In my last post earlier this week, I was feeling a little bummed about not going back to school. Well, this week I just finished Chemo #6. At my doctors appointment we discussed a change in my treatment plan (no surprise there). Originally, I was supposed to have 4 cycles of Chemotherapy, meaning 8 treatments in total followed by a month of radiation. My Oncologist decided that instead of doing radiation, we would add another 2 cycles of chemo meaning 4 more treatments. This means at the end of this I will have 12 chemo treatments under my belt, so I guess this week was halfway for me. I hope to be done my treatment by the end of November. A PET scan is being booked to fully decide and set in stone what the plan will be for sure. This scan will show my progress and how my cancer cells are reacting to the chemotherapy. Multiple times, I have asked what the difference would be if I received just Chemo, just Radiation or a combination of both treatments. Studies have shown that for Stage 1 Lymphoma there is really no difference with the results. Your treatment plan just depends on what your doctor prefers and how you react to the certain treatment. For me, my body seems to be reacting well to the chemotherapy. Although, my treatment plan has been changed, I asked my doctor what was the likelihood of me going back to school for the winter semester. My doctor said he sees no problem with me heading back for a few classes! I contacted the school and they said there is no problem at all for me taking a few 4th year classes, and would be glad to see me back at school. This new plan would allow me to get ahead in my studies while being behind at the same time. This would also allow me to ease back in to school and heal my body before I heading back to sea for my long work term. So now my new goal is to be back in Newfoundland for the January Semester! I am so excited! Although this plan would be amazing, I've learnt to not hold my breathe and expect the unexpected. It's good to have goals but I still have to take everything day by day. It seems that each time there's a new change to my treatment, or a goal has been changed, I seem to take it easier each time. I remember when I first diagnosed, the littlest change or disappointment would make me extremely upset. Now I seem to just accept it and move on. There is sense dwelling on what you have no control of. The beauty of change is that you can set new goals every time. Thank you everyone, for their continuous support! Hopefully, I can get back to where I belong in no time! "A Smooth Sea Never Made a Skillful Sailor."
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Author: Katie BarkerJust an average Sailor who battled Cancer and won! Archives
August 2018
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