a week...let me just say it's been a LONG week. I had my scan and the same day my oncologist called (never a good sign). They found something. It was in my lower abdomen, about 6cm. They were't sure what it was and we were all hoping a cyst (because of the location). I pleaded to get my scan approved and done within the week and once again, success! (I called everyone one I could to push it through).
I was told my Drs can call for the results the same day as my test, so that was my second battle...sorry, getting ahead of myself.
So I was ordered an ultra sound and that happened on Monday. I knew I was getting on a plane Tuesday so I wanted to know if I needed to stay home. No one (Dr. Yu or Dr. Chen) were able to get the results until TODAY! They called multiple times Monday and Tuesday with no success, I hate that and I hate that people are okay with sitting on results!
They found the mass, it appears to be all fluid (excellent), solid would mean tumor and we would have another issue to deal with. They are sending me to another specialist, to be sure. With my history, they don't want to take chances. What will most likely happen is the cyst will dissolve on its own...so keep your fingers crossed.
All I know is that I can finally breathe again and drink some green beer! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
I was told my Drs can call for the results the same day as my test, so that was my second battle...sorry, getting ahead of myself.
So I was ordered an ultra sound and that happened on Monday. I knew I was getting on a plane Tuesday so I wanted to know if I needed to stay home. No one (Dr. Yu or Dr. Chen) were able to get the results until TODAY! They called multiple times Monday and Tuesday with no success, I hate that and I hate that people are okay with sitting on results!
They found the mass, it appears to be all fluid (excellent), solid would mean tumor and we would have another issue to deal with. They are sending me to another specialist, to be sure. With my history, they don't want to take chances. What will most likely happen is the cyst will dissolve on its own...so keep your fingers crossed.
All I know is that I can finally breathe again and drink some green beer! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
PET Scan
My next PET scan is scheduled, March 9th. I will have a full body PET scan as well as a CT scan with DYE. You'll just have to hold tight (as will I) for the next rounds of tests and results.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)