CT Scan's results

I had to give the good new to you all. GOD is truly gave me a miracle. After 6 treatments (I WAS TOLD TO EXPECT A YEAR OF TREATMENTS BECAUSE TUMORS WERE SO LARGE.) for My Non-Hogkins Lymphona, Follicular, Stage 3 grade 2.

The results was cancer in the neck GONE, cancer in the chest GONE, two tumors,(2 & 3 inches, one on each side of the diaphragm GONE and the tumor near the liver almost 75% gone.

They have some concern about the left breast so will be doing another mammogram and a ultersound tomorrow (Wed. June 9th. I also will be doing a Pet Scan tomorrow.

My oncologist said if cancer still showing will have 2 more chemo treatments of Cytoxan, Vinchristine and Retuxan. Then will be on a maintance plan of the Retuxan, once a week for 4 weeks, every 6 months, for 2 years, to try to help the cancer to stay in remisson.

I do want to say that it is nice to get the break from the chemo treatments for the last 7 weeks. The side effects I was going thru (the last 2 for sure) are aready easing up.

I do have questions that I did not ask the Doctor because I was so surprised over the results of the
CT Scans.

1. After I take the 2 more chemo treatments, would they
run another set of CT Scan's and or another Pet scan
to check on the last tumor near the liver?

2. The maintance plan of the Retuxan, are these
treatments normally back to back for 4 weeks or
separated out during the 6 months?

3. If the Retuxan treatment is back to back, is it done
during the last month of each 6 months period or in
the middle of the 6 months time?

4. If some of these side effects that I was having during
treatment were from the Rituxan, I guess I would
still have them? DON'T you dare ask me where's your
sign...LOL...

If anyone knows of anything else that I should know
about my remission stage or I should keep in mind, I do appreciate your advice.
I do know that my cancer is not curable, that I will be in remisson only and that the cancer can be more aggressive when it returns. But my life is also in GOD'S hand and GOD is the great healer...

I am continuing prayer for us all and that there will be a cure soon for us all.. Sheila

How are you doing now? I too have NHL follicullar I have stage 4 just read your progress wow so great! Chris

Sheils WONDERFUL news can't ask for much better huh?? Questions sound good, just be sure they are written down so you remember them and bring someone with you to help you hear what is said and remember that. So happy you did so well now to finish off the nasty stuff and move on! Praying for good scans!

So nice to hear that things are going so well. The next thing I have is some blood work at the end of Jan to see if my blood counts have improved.

Congradulations.The Rituxan would be spread out over 6 months.I never had any big side effects to write home about with Rituxan.To me it was a walk in the park.

Justme2 so glad to hear about your success. I was told that when I get to the maintenance of Rituxan it would be spread out over 6 months but check with your Doctor or the nurse that dose your treatment to be sure. Thanks for sharing your good news it is encouraging.

What happened actually was I went thru 6 months of retuxan/trenda and got remission. Then dr said I would have 2-4 yrs of remission with retuxan maintanence. The maintanence was to start in Dec 2011 and that day my lab where draw and I met with the dr per usual before my treatment. The dr said that my white count and neutrophil count were so bad that all maintanence treatments are to stop. Je said my cancer will come back in 1-2 years because of it. I really wonder now how serious it will come back. Will it be more aggressive or something?? Just seeking info on this cuz it is really makin me nervous. It is just sorta a fresh battle wound.

Sounds like there are still questions that he needs to address. How long before youe counts are back to normal and when they are why can't you do maintenance treatments then? And then the questions you have just asked. I would make an appt. or talk to the RN and have her relay your questions for an answer. Please let us know!

Hi CrissyOOH I have not gotten to the maintenance stage yet but now I get an injection of Neulasta the day after I get chemo to jump start my white blood count and so far it is doing the job. When I get blood drawn everything is where it should be. You could probably ask your Doctor or the nurse about Neulasta to see if that would be something that could help get your white blood count where it needs to be in order for you to continue with your maintenance. Good luck to you keep us posted of your progress.

I believe I do need to ask some more question and really try to get some hopefully understandable answers. The Dr is running a group of labs on the 31st of Jan as a follow up to the Dec 20th appt that stopped the treatments. Then maybe something will be found. In my case I also had a tumor with cancer cells in my mouth witch was strange the dr said. I will be sure to post the info and will surely be looking for support on this one. The last chemo treatment I had was in Oct 2011. So I thought by now my counts should be back to stable/normal? Be staying in touch for sure.

could it be your body was fighting something not cancer related to up the counts?sometimes the numbers are misleading as to cause and repeated blood ck down the road will show changes for the better. guess you will find this out on next check, hard not stew though till then, but try as stress is our enemy. take care,
Kb