VIDEO: Stand Up to Cancer 2010

VIDEO: A New Haircut

It's time for my first haircut!! My hair started to grow back in December after my last chemotherapy treatment in November. I of course was so excited to have my hair growing back, but it has been difficult to get use to!!! I've never had this short of hair before, so I really don't know the cute ways to style it. This month though, I have noticed it getting pretty long in the back, so I decided to get it STYLED. Here is a look at my first time getting my hair styled after cancer treatment. Hopefully I can keep this style up?!
Danielle

VIDEO: The Birth Control Pill

I know there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the birth control pill, but this year marks its 50th year anniversary. This story I am posting is a "look back" at the pill over the last 50 years and how it has helped define a new role for women in the household, as well as in the workplace.

I also wanted to post this interesting article about "The Pill" and cancer. In a population-based study of women in the U.K., researchers found death from any cause was 12 percent lower among birth control pill users than among those who never took the drugs. Here is a link to the article I was reading at abc.com: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/birth-control-pills-reduce-cancer-death/story?id=10084482&page=2

Danielle

VIDEO: "Choose You"

Here is a startling statistic: One in three women will in one point develop cancer in her lifetime. It happened to me unexpectedly and it took me by surprise. However, I think it is important to get the word out that there are things we can do to reduce that risk. Of course you may still get cancer, like I did in my case, but if you keep healthy lifestyle, it will help in the recovery process. Here is an interview I did with the American Cancer Society about their "Choose You" campaign. Make sure to spread the word to other women out there.
Danielle

VIDEO: Walking Across the Country for Locks of Love

I wanted to share this story we did at KDLT about this man walking from Washington all the way to Florida, the headquarters for Locks of Love. I'm very inspired by his determination to not only make a difference for cancer patients, but set and example.

Danielle

Cute Picture

I just had to share this cute picture of my puppy Riley. He is taking a nap on my sister's bed. WOW, what a life!!

Danielle

Great Results

I'm happy to say that my preliminary CT scans did NOT find any cancer in my neck, chest or abdomen. Plus, my blood work came back normal. I feel so relieved to hear this great news. I was trying to keep a very positive attitude going into my tests this past week, but I can't tell you how good it feels to hear the official results. I feel as if a huge burden has been lifted off of my shoulders and I can now lead my life confidently. Before hearing these results, I was never really holding my breath, but I did always have the threat of cancer in the back of my mind. That threat is still there, but I have now bought myself some time until my next scan in three months. I guess I'm going to have to get use to this up and down roller coaster of ecpectations, since I'll be continuing to check-in with my doctors by different scans for the next five years.

So last week I flew into California for blood work and a CT Scan. The CT Scan was the first kind of scan I've had since the doctors diagnosed me with lymphoma back in August of 2009. For the scan I had to drink two bottles of a liquid contrast medium that would help the technicians see into my abdomen, chest and neck. I had an hour to finish both of the bottles, and boy, was it hard. They had three different flavors: banana, coffee and berry. I got the coffee drink and after the first few sips, the taste really got to me. Although it smelt alright, it left a horrible aftertaste. The liquid wasn't as bad as the liquid I had to drink for my lower GI (this was the WORST), but it still gave me that nauseous feeling at times. Thankfully my dad was there to encourage me along the way and keep me motivated.

I then had an IV hooked-up for the technicians to administer the iodine into my veins. The nurse couldn't get the IV started in my left arm, so I had to get pricked twice until the nurse found a vein in my right arm that would work. I was joking with my dad that I preferred getting poked, then drinking the liquid, but he said he would rather drink 10 bottles of the liquid than get poked!!!

During the CT scan the technicians gave me the iodine through the IV. It was weird because during and slightly after the injection, I felt a metallic taste in my mouth and a warm sensation go through my entire body. I also got the urge to pee, even though I had just gone to the bathroom minutes before hand. However, all of these side effects only lasted a short time, and afterwards I felt back to normal. I was happy I could eat again, and that all I had to do differently during the day was drink LOTS of water.

I found this picture of the CT Scan off of radiologyinfo.org and thought it was a great picture of what the machine looks like. I preferred this machine over the MRI or PET/CT machines because this one was open. The other two machines were closed around your body and head, so I felt claustrophobic at times. Really this test wasn't half as bad as some of the other tests I had to do before my cancer treatments.

After my CT Scan, my mom and sister, Brittany, went with me to my appointments with my radiology doctor and oncologist. We first met with Dr. Selch and he said my throat and tonsil area look good. He could tell my saliva gland was improving and my irritation from the radiation was going down. I won't have to see him now until 6 months-YAY!!!

We then met with Dr. Pinter-Brown, and boy was it a long wait. I think we waited for an hour and a half even before we got to see her!!! However, the wait was well worth it. She told us that on her preliminary scans she didn't see any new forms of cancer coming back!!! As you can imagine I was overjoyed to hear this fantastic news. Now I won't have to come back for another 3 months. However, in the meantime she really wants me to listen and take care of my body. She made a big point of stressing how important it is to stay healthy, since I'm now regaining my strength and health. I was surprised to hear that in most reoccurring lymphoma cases, the patient them self will notice a change in their health that indicates the cancer has redeveloped, so it is essential that I listen and take care of my body.

All in all it was a good medical trip and I'm so grateful for my family's support. Thanks guys!!! Hopefully each and every trip to the doctor will go just as smoothly.

Danielle