December 2, 2009 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
And after 8 long months, today is my last day of cancer treatment on the whole.
My doctor tells me remission is an antiquated term. The best tests they can do now only show areas of cancer that are one centimeter or larger (which is pretty big if you think about it). I reached that point in April and continued on for several more months of treatment as a best attempt to get rid of any cancer smaller than that but there is no way to tell for sure. The term that will be used in my case instead is freedom from progression which means at this point I have no noticeable growth of cancer.
Follow up tests and check ups start Monday and will continue for a minimum of 5 years, getting further and further apart the longer my results come back cancer free.
Now for the really hard part. I’ve been on disability leave since January thanks to almost daily doctor’s appointments and a slew of adverse side effects but in 3 and a half weeks I’m planning to go back to work. My biggest concern is that I forgot how to do my job. I probably didn’t forget everything but maybe I forgot some small but essential things.
I’m also concerned about lingering extreme fatigue from the radiation treatments (that side effect is supposed to be over about a month after treatment is complete) and that by adding 8 hours of work back into my schedule I won’t have time to do all the things I need to do.
So I’m starting now to build a new daily routine. I have time scheduled after work each day for exercising, eating, showering, blogging, and relaxing by reading, watching tv, or playing video games and I’ll be in bed in time to get a solid 8 hours of sleep (which will hopefully be enough). I know it takes about 3 weeks to develop a new habit, so I’m getting started on my new schedule now.
Why do I feel the need to schedule all of this? Because before I went on disability leave, I wasn’t even able to find time to eat or shower much less do any of the things I wanted to do after work, I was practically asleep by 6 every night.
Today I leave you with the music video of Jack’s Mannequin’s Swim. Andrew McMahon, the singer/songwriter, survived leukemia and wrote this song specifically about the challenge of getting back to a normal life after cancer and how you just have to keep going no matter how hard it seems. I find the song infinitely sad and uplifting at the same time.
Related posts:
Just a Whisper
Favorite Things 2010: Cancer Survivor
Evolution: The Next Chapter
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That is wonderful news. I think started a routine to ease yourself back into working, living life and taking care of yourself is the way to go.
I didn’t realize remission was no longer the term but freedom from progression is something to celebrate.
Visiting from #31DBBB
That’s wonderful. Here’s to it staying in remission for 5 years & away forever! I think your plan sounds like a good one. Don’t forget to allow for commuting time as you plan.
yep i’ve included time for that. luckily my office is only about 10 minutes away
Great idea to get a schedule started now. I would really like to get my life more scheduled but it’s near impossible with kid’s. Well, impossible for me, other people do it just fine.
Freedom from progession is a good expression.
Congrats Carrie – here’s to your health.
CONGRATULATIONS! Just take it slow. I went to work after a year off and it takes some getting used to, but you’ll be fine. You are an amazing person. It will be good to get back to a normal routine doing something you like (vs. going to the doctor.) It’s very exciting!
Carrie,
congrats! what a great feeling!
Thanks for sharing this video/song. How inspirational.
I hope you continue to get great news.
Rachel
Congratulations on starting the next chapter in your life. And don’t worry about if you forgot stuff about your job. You’ve probably learned a lot more about other things and can smile your way through. Toast yourself. Toast your hard fight.
Livestrong!
Congratulations!
I feel like a lucky girl! I came to your site for the very first time and I get to read and share in your good news! how cool is that?
I’m looking forward to following your blog, take care!
I wish you well, I hope that 5 years and beyond comes qucikly. You sound very organized, but still take it easy the first few weeks. If your too tired to blog, post” I am just too tired” we will understand. You rest to build your strength, that is what is important. We will be here waiting, do not worry,
I am happy for you. One thing I will mention is to take really good care of your teeth. About 5 years after his last radiation treatment, my dad broke down and had all of his pulled. He had really great teeth before the treatments, but apparently that can be a side effect too. He has been cancer free for 8 years. I hope you will be too!
good point. the chemo gave me tons of gum problems. just this past week i’ve been able to floss my teeth without having to put a numbing cream on them first and chemo ended in may
I’m finally finishing up my dental implants..as a result of post chemo dental problems 21 years ago. 4 of them will be in and chomping in another month. no more bridges for me. It’s great that you are aware and on top of this issue as no one at the time told me anything about that. I had no idea of that potential side effects.
Congrats Carrie, that’s great news! I hope your cancer remains non-progressing, or however you might say that.
Wow! Here’s to the cancer being gone for GOOD!
Congratulations on your last day of radiation. I will keep you in my thoughts that this is the final time you ever have to do this.
Thank you for visiting my site Fashionably Organized and giving me such a great tip. I really do appreciate it greatly. I need so much help and anyone who reaches out to me is just so heart warming.
Congrats on your great news!
Is there a way that you could start out working part time, like 6 hours a day for a week or two, just to get back into the swing of things?
Scheduling the things you want and need to do sounds like a good plan. Sometimes we’re so busy and/or tired that we forget, or just don’t want to do, the things we need and love to do. If you have it printed on a schedule where you can see that you need to do something, and after, like you said, it is a habit, you feel compelled to complete the task and guilty if you don’t
Good luck with the job! I am sure it will all come back to you if you’ve forgotten anything at all!
yeah, i think they’ll be ok if i go home early the first few days at least but i’m going to make the effort to be there all day. i’m kind of trying to practice an 8 hour work day between now and then to get my body back in that mode.
I popped over from the 31-day challenge and saw your post. I came to your site because my mom’s name is Carrie, and I lived in the SV for 13 years. Sunnyvale, actually.
My very best to you on your return to work and routine. I bet the petty politics will seem even more so. Surround yourself with the ones that bring you joy. Take care.
Congratulations on your complete recovery and the yumminess of your blog as a whole. You rock in that awesome sauce!
Great news! I hope you continue to experience health and continued recovery. You sound like an amazingly strong person, and I don’t think you’ll have any problem returning to work. After what you’ve been through, I think work will pale in comparison.
Best of Luck! Following from the 31DBBB Challenge
Congrats on your return to work! I wish you the brightest & healthiest days ahead
Great blog!I love the design and practicality of it.
Following from 31 Day challenge as well
Congrats! I am 12 years post transplant for non hodgkins lymphoma….give yourself some time to take it easy….but enjoy this new chapter!
Awesome news, Carrie!
Wow, what an amazing woman you are. Congrats on the big news. Thanks for stopping by my blog, I look forward to meeting you at Blogher!
Wishing you a wonderful cancer free life ahead of you.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life … Wishing you good health and happiness!
Carrie,
I just dropped by to catch up with your progress and glad to see you are doing well. Take care and remember to enjoy each and every precious moment of good health and life.
sounds like a great idea. After chemo I became a runner and was up every morning at like 6:30 running along the beach at Santa Monica out to the end of the pier and back. Another thing, have yourself a party..I threw a big one the week after I finished chemo, in fact planning that party was what go me through the whole thing..unfortunately the night of my party Gulf War 1 started so everybody wanted to keep turning on CNN! Ah well..have fun back at work..everything is more fun after this.