josigirl13's Cancer Blog

josi, so happy to hear from you and to know you are feeling well….keep in touch….we are thinking of you….i was in mexico myself not too long ago….guadelajara area …lake chapala….great to get out of the ne weather !juvie law must be full of ups and downs…..keep up the good work.

So pleased to hear that you continue to do so…well! You are one determined gal and you WILL conquer this beast! Lily

Posted on February 25, 2009 at 5:44:13 PM by stargazerlily17

hi, great to come across your blog. my husband was diagnosed with ALL, 4 weeks ago, 13th feb. It has been good to read all your blogs, as we are still in unknown territory, and reading your experiences helps me face the unknowns of our future experiences with leukaemia. steven has t-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia, and his induction treatment seems identical to yours. we live in south africa. Did you also have side effects from the steroids? he has had 3 sessions of chemo so far, after next weeks one, he’ll have another bonemarrow biopsy. So far, the worst side effect is that his white cell count is so low and besides needing an antidepressant, he is managing. Did you also have extreme emotinal lows at the beginning of treatment?
hope to keep in contact with you,
lots of love alison

Alison,
This is a really confusing time, everything seems to be happening so fast. I really did not have many side effects during the first month. I thought “this is it?? I can handle this!” Prednisone is great at first because it makes you feel great and for me really took away all of my symptoms. However, it makes you want to eat everything in sight and at the same time makes you retain water so I blew up so huge! The weight came off in the second month when I had cytarabine and etoposide. I had an awful rash all over my body and then I got TERRIBLE mouth sores. I couldn’t eat anything for the whole month. At the worst I was drinking one Ensure a day. I don’t say this to scare you but to prepare you for what may happen. The third month is not bad at all, just tired The thing that kept my spirits up the most was my friends and family. Everyone was really supportive. They made lists of the funniest movies they’ve ever seen and sent them to me, sent me books and music and funny emails on a daily basis. I was only 31 when I was diagnosed so I guess I had that sense of immortality still. It just never occurred to me that I would die from this disease. It still hasn’t. You just have to keep thinking that and stay strong in your mind. I don’t have any magic words for you, but if you ever need anything, I’m here.
Good luck to you and your husband.
Josi

Posted on March 14, 2009 at 4:25:00 PM by josigirl13

Hello again, am still finding this cancer blog page such a huge support to me. Steven hasnt yet dealt with his diagnosis enough to be able to read everyone elses, but i find it a pillar of strength for me. His hb is a bit down, so he’ll have blood transfusion tomorrow, followed by the final chemo in the induction phase. He is 38, so has also found it a shock to have to face his own immortality. Our doctors here in the haematology unit in cape town, only see about 1 patient a year with t-cell ALL. Howcome did you not have a bonemarrow transplant? Wasnt it necessary?
I have written down the chemo you had after the induction phase, and want to ask his doctor if its the same as steven will get.
thanks again for taking the time to reply to my message,
lots of love, alison