SARAHS STORY IN HER OWN WORDS
Read her full story at http://sarahsaner.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/my-journey-with-mr-c/
. The picture I have included is me having my stem cell harvest, yes I am smiling AGAIN in it but only cos I was stuck to a machine for 5 hours in same position squeezing a bloody stress ball & I found it funny everytime I had a cramp I kept shooting the ball out of my hand & it hit my mum and she would screech!!! lol
Just thought an extra pic really showing actual treatment would help more if people read my story to take away some of the fears. Perhaps! If its not possible to add another pic then no worries just a thought. I worry about the strangest things!!! ha ha
My name is Sarah I am 37 years old and about two years ago I noticed a lump in my neck but Doctors just said its nothing you look to healthy to be ill.
April last year I had severe pains and my stomach was swollen and I had an op which I was told was routine gynae and they removed some cysts and unstuck my bowel and said that all the shadows and masses were probably cysts.
Have;t been feeling well for about 2 years but plodded along working full time and looking after my two teenage kids, daughter Jess 16 and son Josh 14. Divorced but engaged now to my toyboy Italian bloke 10 years younger who I have only been with 3 years and he has this to deal with!
Anyway I digress, about 3 months ago a large lump appeared on my neck along with more pain and after scan and tests I was told I had lymphoma. Waited an agonising week after that and this Wednesday just gone learned I had Non Hodgkin Lymphoma - Follicular which they say is incurable and I am past a stage 4 they said stage is not relevant as it is everywhere and in my bone marrow etc. I am full of anger as at Stage 1 or 2 this disease was usually curable with radiotherapy but now I am at this late stage it is treatable but not curable.
Started chemo today 25.01.08 which was almost 5 hours of R-Chop and boy what an experience that was, side effects from sci fi movies!!!! ha ha. I am on 32 tablets a day and will know next week if this aggressive treatment is going to work and then its 5 more every 3 weeks after that. 5th Cycle they will harvest my stem cells for the future and I pray and hope I will get into remission to carry on with a normalish life just learning to live with cancer. am staying positive, smiling everyday at least once and swearing at this horrid thing when it hurts!!!
My family are wonderful for which I am so very lucky and my friends are great too. I will give this next 6 months my best shot. I also will lose my hair very quickly probably they said in a week
so I am biting the bullet and getting it shave on Monday afternoon.
I pick up my wig (hate it) think I will live in funky bandanas and big hoop earrings!!! I am writing a journal of every single detail of this hideous disease and my journey.Good luck to you all who read this and love and hope to us all. xxxxxxxxxx
ABOVE IS WHAT I WROTE ABOUT JUST OVER A YEAR AGO NOW,
Below is ME TODAYFeb 2009.AM DOING GREAT & AM IN REMISSION & I TRULY BELIEVE I HAVE MANY MANY YEARS TO LOOK FORWARD TO!
I wanted to post this here in support of Tracey & to say that life is a challenge but you can overcome the obstacles & help comes to you in many forms so grab it with both hands & dont be afraid to ask for anything.
My specialist said that I have done so well that he could well see me reach an old age if I keep living for today & not worry about tomorrow. Who knows what tomorrow brings for any of us but we should just get through everyday & raise at least one smile even through the pain beca!
use we are not a disease or a disability or an illness etc we are US unique individuals, all with a different journey but nothing can ever take away who you are inside. I get scared yes but I love life & I have no regrets. Love & courage to all who read this. Sarah (not a statistic)
