This is WKRG reporter Holly Ames. She called me last week about doing a story on me, my Blog and T-shirts. I ask her had she really read my Blog? And she said yes!
We shot in at Jamie & Tammy house in the sun room.
It should air this evening Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 5:00 PM.
I am now officially finished with Chemo treatments. It is kind of scary ending this segment of my treatment that I have come to know what to expect and feel as though I am actively fighting cancer. Moving on to the radiation and the unknown is disconcerting. I have been so at home with my Chemo team at Hope Medical Group, Dr. Tan, Carol, Nikki, Heather, Kim & Keri. Mary Rush has been my faithful chemo partner. She drove me and picked my drug induced drunk self up each week and went with me on those days I saw the Doctor to help me remember to ask questions and write down the information.
I shall now move on to the Radiation department at Gulf Coast Cancer Center, and Dr. Bill Hixson. I have semi begun their "Z" training. I shall go for 6 weeks every week day for 30 treatments. The first begins April 30.
Don't forget the South Baldwin Relay is Friday, May 4, 2007. The Survivors Reception in the Foley High School Cafeteria registration begins at 5:00 PM the Reception at 5:30. The Relay Opening Ceremonies are at 7:00 PM and the Luminary lighting at 10:00 PM. Enter the Relay from behind the school off Cedar Street.
Here is some news on Richard Aarp (he has been at Scared Heart since last week having Chemo for Leukemia) I received from Melissa Harber today:
Richard was released from the hospital late Tuesday evening. I only talked to Beth briefly on her way home, so I still don't know all the details. They have to keep a close watch on his temperature and if it goes up at all he has to go back to the hospital. I'm going over Friday night to cook dinner for them, so I'll know more then. They do have to be very limited on visitors since they can't risk him being exposed to anything. Mary Rush Schreiber has offered to teach Richard (he couldn't ask for a better teacher!). Please keep Richard, Beth, Randy and Wyatt in your prayers.
Terry Underwood's mastectomy went well last Thursday as did Linyard Wright's lumpectomy.
UP DATE FROM From: Lisa Wood [mailto:artylisawood@gulftel.com]
Greetings to all:
We hope that you had a blessed Easter. We had an Easter egg dying party in the back yard on Saturday and spent a wonderful day at the river with my dad’s side of the family. We are including an update of my medical information since many of you have asked. I apologize for sending a mass email. Unfortunately, with the end of the semester soon approaching and along with it end of year art shows, field trips, scholarship interviews, and contests, I seem to get more behind in my schedule daily.
I still go up to Birmingham to the Kirklin clinic every single Monday for blood work, doctor appointments, and treatment days. Our friends, Susie and Mike in Birmingham have been wonderful about letting us stay with them anytime that we want. I just got back from Birmingham this afternoon. My cousin Susie was my chauffer this week. I have really enjoyed getting to visit with my different driving companions weekly. If you would like to sign up for a weekly jaunt to Birmingham, just let me know.
Last week we were told that I have had 26 % shrinkage in my largest cancer mass. That is a good thing. All six cancerous lymph nodes have shrunk—not all to 26%. WE are excited about the news. The progress is slow. But, I believe that I will be victorious over cancer this time around. It may take some time though.
I’ve been in the experimental trial now for just almost 24 weeks. At this 24 week point, I will have surpassed the experimental time period of that of the rats and monkeys that were originally “guinea pigs” in this trial. Since the FDA only gave approval to test on humans for the same length of time and treatment amount tested on the animals, the trial for me would officially be over at this point. But, if my next cat scan shows more improvement, the hospital can apply for a special appeal to allow me to continue the treatment at the same dosage that I have been taking thus far. We will probably choose to do this since I have remained “very stable” and have had successful shrinkage.
We did actually find out that I had cancerous lymph nodes in another area of my body (behind the stomach) that we were not aware of. That was a scary surprise. My Columbian research doctor is a bit hard to understand sometimes. So, I just have to tell myself that we were lucky in that we never had to worry about this extra cancerous lymph node until it shrunk.
The next phase of this trial is about to start at several more cancer centers. Many relapsed Hodgkin’s patients are signing up for this second phase since seven of us have made it through fairly unscathed. The next group will receive a larger dose of the same treatment. My dose just went down because I’ve lost over 23% of my body weight—41 pounds to be exact. I’m glad that I am not going to be in the next phase with the higher dosage in that I’ve had a few problems with the dose that I am on. Evidently, I started detoxing through my largest organ—the skin, in January. This caused a massive rash which has proved to be just about unbearable because of continual itching. No one else in the trial has experienced the rash.
It seems that because of my extremely healthy eating habits, my body has been doing it’s best to get rid of the toxins from the treatment as well as the dead and sloughing cancer cells in a most unique way—through the skin. So, after several biopsies of the rash sites, the dermatologists (eight of them perused my rash—they were very curious doctors) prescribed a steroidal cream that I turned out to be extremely allergic to. So, then I had to start taking oral steroids instead. These have made the rash better by basically masking the symptoms. So, now I am wide awake and jumpy all the time. I’m trying to taper off the steroids and start taking some natural plant steroids as well as other herbs that may help me detox more efficiently through my skin.
My new way of eating continues. Shane and I are trying new things and doing lots of dehydrating. My raw support system of family and friends has been keeping me on target by introducing me to new recipes such as mock tuna salad. Hey—don’t knock it until you try itJ. Even my Bunko buddies make sure that there are healthy snacks for me at each of our monthly fun session. I have a wonderful group of people keeping me on track.
Phyllis Holman, one of my RAW foods mentors, has scheduled a RAW foods seminar that will take place in Foley on Saturday, May 19th. The speaker, Tonya Zovasta, promises to be a wonderful presenter. She is known to present her information in a relaxed and rather comical way that gets to the heart of the matter. If you would like to know more about her, please check out her website at http://www.beautifulonraw.com/html/Calendar.html.
I am looking forward to getting a chance to learn from this inspirational woman. If you would like to attend or receive more information, please let me know. I also have scheduled a wonderful local speaker, Helen Stansfield, who will give a talk on alternative eating and how it can improve your way of life. She will present this introductory seminar at Foley High School on Tuesday, April 24th from 4 to 5 pm. Please RSVP with me for this event as I need to decide whether it will be in my classroom or the library. If the community likes what they hear, this speaker is willing to offer several more short seminars on the different aspects of healthy living.
My spring break starts this weekend. We will be visiting Shane’s family in Parrott, GA during the first weekend of the break. Shane’s dad will be cooking at a celebration at a nearby vineyard. We are looking forward to seeing the family as we haven’t seem most of them since Christmas.
As always, we are so very thankful for our friends and family and for the prayers and support that have been sent our way. We love you all and hope that you have a great spring. Please send news our way when you can. We look forward to hearing from you.
J
Lisa and Shane Wood
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