On the next episode...

I saw my Oncologist today and after he went over my CT scan and MRI results with a fine tooth comb he told me that my MRI was great, and that I had a brain :) but there were not any tumors there.

My other tumors showed a little growth (in millimeters) with a growth rate of 9%, but in cancer patients as long as the growth is under 20% then you are considered a "stable" cancer patient. But it might just mean that the IL2 is working and the tumors are inflamed because they are being "attacked". (which has been my feeling all along..wink wink)

Dr. Grossman was excited about the way the treatment is going and said that I was a perfect candidate for the next round. Round 2. I was sooo confused when he said Round 2...I was like, what are you talking about....I thought after this 3rd admittance I was done. HA HA  NOT!  This treatment next week will be the beginning of round 2a, then I will have 2b a week after- then run more tests and if all is still going well..Round 3a and Round 3b. Which goes thru the end of November........DEEP SIGH.

Everyone else seemed to understand that from the beginning but me...oh well, it is what it is.

Apparently that is not the only thing that I do not remember. While I was waiting for the Dr to come in I read my Mom's notes that she had taken while I was in the hospital. I have to say...I do not remember 3/4 of the things that happened. Here are a couple that made me laugh.

• Nurse: Let me turn the lights down so that it will be easy on your eyes
• Amy: Yeah...easy on the eyes like Channing Tatum.

I gave a nurse advice on how to potty train her son (using stars)...(she came back and told me that it was working.)

I told my friend how hot the nurse "Josh" was...thank goodness that he was not the one in the room at the time.

Watching the movie...Crazy, Stupid, Love

Getting mad at my daughter because she didn't grab a jacket. (she was not there)

Getting mad at my "wus-band" for not helping our little boy with an extension cord. (they were not there with me either)

Ordering  a tuna-salad and asparagus..I actually remember ordering the asparagus, but not eating it.

Eating chocolate Ice-cream.

Stay tuned for the next episode....GOTTA LOVE DEMEROL!

Bottoms up

Today was the day that I went in for the follow up CT scan and MRI, can I just say that Barium is so gross! I got the dry heaves after drinking the first bottle (16oz), but I told myself to suck it up and then pretended that I was drinking a Jamba Juice....I fnished the second bottle...Woo-hoo!

The contrast that I get gives a warm sensation, and makes me feel like I pee'd my pants (no...I didn't) and continues through my entire body. I swear everytime that I get the contrast it gets hotter. It is hotter than the heated blankets they give you.

The thing that some people may not realize about the Huntsman Cancer Institute is that everyone you see there is affected by cancer. They may be there for treatment, to visit a loved one who is going through treatment, for follow-up on treatment.  There is no question. Other hospitals you can be there to see a newborn baby, outpatient surgery etc.

When I was waiting in the lobby to get my blood work done, a sweet bald lady said to me "What do you have?" After talking, we discovered that we both have Melanoma. She is going through IL2 treatments also....she lost her hair after the first week of treatments. Her husband explained that while she was in the hospital she was doing great, but then she got home and went downnhill...she was so sick. She looked as if she had lost 40lbs...she couldn't believe that I hadn't lost any weight, or lost any hair. It turns out that we were doing treatments at the same time.

The Dr. told me that each person is different, and that was proven to me today. I feel very fortunate that my treatments have gone the way they have gone.

I should know the results tomorrow after meeting with Dr. Grossman.....I am staying positive that treatments are doing what they are expected to do.

I'll keep you posted :)