Well the results of my CT are good. The growth is the same size as it was in November which suggests that the remaining tissue is just scar tissue. Unfortunately because originally I was not able to have all of the staging tests they cannot be certain there is no active cancer left though. So the great news is that I do not have to have any more chemo and am having my port a cath out this week (just waiting for my neutrophils to return to normal). A radiation oncologist saw us tonight and discussed the option of having radiotherapy. After speaking with him, Cam and I decided that despite the risks associated I am going to have radiotherapy. The problem is that if the Hodgkins has not completely gone and in 2 months or 4 months or 6 months when I have a CT and it has started to grow again then I am up for very intense chemo (as if the ABVD was not bad enough) and a stem cell transplant. We decided it was not worth the risk and given that the best chance of long term remission when the mass was so large to start with is combined chemotherapy and radiatherapy, that we would do it. The risk with having radiotherapy is that it significantly increases my chances of developing thyroid cancer, lung cancer or breast cancer in the long term (now to 25 years). The breast cancer is the most concerning with ratios of 1 in 3 women developing breast cancer however chemo increases your chances of developing secondary cancers and the fact that my body already did a crap job at fighting off cancer cells does mean I could have a predisposition anyway. So we are taking the attitude of do everything we can now to cure me of Hodgkins and deal with anything else if it happens. At least if the Hodgkins does relapse I know I have done everything possible to cure it.
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January 9th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Hello Bernadette,
Well done! Great result, glad the good news has come through for you. Hope you are feeling better and able to rejoice with your family around you. Stay positive and enjoy EVERYDAY to the fullest!
Love Mary-Ann and Tony and family XXXXX
January 10th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Oh Bernadette! Glad to hear some good news. A new year a new beginning. You are amazing. Stay strong. nina
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