Daina Fights Cancer

07/23/2020

Saying goodbye to my port! Waiting for surgery.

07/13/2020

One year!! 💜💜💜💜

I had my one year full scan. No new growths! No changes since my previous scans except some that have since also shrunk. Thank you Jesus! My husband and I got away on our first cruise in Fenruary before the world went crazy. We needed that! It happened to coincide with my one year anniversary of my last chemo treatment. After my scans in the later part of last year showed some images of inflammation in my upper lobes of my lungs it was decided by the pulmonolpgist to severely up my sterioids and step down off them to try and clear the inflimation. My lungs have cleared to where I no longer having breathing problems but the scarring will likely never be gone now. I was done with steroids by the cruise but had picked up an extra 40 pounds in the process. After 4 months of only kind of watching what I was eating I have further committed and have lost over 5 pounds in the last couple weeks. Hoping that trend continues! When I had my scan in March they noticed some signs of fatty liver. I am hoping it is simply because of the extra weight I packed on but as a precaution I am going to see a gastrointestinal doctor on the 21st. Then I am having my port removed on the 23rd! It seems so final to me. I am extremely nervous about it. While others in my life, like my children, are very excited for it to be removed. I think they will feel more like I'm okay once I am not carrying that around anymore. I will have my next scan the 1st week of 2021. Praying I can stay the course, drop the pounds and keep moving in a healthy positive forward direction. I pray you're all able to find some peace in this crazy world we are living in right now. There are plenty of positive things still in this world, they're just harder to see with all the noise going on around us. Be thankful in your joy and in your challenges. God Bless You!

12/31/2019

Sorry for the delay. Busy week! I saw the pulmonologist Monday. He sees improvement in my scan in my lungs. Thats great, but I still can't walk around without getting short of breath. But hey, I will take improvement and at least I know it wont get worse. I will bw on the steroids theough February as I taper off them. Hopefully my ouffy face abd some weight tapers with it.....lol 🙄 I saw my oncologiat Tuesday. None of the masses in my chest have grown so I will take that as good news and keep moving forward. I will have another scan in March of my neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Praying thats clear! My cardiologist says I look good from a heart stand point. I see him again in March too. So I popped up with a rash last Monday and decided to ask my oncologist about it Tuesday as it was seeming to spread. Oh joy, shingles. That's fun for my last week of Live racing at work. Glad I was blessed to not be worst case. Been on anti virals and haven't had to use my pain meds yet. So praying I don't have the pain afterwards I keep hearing about. So the plan for now is to enjoy today. Be thankful for ALL my blessings small and big. Enjoy my babies and my family and friends. Happy New Year! God bless!!💜💜💜

12/18/2019

CT scan Friday morning. Follow up with the pulmonologist Monday and Oncologist Tuesday. Praying for improvement in my lungs from the 2 months of steroids and that what ever tiny masses I had left over are continuing to shrink. Oh Lord keep me moving forward! No steps backwards. No growth. Will update everyone after my appointment on Christmas Eve.

11/11/2019

And just like that it was a year ago before starting treatments. I remember my husband was surprised I shared the picture of after my port placement. To be honest before my own I had no idea what one looked like or how it worked. So maybe there is someone else viewing my posts that doesn't know either. And I even learned I got an extra incision compared to others who had it placed on their left side. So it is interesting to learn of other's experiences. With that being said if you know someone recently diagnosed, or is close to someone recently diagnosed please share with them I am open to whatever questions someone may have. I felt like it helped to be able to ask someone questions even though they didn't have the same cancer and treatment I was going to have.

I have another test for my dizziness on Tuesday so hopefully that will give me some answers. I see the ENT again the day before Thanksgiving for results. Thank God I'm on my last week of Prednisone. Weight gain, acne, mood changes, I'm done! Hopefully it is easier going out of my system than it was going in.

Here just being Thankful and looking forward!

10/29/2019

Update......lengthy, but a lot of info

I had my next CT on September 23rd to check on my progress and make sure nothing is growing. Well I had new areas of inflammation in my lungs that weren't on previous scans. To the follow up appointment I also came with other things we hadn't found the answers to yet. I have been getting dizzy and losing my balance for months. It happens multiple times a day now. I have pain in different areas of my chest, none of which is near my heart. I have been short on breath for months. I also have my heart race out of no where like my adrenaline is pumping overtime for no reason at all. All these things I kept chalking up to something else, I'm old, fat, out of shape, or maybe still recovering from treatment or how about a Full Time, Working, Busy Mom running kids everywhere. Well enter more tests. I had another heart echo. I have a leaky valve but that is apparently quite common. Beaides that the echo was fine. I had another pulmonary test. That was also within normal range. While there was a tiny improvement that I could feel between testing with the albuterol and without it was not vast improvements. My Oncologist felt it was also time to see a Cardiologist. I will need a on going relationship with one going forward anyway. He said I looked great cardio wise. He offered to let me do a month long monitor for my heart to try and catch my heart racing. I decided to wait on that for now and try and make note of what I'm doing when my heart starts racing. So for now my heart is good. I had a PET Scan to get a better look at everything going on in my lungs. I have a few different areas of inflammation in my lungs that are in the same places I have the chest pains. I also have reason for my shortness of breath now. My oncologist started me on 2 weeks of Prednisone. Then comes the Pulmonologist appointment. I am now on Prednisone for 4 weeks at double the dose the Oncologist began. If we caught it in time and it is still inflammation from my radiation then the Prednisone should clear it. If it isn't then it is scar tissue that won't be going away. Praying for inflammation! I don't get to see the ENT to get my balance issues hopefully taken care of until the 31st. My Oncologist is saying it is Vertigo and we should be able to get it taken care of. Even in all this what seems chaos I am thankful it is all things I can get through. Adjustments I can make. The crazy person I feel this Prednisone is making me is only for a short period of time. I'm praying we caught the inflammation in time. I have reason for my shortness of breath and chest pains now. Which makes me feel better. I'm hoping the dizziness is easily explained as well. Sorry for the lengthy update but I wanted to know more before putting vague assumptions on here. So agree with me in prayer that God has this. I am going to continue to improve and move forward and that all can be cleared up. Enjoying my time with my family.

08/29/2019

Sitting in the treatment area, against the wall so as to not take up a space that someone needs for treatment. Had to come in for blood work so we can see if it will tell us anything about my dizziness and light headedness. My pulmonary test went better than I anticipated. By using the albuterol during the test it opened my airway. I felt free to breath easy finally! I see an appt with a family doc in my near future to get that taken care of. When I got the call from the nurse yesterday about my heart echo, she told me my results were stable. Well thats not the reassuring news I was looking for. There will be questions asked for clarification on the 24th when I see my oncologist. I will have my scan on the 20th.

Thank you to each of you who took the time to send me your love and positive words of encouragement. They are much appreciated. Thank you for your continued prayers.

08/27/2019

Prayers for me today. I am having a pulmonary function and heart echo done. I have been short of breath. Its basically constant. Not enough to stop me in my tracks but it's noticable. Praying it's really nothing and maybe I need to go back to using an inhaler. I'm feeling anxiety around this. Praying for peace. God has his plan. It's His will and not my own.

06/28/2019

LONG POST. A LOT to update. It has been a long road. I am not one to take things for granted. Though I would have thought CANCER was the least of my worries. Every night I pray for the health of my family and myself. That never changed through this season in my life. Now the prayer is more specific. That my children will never know the battle for themselves. The whole treatment time was just one more thing I had to do. It wasn't a question of if, it was a question of what's the next step. So rather than questioning what's the next step in treatment it has changed to what's the next step in recovery. I had my most recent scan on Friday June 14th. We left for vacation the next day. With the exception of knowing my sensitivity to the sun and being constantly aware of it. I was able to go and enjoy my family for the entire week, and not think about CANCER the entire time! I was able to share new experiences with them. 3 of our children had never seen the Atlantic Ocean. They got to from 2 different beaches! I am a planner. But that trip had plans that changed and I just rolled with it. My husband was great and my kids were amazing through the constant moving around and doing things on less sleep than normal. I will forever be grateful for that trip! I saw my oncologist Tuesday the 25th. She shared with me she is happy with the results of my scan. I have NO lumps in my neck or collar bone areas. The largest mass I had in my chest has left its remnants behind. It measures smaller than even my PET scan from March. She anticipates it will get smaller still but will likely never be gone. It measures less than 4 cm if I remember correctly. It is weird to think that will be with me for the rest of my life. Just this left over scarring no one can see from a battle my body fought so hard in. I have other scars and results from treatments and procedures on the outside. My hair has thickened a little bit and my husband, son and I got our hair cut before vacation. I went without my wig in Florida though I am not really ready to do that back home and for work. I have 2 tone skin for now from the radiation treatment area but that has vastly improved over the last several weeks. After seeing my Proton Radiation doctor Thursday the 27th I learned I will forever be sensitive to the sun now, especially in the treatment area. The radiation left me with A LOT of throat sensitivity. It was difficult to eat the second week of treatment and through probably 2 weeks after. When I swallowed food or even just water I could feel it travel all the way through the center of my chest. That was so crazy to feel! But I like food so no weight loss for me! lol now I still have some discomfort if I don't chew my food to extremely small smooth amounts. I will keep my port for now. I have to have it flushed in August. I will have another scan in September, and see my oncologist again. I will need to monitor my thyroid as it got staright shots of radiation. I will begin mammograms as some breast tissue could have been effected and I will pray my heart stays strong. So for now, I thank God for my next season and Pray he keeps me around for many years to come. Thank you to each of you who took the time to check on me, pray with me, for me and for my family and team of doctors and nurses who took such great care of me. May Lord Bless you and Keep you!

05/24/2019

05/06/2019

Well here it goes! 3 weeks ago I was scanned and prepared for my Proton Radiation treatment. Today is the first one. I drive just shy of an hour, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks. So glad it was delayed to today. The last 3 days kicked my butt! So glad Derby weekend it over! I just learned the machine was actually down on Friday so it definitely worked out for me to start this week. I know this was His plan. Lord I pray I have best case scenario side effects as you blessed me with in chemo. Please keep me around for many, many, many more years. Please give me the strength and Grace to get through what is hopefully the LAST part of treatment. Let this be my healing so I can only move forward from here. I pray for complete remission in Jesus name!

04/22/2019

I went in for my CT and got lined up with the molds and the mask that will make sure I am in the same position every time for my Proton Radiation. I will likely begin treatment the week of the 29th of April. I finally gave in and got rid of my hair with a little help from my famliy. I picked up my wig Friday. So thankful for that. I didn't know how much I missed my hair until I could feel the thickness of hair on my head again. At the same time having my hair shaved off isn't a whole lot different than it was. It was just do thin! I couldn't take it anymore. Please continue to pray for me. Praying for best case scenario side effects with radiation. Also that this neuropathy will subside. I am up multiple times a night pacing my hallway to try and get the tingling, numbness, and aching in my hands and arms to go away so I can try and go back to sleep. Small price to pay, and if that's all I'm left with after this season in my life then I will count my blessings! Thank you God for today and time with my family. We even did dinner on the River Boat in Cinci tonight. Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. I am so thankful!

04/02/2019

Hello! I apologize for the long delay of an update. I had to meet with 2 seperate radiation doctors. One was normal radiation the other was a for proton radiation. Because I had a mass that was so close to my heart the first doctor felt it warranted a referral and conversation with the 2nd doctor. I had to go down to Liberty Township next to the Children's Hospital there. We met with each doctor for hours. They answered numerous questions supported by real data. They were amazing and very informative. They provided information for me to make my decision. There was no pressure to make me do any further treatment. With my type of cancer it only increases my chances of not having a relapse by a very small percentage. I felt I couldn't take the chance of increased heart disease by getting the regular radiation. So I was confident in my choice that if insurance approved the proton I would get it and if they didn't I wouldn't move forward with radiation at all. They explained the approval process can and is usually quite lengthy. However my insurance approved it after just the initial submission for approval followed by a phone call. Praise God! Anything to better my chances of not having a relapse. I now have an appointment on the 15th back in Liberty Township for all the pre testing. They will then plan my treatment from there. That takes 1 to 2 weeks to plan. I will have to do 3 to 4 weeks of Monday thru Friday treatments. Yes I will have to drive to Liberty Township for those treatments. I feel that is a small tradeoff. If my cancer comes back I won't undergo the same chemo therapy. I will have to have a much more aggressive chemo that would require a 3 week stay in a hospital with a stem cell transplant. I have Neuropathy now. It runs from the tips of my fingers to my elbows. It is numbness, tingling, and aching pain. It is waking me up multiple times each night. I am starting a vitamin today that will hopefully help with that. Thank you for your continued prayers. Keep em coming! The major side effect I can have from radiation is fatigue. I will need treatment in my chest and neck. I have the possibility of throat irritation as well. As with chemo please agree with me in prayer for beat case scenario side effects. Below are side by side before and after treatment scans. Also a pic of my hubby and I on vacation last week. Besides my aching legs I was able to forget for a short time about the fact I am still rexovering from chemo treatments. I appreciate each one of you. Thank you for your aupport and prayers. We serve a mighty God and he has plans for me!

03/06/2019

Good morning! To say I'm exhausted is an understatement. I can remember days I thought I was exhausted because of just being a busy Mom and wife. Boy was I wrong! Treatments brings you to a whole new level. That is what I miss the most. My energy I thought I lacked before. Lol One week after what is hopefully my final treatment I'm ready to hear official word that I'm actually done! I have a Pet Scan Friday morning and my follow up with my oncologist Monday afternoon. I know there are bloodwork tests and other scans in my future but I'm not sure yet of the timing of those. I should know more Monday about what to expect. I also know I am supposed to eventually meet with a Radiation Oncologist. Prayers for that. For starters I don't want it. I know my Doctor has said she will need a pretty compelling argument to support it herself. I am praying the Radiation Doc decides it's not for me and I am good to move forward officially in remission! I appreciate each one of you who contunues to take your own time to pray for me and my journey. I have multiple thank you cards to still complete. Please know I still intend to. Between the many hours I have worked through this and just trying to get through the day to day it has fallen to the bottom of the list with many other things. Each time I receive something in the mail, a card, gift, a donation towards the piling medical bills through the Go Fund Me or a check in the mail it brings me to tears. You give of yourself, out of the kindness of your own heart. God Loves A Cheerful Giver! It humbles me to know there are still good people in thw world. Thank you for your generosity. I wish there was a way for me individually tha k each of you. For me to help you understand just what it means to have your support. I will update everyone again Monday. God Bless You!

02/26/2019

LAST CHEMO TREATMENT!!! Daina has done a very good job navigating this illness. She is truly amazing and inspirational woman and I'm privilege to call her my wife. We continue to ask for your prayers to help keep Daina's scans clear and cancer free. We love all of you for your love and support during this battle. I want to thank all the Doctors and nurses especially those at Soin Kettering Cancer Center they have been truly amazing.

02/19/2019

Treatment #7 - DONE

1 more to go! I have the most awesome support! Thank you all so much. Each one of you are so appreciated. This treatment brought my immune system to the lowest it has ever been. I went back to work Thursday as planned. Tired as usual. Come home from work to find the 10 year old has decided it was a good time to spike a fever. She ran this fever theiugh Saturday night then held about 100 all day with no meds on Sunday. Now she is left over with the congestion. Please say a prayer for my baby. I'm praying she can fight the rest off with no complications. I have been able to avoid it so far. The other kids haven't popped up with a fever either. That means Adisyn did her job and covered all her coughs and sneezes and was sure not to share those nasty germs. Thank you God for keeping me well! I still have a ways to go before I get my immune system to build. Please God continue to protect my family and I from sickness and complications. Yesterday I went to have my blood drawn and I have bounced back bigger than ever, good, as it was the lowest ever last week. My Mom and my Dad joined me. Thank God for my awesome parents. I really could not have asked for better parents. We also stopped to see a childhood friend yesterday on my way home from the hospital. She felt lead to gift me with the cutest sloths! One pictured below was painted herself. She is so talented! It has a new home on my desk. Who knew we both loved them!? I enjoyed seeing you yesterday Amy. I pray God continues to bless your journey.

Thank you ALL for your continued support. 1 more! Scheduled for 2/26. 😁😍

02/11/2019

Treatment 7 hopefully only one more after this. Daina continues to stay strong with everyones support.