Great News!!

Last Thursday, the 25th, I returned to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center for my 4th round of chemo. The Thursday prior I underwent my second PET scan. My visit to RMCC was not only to receive the chemo, but to review the results of the PET scan with my oncologist. During my 3rd round of chemo, the doctor ordered the PET scan, saying we could determine the extent of the cancer. I, in my own way, asked, "Do you mean we can determine the extent of the healing?" I was confident the report would be a good one, since I have been feeling better and stronger, and the evidence of cancer in my neck appeared to have been gone for quite a while.

I had no idea when I sat in the infusion room that Dr. Feiner would come racing over to me, so excited, waving my report in his hand....He had it marked with certain passages circled and exclamation points. Rob and I listened as he went over the report while my nurse was drawing blood and starting chemo number 4....

The report states: "NO EVIDENCE OF RESIDUAL DISEASE"! In other words, I am 100% in remission! What a blessing! What a miracle! Even the doctor couldn't believe the extent of and my rate of recovery! Needless to say, Rob and I are overjoyed with the news! Picture me laughing and weeping at the same time.

I am certain all the love and good wishes along the way have helped the process along. I continue to be so grateful to all of you who visit this blog, think about me, send sweet notes, and say prayers. All those good wishes are the most healing medicine of all.

WHAT'S NEXT:

After the great report, and I might add, my blood work is looking healthier and I am gaining strength and energy every day, I will continue with the chemotherapy treatments. I do not have to return to RMCC for another 3 weeks, when I will have round 5 and a future course of treatment will be determined. My doctor is wonderful...he tends to err on the side of caution. To paraphrase his words, we don't want to put all our eggs in the PET scan basket, so the chemo will continue to be sure we haven't missed any microscopic cells that might not have appeared on the scan.

Regardless, of future treatments, I am definitely on the upswing and the beautiful light at the end of this tunnel is shining more brightly than ever.