MORE GOOD NEWS

Just got back from my doctor appointment. Although I am not at the complete response I had hoped for, I am close. I am so close that my doctor is going to hold off on the infusions for now. Normally if you are not at a complete remission after cycle 4 they have you do another round of infusions. My doctor wants me to keep taking the chemo pills for now and hopefully I will be at a complete response after cycle 5 and not have to have any further infusions. We compared my scans side by side and even since August you can see dramatic improvement. There are little areas of black, but not that much especially in comparison to where I started. They didn't have exact sizes or percentages, but my sister decided 90% improvement and that seems reasonable to me although clinically we don't know if that is accurate. So Monday I start cycle 5 and we will see what happens from there. I was so excited at the good news that I didn't think to ask when I would have another scan or when I would have the new bone marrow test, but I'm just not worried about that right now. I want to be at 100% and have all of the black off my scan. That is my goal and I'm thinking another cycle along with a little exercise, good nutrition and prayer I will be at a complete response sooner than later. I am going to keep seeing my natural doctor as well. So I decided I would try to go back to work a couple days a week and see how I do. I inquired of my doctor and he said that would be okay. So in a couple of weeks I am going to start working 2 days a week and keep building from there. I am nervous and scared to death at the thought...but I can do it and I am going to ease into it. I know it will be okay once I start doing it and my body gets use to it. Downey Brand has been so encouraging and supportive. They have made it possible for me to focus on my treatment and healing and not worry about my job. My Mom and Sis were with me and we were all really happy with the way the scan looked and my Doctor I could tell was relieved and super happy. He gave me a big hug. I always watch his reaction to things and it is a great relief to me when my Doctor is so happy. Even he seemed a little emotional about it all. So now I am going to take a nap and then go see my grandbabies and give them a super big hug. They are 9 months old today and getting more and more active every day. This will be good because I need to gain some strength right about now if I plan on keeping up with them. Could I be any more blessed? I am just so happy and so relieved that I have made such great progress in the last 3 and a half months and having those little angels in my life has been a great part of my treatment. I think they are one of the reasons why I am responding so well to treatment. Thank you everyone for your continued encouragement and support. I don't know how I would have done this without my family and friends. Love you all. Vicki