Monday, November 14, 2011

2010 - 2011 Annual Run Report

With the one year anniversary of my diagnoses of Lymphoma this week, I have decided to compile some statistics from the past year...

  • Chemotherapy Sessions: 11
  • Nuelasta Shots: 10
  • Anaphylactic Shock: 3 due to allergies to chemo drugs
  • Surgeries: 2 due implanting my iv port also pneumonia with an infection outside of my lung
  • Paracentesis: 2 (for a total of approximately ten liters of fluid removed from my stomach)
  • Days in the Hospital: 20 including some in I.C.U.
  • Blood Draws: I lost track, but it is easily over 100+
  • Friends made: hundreds and a heart felt thanks to each and everyone of them
  • Lives touched through the Blog and Social Media: thousands, but still not enough

This concludes a short list of things that have happened to me in the past year and in no way includes every event. My life has been changed and I must say for the better. Having gotten a wake up call about making life changes, diet changes and an overall attitude adjustment is hard thing to do at 48, but it has been accomplished.

What else have I learned this past year and what are some common misconceptions I have heard and some things I want to be heard and or talked about.... Cancer is not a death sentence... you may not lose your hair while going through chemo, but getting older may be a factor..Why can't all patients get equal treatment? Why is your attitude so important? Why do we focus only on breast cancer? This in no way takes away from the Departments that have worn pink or "wrapped" their rigs in pink to acknowledge it...what about the rest of us? Are we any different? What about those that worked the "pile" after 9/11? In the perfect world we all would be treated equally but this is far from being a perfect world. Sorry if any feathers get ruffled, just stating my feelings.

Even though I started this post a few weeks ago, work has been hectic and with the addition of a new granddaughter to the family, I have been a bit busy. Today I am sitting in a chair and receiving a Chemo treatment (add another to the run report), so I have a little free time on my hands. A new facebook page has been started with the same name as this blog and the hope is to continue to help spread the word and also help answer questions. Please stop by and "like" it. Well the Benadryl is starting to kick in so I guess it is time to say bye for now. As always, Take Care, Be Safe and Never Forget!!

 
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