Exciting News

Here is the exciting update.

Yesterday my Dad and I went to the doctors (my family won’t send me to the oncologist alone). And Dr. Larson was actually on time. Dena and I have waited 45 minutes to see him. The exciting news is the lymphoma is gone. I still have three lymph nodes they are watching. I will be one of those people they are always watching. We also got to see my last scan. I do have some lung damage from radiation (I also had some before radiation) and he also said my two lungs won’t look the same any more.

He did ask about my cough and I said some days I cough 5 minutes a day and some days 5 hours a day. He asked if I want some medication and I told him no if it was prednisone. I have been on it long enough and I don’t like the side effects (weight gain).

Also Dr. Larson said I could start working out again. Even with a high heart rate (126 yesterday at the doctors, it should be between 50-90). He told me that I know what I can do. I’m sure my Dad didn’t like that answer, Dr. Larson doesn’t know me very well, and I can be a little stubborn. I have an Echo gram on Monday and a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday to have my heart rate check out.

We have our winter dog Bailey back. I think she is loving life.

It’s nice having a great report right before the holidays and I have a great three-month break from oncology.

Thanks for your prayers and support
Have a great weekend
Anna

The latest

Here is what I have been up to.
My cousins and Auntie Patty (everyone else please call her Pat) came to town for my grandma's funeral. It was great spending time with them. I just hope we don't wait another 9 years to see them. Before we left Austin we went to the Spam Museum, it was actually pretty cool. We (my brother and sister) have asked my dad for years to go to the museum, so we finally got to go. While Pat, Heather, and Renee were in town we went to Stillwater for some tea and shopping. It was a great afternoon on the river. It did take me some time to recover after they left (I didn't get all my naps in and I didn't want to miss anything).

The next weekend was Halloween weekend. Jakob and Kennadi (Bryan and Jessica's kids) came over to show off their cool costumes and to get their treats. The neighbors were excited to finally have some trick or treaters. It's been a few years since we have had any trick or treaters. We did have some excitement in the neighborhood on Halloween night, the kids down the street had a party with about 200-300 people at it and they had a stabbing around 1:00 am. Good times had my all. The police where still there at 8:00 am on Sunday morning.

Last weekend my family finally went out for my birthday dinner. We went to Pizza Juce in Downtown Minneapolis. I highly recommend the Mash potato pizza. I also had my birthday cake. One of my friend's 6 year old nieces was very concerned about me not having a birthday cake. On Saturday I went out for tea and shopping with Dena and Jeanine in Anoka. On Sunday one of the greatest things was having a 3 hour brunch with some of the girls from the pool. I did help my Dad rake the yard a little bit this weekend in the nice weather that we had. Yesterday (Monday) I went to the compost with my dad to help with the trailer full of leaves. While at the compost we had to leave laughing. There were two gentlemen in a pickup and trailer next to us who didn't know how to back the trailer and then they got out of the truck and needed a leaf blower to empty the trailer. It was like being at the boat landing and watching the crazy people. My Dad and I emptied our trailer quick and left as they were about half done.

Overall I'm still doing okay. I'm just fatigued most of the time. I still can't exercise much due to a high heart rate. I'm still coughing a little bit and trying to stay off the meds. I have a PET scan next week and a doctors appointment on Friday (11/20). Dena or my Dad will go with me to the doctor.

Have a great week
Anna,