Jen had her LAST chemotherapy treatment on Tuesday. She and Al snuck it and out of NYC between the Snowy / Rainy/ Icey weather. Although very excited about the last treatment, she was reminded that there is a little more to go.
First: the effects of the chemo will be as usual for the next week and the week after. Her hemoglobin levels are a little low, so MSK has scheduled her for a transfusion next week. This means another trip in to NYC
Jenny will need to keep up her regime with food limitations and immunity precautions over the coming weeks. She will be tapering off the steroids. Jen has been told that her hair may start growing back in as little as three weeks. Right now she is completely bald (as smooth as a baby’s bottom), just this week shaving what few hairs were left so that it all grows in evenly. I told her I would shave when she did.... I am working up to it.... Might even get that tatoo I wanted up there! So if I do not like it...well I will simply let my hair grow in!
Jen will have more tests done in 4-5 weeks. She will have blood work, a PET scan and a Pulmonary Function Test. The doctor said there would be no radiation done with whatever may be left of the mediastinal tumor. Research has shown radition is of no beneift after the BEACOPP treatment. The tests that were done at 12 weeks (the ½ point) are very indicative of progress. Based on the November’s tests, he is expecting good results anyway.
Jenny's energy levels will take 6 months to a year to recover. A year’s time will establish the baseline for her energy. she was given no guidelines, other than to listen to her body and do what she can. As for immunity, the doctor said she is always going to be prone to upper respiratory infections.
Although February may be a short month on the calender, it is still a long month for us. But we are all very excited about Jen’s last chemo. We all couldn’t have done this without the support of everyone. We just can’t thank you enough.
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