Success

I received my results from all the testing and I am in complete remission. The team at MD Anderson have done a fabulous job ridding my body of cancer - they are awesome.

I'll still have my maintenance drugs for the next year as well as the radiation treatment in late September. These should help keep me cancer free for a longer period of time. Lymphoma can be a bit pesky and return, so I will be retested every 4 months for two years and then that regimen will get reduced, but I will always have to be monitored.

My success has in no small part due to the support of all of my wonderful friends and family sending encouragement, offers of food, flowers and lots of spiritual support. Ted has been Mr. Wonderful, taking good care of me through all of this. You all have made a difference and helped me fight this disease. Thank you all for that.

With love and hope,
Marilyn

Testing Completed 7/23/09

After 11 hours at MDA, I finished my testing yesterday to check to see how my treatment is working. Boy, it is the best place to go for cancer, but they sure know how to check every part of your body, and that's not in a good way! I decided this time not to try to be tough, and got anesthetized for my bone marrow biopsy. What a difference - I woke up sore, but did not have to deal with the trauma of it all. If any of you ever have to do one - take the easy route.

I'll know what all the tests reveal next week and see where my treatment goes from there. If all is well, I'll continue my targeted monoclonal antibody therapy and do my targeted radioimmunotherapy (radiation) maybe in late September. These two drugs work together and just go after my B cells in my blood, which are causing me all my problems. It should help keep the disease in remission.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed that I have good news next week. I'll let y'all know.