My Cancer is in Remission!!!

I went for my MRI yesterday and had my follow-up appointments today and I am so HAPPY to tell you AL that my CANCER is gone.  Both the lung tumor and the brain tumor are now basically tiny 'blips" on each image, the swelling in my brain is also gone and I am now pretty much  considered to be in "Remission"
I am SO very thankful and grateful.,...not only to my entire medical team, but to my family, my life long friends and all the wonderful gals/guys I have met though the world of creating.  Each of you has played such an important part in helping me fight and WIN this battle.   I love you all so much for the kindness you have shared with me and want you all to know how much it means to me.
I've been showered with good thoughts, lots of love, prayers and support and I am 100% sure that this has all played an vital part in me winning.   Yes, I still have to be followed and all my docs will continue to monitor me very closely, but I'm on the road to recover and it feels fantastic.  I see my local Oncologist (Dr. Sunkara) on September 1st, as my last follow up with her, but will NOT need any more chemo or radiation, at this time.  I'll also be scheduled CT Scans in six months and then will follow up with my Brain Team, at Lahey in Burlington and Peabody!
To say I am delighted is not nearly early...it's almost like I am living in a dream and this almost seems surreal..but its' NOT...its' TRUE and I could NOT feel more blessed or happy!
THANK YOU all for all you have done!   Every word has touched me greatly and I adore each and everyone of you for being here for me and I know you'll continue to support me as I continue to beat this!   I'm a HAPPY and very LUCKY girl!  I swore I would NOT let it win and I would NEVER give up!   Being upbeat and as confident as possible has also played a huge part in this!

BIG HUGS and LOTS OF LOVE!!

Some happy News!!

Hi Friends.....

Sorry that I'm behind in updates, I try to keep up, but after a wonderful trip to San Diego, I ended up being pretty darn sick and was on basic bed rest for about ten days.  The good news is that I'm now feeling so much better and my docs think the illness was a side effect of me coming off of steroids.  I am now back on them on a low dose and think this is exactly what I needed. As for some more WONDERFUL news, I had three CT Scans earlier this week, to check on my Lung tumor to and make certain that this nasty cancer had not spread into my abdomen or pelvic region.  The results were excellent and I found out that my lung tumor is now GONE!   Yippee!   I'll be followed very closely, but for the next few weeks, I do NOT have to have any CHEMO!   Again a great thing.   I see Dr. Sunkara, my local oncologist on September 1st, and at that time, we'll decide what, if any more treatments will may take. I am also being scheduled for a Brain MRI (which for me, has to be done under sedation).  I'm one of those people who is so extremely claustrophobic that I go into an intense Panic Attack, IF I even try to have an MRI of my head with being "out".   I even failed miserably in an OPEN MRI, whcih was a horrible and very frightening experience for me.  I've learned to be able to now tolerate CT Scans, which as you may know are MUCH more open...more like an open do-nut versus that dreadful tube.  Even so, I have to take "Ativan" but it works for me and allows me to have that test, which is also MUCH faster and easier than any MRI. CT Scan do now show nearly enough detail of Brain tumors, although I had one in July which did show that my tumor had shrunk...again, YIPPEE!  Now it's time to have the MRI and get the absolute best pictures so we can determine how the brain tumor responded to the specialized radiation I had done back in May.   I will be admitting as a day surgery type patient to Lahey in Burlington sometime this week and have a follow up appointment with both my Brain Physician's - Dr. Omeara and Dr. Dempsey at Lahey in Peabody this coming Friday, August 21st. In the meantime I can't wait to feel a bit better so I can get back to creating...I MISS it so very much and am looking forward to that.    I also wanted to share some more exciting news about a new Dachshund Rescue that I am now a part of.  It's called Paw-Affection Dachshund Rescue and was opened by a dear friend, Arleen Guyan who was previously with the rescue where I adopted Skye and Zeva.  Arleen is a gem and a wonderful assent to the Dachshund community.  He has fostered many dogs and is such a kind and caring woman. I've become very attached to here and am honored to be one of her volunteers.  I'll be attending events with her in the Fall, will help with Fundraising and also as of today have -re-opened by ETSY Store where I'll be selling goodies again to raise funds for this wonderful group.  You can LIKE us on Facebook at this link, or also visit our Website! I also am selling custom leather "dog collars" that were designed for me by Meghan Golden Eastman (my wonderful Daughter), who is the owner of Fold Leather Company.  These custom collars are designed a wonderful soft "Italian Leather" and the most suitably designed for small dogs like Doxies, Chiweenies, and Chihuahuas etc. .    All funds raised from the sale of the collars will go directly the Paw-Affection.  We will also be selling them soon in my Etsy Store, our eBay Store and also at the Dog Events we attend.  A list of the events were are attending can be found on our website.   If you would like to donate to this amazing new rescue, you can do so also on our website, using the PayPal donate link.  If you would like to buy one from me directly, please send me a message at leezza@gmail.com - or at Purple_Place@verizon.net and I'll send you a PayPal invoice.  Each collar is adjustable, with a hidden snap closure, please contact me for exact sizes, as they were designed for smaller dogs
  For a limited time, I will sell them to my online friends for a cost of only $22.00 which includes FREE USA Shipping!  If you would like multiple collars, please ask me about a discount!!

Paw-Affection Fundraiser Custom Dog Collars

All proceeds will be donated directly to: I am truly honored to be part of amazing new Dachshund Rescue and am confident that we will be placing lots of wonderful dogs into new loving and caring homes.  For information on working with us, adopting one of the Paws-Affection Dogs, please visit our site!   We are also looking for new Foster homes, Volunteers and people who want to adopt and help in any way you can!     Thank YOU!! Hugs and love,

A little Break!!

   After my good news, I have been taking things a bit slower and am taking a little break from my blog for the next couple of weeks.

   I am headed back out to San Diego for a wonderful little vacation and to spend more time with both Brian and Meg.  This is all about total rest and relaxation and I am really looking forward to this trip.

   I'll be back early the first week in August and hope to have more time them to post more often and keep everyone updated.  

   I had Chemo this week (7/21) and it went great, with not ill effects now that I have the Zofran to take. I think that is the perfect anti nausea med for me and hope it will continue to provide me relief from the nausea and side effects.

   Have a wonderful week and please know I'm thinking of you all and happy for all the continued support and caring thoughts that continue to come my way!

Super News!!

Even though I am still NOT 100%, I do feel SOOOO much better than the day I ended up in the Hospital...and the findings from the CT Scan done that day were wonderful news, as I found out "yesterday' that the Brain Tumor has also decreased in size...a VERY good thing,.

  WOOHOO!  Both tumors are now smaller, which means that BOTH treatments are working. I'm having a follow up Open MRI for my Brain on August 25th, at Lahey in Peabody and will have another "Chest" CT Scan in about a month, as long as all continues to go well.

   While this is ALL great news.  I never eel like myself any longer and every day I feel kind of Yuk and that is taking it's toll on me this week. I would LOVE to wake up and feel kind of "good again" and that never happens.  It takes a good hour or so just to feel halfway alive and I always start the day with some nausea and a dull headache...not to mention the "Stiff" pain of living with Fibro.

  I try so heart o be upbeat and positive and I am, but I sure would LIKE to feel better and ever since that horrible day, I have not woke up ever feeling as good as I did before.  Not that even those days were perfect, but they were a A LOT better than now.

  Please bear with me, as I try to figure a way to feel like ME again  !   Thanks for the support and caring thoughts..they mater so much!

A rough week....

   Wow!  The battle has been a true challenge these past few days and I have been feeling just miserable.  Lots of intense nausea, light headiness and even some headaches...all on top of relentless fatigue not to mention and pain and stiffness of being in bed this much with Fibro too!  UGH!!

     Waking up this morning and feeling the worst ever, I knew it was time to seek more medical care and I started by calling the Oncology unit where I have my Chemo.   Chris, one of my nurses knew right away by my voices and symptoms that I needed to get in and I then slowly worked on getting dressed, getting Hubby home to drive me and taking care of feeding the Pups and such before I left.  I got there about 10, which as the plan and was started on IV Fluids, which Dr. Sunkura had ordered for me.  Unfortunately, she was at "Beverly" (one of the other Lahey Facilities)m, today and was not here in Gloucester, but she was only a phone call away and still took great care of me.  I also have Zofran (an anti nausea med) by IV and then she ordered a Head CT Scan to make sure the swelling was not worse.  I recently have been tapering off the "Steroids" and this can be a side effect of that.   Once the IV's we in place and I have the Zofran, I started to improve...and boy did that feel great.

   Took a few hours, but I am so happy I went and wound NEVER wait that long again.  The longest part was getting the "Pre-Authorization" fron my insurance, but once that came through, I had an appt in CT for 1:30 and that went well. I admit I am a bit apprehensive about this as it's the first CT of my head/brain since I had my Radio-static Radiation and that was planned to be in another few weeks.,..so I am kind of nervous, but HOPING the results will be good.  I will have them in the morning, so keep me and them in our thoughts!

    Now its' about 7:18 PM and I've had some Chicken Soup and still feel good...which is a good sing and I can eat and keep food in and NOT feel worse.  I've also taken more fluids and now have a new RX for Zofran which for me works and sadly the Compazine, was NOT helping ONE bit...so from now on I opt for Zofran and HOPE it will always work this well.

    Getting ready to go to bed early and excited that I did NOT have to cancel any plans for tomorrow..because I have cancelled quite a few in the past three days and really want to feel well and be back on track.  One week from now I hope to be at Fenway Park for the Billy Joel Concert with five of my Best BFF's.    We are taking a limo into Boston leaving from here at 3 PM....so excited and will make sure I'm feeling good, so I do NOT miss this event, which has been planned for days now

  Hugs to you ALL and thanks so much for your continue support and caring comments...they really mean so much to me!

THANKS a Million!!