We thank everyone participating to this emotionally ridden surprise!!! We also thank them for their generous donation to Mihaela's Hodgkin's Lymphoma fund.
Friday, February 17, 2012
A surprise
We thank everyone participating to this emotionally ridden surprise!!! We also thank them for their generous donation to Mihaela's Hodgkin's Lymphoma fund.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Treatment #2, done and over/Tratamentul #2, complet
Yesterday Mihaela went to the clinic at 8am and did not leave until 6pm. Long day!! First they got blood drawn to test the white blood cell count level which was at almost normal range, at about 3.8, normal is 3.9-4.00. They found that Calcium is a little low so she needs to work on that, more coconut milk (dairy has lower calcium by volume when processed in our body) and leafy greens, kale, spinach, broccoli, etc but the naturopath dr recommended some Calcium supplements also. The nutritionist was happy to learn that she gained a couple of pounds. The oncologist was pleased to see that the lymphnodes on the neck decreased significantly, where they are barely palpable (feel them) It is somewhat expected after the first treatment, but doctor seemed excited about it. Afterwards she went upstairs to infusion to get the chemo, she settled in a comfy reclining chair with a pretty good view of the dessert. First they gave the pre meds for nausea and ‘antistress’ stuff that makes you loopy and sleepy; when that is over they start with each of the 4 individual ABVD drugs at the time. It takes a total of 5-6 hours for the entire process. On the bright side they bring you food and fluids/smoothies as one pleases as Mihaela tries to eat and hydrate plenty for the body to sustain the ‘poison’! :)
Got more natural supplements to add to the ‘after treatment’ regiment to take along with the anti-nausea medications. The naturopath prescribed Co-enzyme Q10 and glutamine to help protect the body from the chemo drugs.
The doctor decided to go ahead this time with Neulasta, the shot that improves the white blood count. This should be done 24 hrs after treatment, so on Thursday at 6pm she’ll be there ready and square. It’s a shot they usually do in the belly apparently it gets absorbed in the system faster in the adipose (fatty tissue). Not looking forward to the potential side effects of bone and marrow pain/discomfort. I think they prescribed her something for that too. :)
There might be a problem with the chemo meds in the long run, it seems the clinic is keeping things low profile and do not specifically admit to that but they admit there is a national shortage of various drugs, even simpler ones. Considering the needs, as it seems now, at least 8 treatments/doses, potentially 12, we want to make sure they preorder or ensure the meds will be available. They cannot guarantee it but did say they will do all possible, of course. I guess time will tell. Here's a link from the FDA with national drug shortages
Day 1 after chemo seems OK so far. There is some residue from the loopy drugs from yesterday as she told me earlier today and she is somewhat dragging around the house. Hair started to fall but still not significant, no chunks yet. First sign of that, it will be buzzed and Mihaela will try to compete with Cipi on their best looks:)
We all hope she will feel the same, as in well and good, after this treatment as she did after the first one. From what we understood yesterday, she will feel the same throughout the treatment, as sh did after the first one, which is a good sign, because she only had a few days of feeling 'flu-like' symptoms, but nothing major or needing to stay in bed for days.
Thank you once again to your continuous support. Please feel free to share the link to this blog to anyone that might be interested.
Got more natural supplements to add to the ‘after treatment’ regiment to take along with the anti-nausea medications. The naturopath prescribed Co-enzyme Q10 and glutamine to help protect the body from the chemo drugs.
The doctor decided to go ahead this time with Neulasta, the shot that improves the white blood count. This should be done 24 hrs after treatment, so on Thursday at 6pm she’ll be there ready and square. It’s a shot they usually do in the belly apparently it gets absorbed in the system faster in the adipose (fatty tissue). Not looking forward to the potential side effects of bone and marrow pain/discomfort. I think they prescribed her something for that too. :)
There might be a problem with the chemo meds in the long run, it seems the clinic is keeping things low profile and do not specifically admit to that but they admit there is a national shortage of various drugs, even simpler ones. Considering the needs, as it seems now, at least 8 treatments/doses, potentially 12, we want to make sure they preorder or ensure the meds will be available. They cannot guarantee it but did say they will do all possible, of course. I guess time will tell. Here's a link from the FDA with national drug shortages
Day 1 after chemo seems OK so far. There is some residue from the loopy drugs from yesterday as she told me earlier today and she is somewhat dragging around the house. Hair started to fall but still not significant, no chunks yet. First sign of that, it will be buzzed and Mihaela will try to compete with Cipi on their best looks:)
We all hope she will feel the same, as in well and good, after this treatment as she did after the first one. From what we understood yesterday, she will feel the same throughout the treatment, as sh did after the first one, which is a good sign, because she only had a few days of feeling 'flu-like' symptoms, but nothing major or needing to stay in bed for days.
Thank you once again to your continuous support. Please feel free to share the link to this blog to anyone that might be interested.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Donations
Many have asked how they can help Mihaela with medical bills or any other potential costs. For everyone's information, we do have insurance; however, if there are any outstanding bills uncovered by the insurance company, we will use the funds to cover such expenses, and if for any reason whatsoever there is money left over in the fund, it will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a non profit organization dedicated to individuals with conditions like Mihaela's, or any related ones.
We thank you for thinking of not just spiritually, but also financially, which is a reality when dealing with such life challenges.
[RO] Mulți au intrebat cum pot să ajute financiar pe Mihaela, fie cu restanțe la asigurari sau spital, sau alte cheltuieli potentiale in timpul tratamentului. Vrem să imformăm pe toata lumea ca momentan noi avem asigurare dar in orice eventualitate, dacă vom avea restanțe, o să folosim bani stranși in acoperirea acestor cheltuieli. In cazul in care va rămane orice suma in acest fond, balanța va fii donată la Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, o societate non profit, dedicate persoanelor cu condiția Mihaelei, si altor condiții.
We thank you for thinking of not just spiritually, but also financially, which is a reality when dealing with such life challenges.
[RO] Mulți au intrebat cum pot să ajute financiar pe Mihaela, fie cu restanțe la asigurari sau spital, sau alte cheltuieli potentiale in timpul tratamentului. Vrem să imformăm pe toata lumea ca momentan noi avem asigurare dar in orice eventualitate, dacă vom avea restanțe, o să folosim bani stranși in acoperirea acestor cheltuieli. In cazul in care va rămane orice suma in acest fond, balanța va fii donată la Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, o societate non profit, dedicate persoanelor cu condiția Mihaelei, si altor condiții.
Mulțumim tuturor care vor să participe la acest fond. Dacă aveți intrebări, vă rugăm să comențati pe blog, să ne contactați sau să ne sunați.
My Story
Officially diagnosed on January 3, 2012 with Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma, lymphocytic rich type, Stage 3A (A means no symptoms). Found an enlarged lymph node on the right side of the neck, above the clavicle around February 2011 with no other symptoms. I postponed to have it checked thinking I was busy with school and family, not thinking is something serious although I was worried about it. After graduation (dental hygiene school) towards the end of November 2011, I finally had it checked. I got my first CT scan along with the blood work, and I was referred to an oncologist who gave me the dreading news, he was 90% positive it is Hodgkin's Lymphoma. From there more tests were necessary PET scan and biopsies to get to an exact diagnosis. I decided to get a second opinion with CTCA, where I also opted to get treatment. Right now I am on chemotherapy treatment. I am on ABVD (Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine – the names of the 4 drugs) for 8 cycles, 1 cycle every 2 weeks, so 4 months, for now. As I mention I get treatment at CTCA (Cancer Treatment Centers of America) in Goodyear AZ where the oncologist, Dr. Kempka, works with a Naturopath Dr. Birdsall and a nutritionist Danielle Bach. They value treating the disease, but also the person making sure to prevent as much as possible any side effects from the treatment, and maintaining a healthy body during the treatment process.
[RO] Am fost diagnosticata oficial in 3 Ianuarie 2012 cu Clasic Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Stagiul 3A (A inseamna fara simptome). Am descoporit un ganglion umflat in partea dreapta a gatului, deasupra claviculei prin Februarie 2011 fara nici un fel de simptoma. Am amanat sa ma duc la doctor fiind foarte ocupata cu scoala si problemele de zi cu zi, gandindu-ma ca nu e ceva serios, dar ma macina gandul ca ceva nu e in ordine. Dupa graduare (igiena dentara) spre sfarsitul lunii Noiembrie 2011 m-am dus la doctor. Mi-au facut un CT scan si teste la sange si apoi am fost trimisa la un oncolog, care mi-a dat vestea ca 90% sigur este Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (un tip de cancer la ganglioni). De acolo au pornit un sir de alte teste necesare, PET scan si biopsii pentru a afla diagnosticul exact. Acum sunt in tratement cu citostatice numit ABVD (Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine – numele celor 4 medicamente) pentru 8 cicluri, 1 ciclu la 2 saptamani, deci pentru 4 luni, deocamdata. Sunt in tratament la CTCA un centru de tratament de cancer din S.U.A., acesta aflandu-se in Goodyear, Arizona unde oncologul Dr. Kempka lucreaza cot la cot cu un doctor naturist Dr. Birdsall si nutritionista Danielle Bach. Ei pun valoare in tratarea bolii, dar si a persoanei si fac tot posibilul sa previna cat mai multe din efectele secundare ale tratamentului, si sa mentina corpul cat mai sanatos pe durata tratamentului.
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