I know I've mentioned on the blog that I haven't been feeling well. Last year I was diagnosed with a rare, indolent (slow-growing) type of b-cell follicular lymphoma (my doctors all say that if you have to have cancer, at least it is a good kind). That's the bump that has been on my head. Well, technically, in my head, but the inflammation looks like a bump. The excisional biopsy last year had hopefully removed it all, but it didn't, and that was before I was referred to the fabulous team I have at Stanford. So we've been in the watchful waiting stage this year. Back in October, I began having a lot of pain on the left side of my face/head that was similar to the incidents I've had before with the tumor. My doctor trusted me right away, despite there not being a large amount of swelling. An ultrasound showed a mass, two weeks later the swelling was definitely there again along with excruciating pain, and a biopsy confirmed the tumor. A PETscan last week showed the cancer hasn't spread anywhere else (yay!!). Next step is radiation for 4 weeks. I was supposed to start this coming week, but the PETscan showed the tumor is a bit closer to my eye than they thought, so they want to do a different type of radiation, and that'll probably start in another week or two (waiting for insurance to approve it). But my radiation oncologist is 100% confident that radiation will kill the type of tumor I have!
The hardest thing the past few weeks has been the pain in my temple/head area and the crazy amount of fatigue. Like sleeping 14-15 hours a day. With a fancy ice machine on my head the entire time I'm asleep (thank you sister! She invested in this crazy fancy ice mask machine that stays continuously cool after one of her sinus surgeries since it helps her migraines.....I will never tease her again for the funny looking mask! She's let me borrow it for the past month and it has been amazing!). You know it's bad when I can barely knit. They started me on a new medication that kicked in two weeks ago and seems to be helping a lot with the pain. When I met with the radiation oncologist two weeks ago, I knew I was going to need radiation. But the nurses had prepped me for 3-4 days. So I was a bit surprised to find out it would be 3-4 weeks because my tumor is different. I'll be honest, I was a bit stressed about that. So what's a girl to do?
It was the first thing I saw at Nordstrom later that day, on sale, and so bright and cheery I could just hear it say, "F.... cancer! You got this!" A positive attitude and a fabulous handbag make all the difference, right?!
And what's a knitter who is too tired to knit do?
When Interweave Knitting Lab was here a few weeks ago, I did a little retail therapy. I couldn't help it. You might not help it either, so be careful of these links....
- Canon Hand Dyes (Amy is so fun and I met her a few years ago at Sock Summit, but I can't wait to collaborate with her next year! I fell down at her shop!)
- A Needle Runs Through It (you guys know I LOVE Maria's bags! The Christmas one is my new fave! I always stock up at Stitches West!)
- Knitted Wit (love love love)
- Sincere Sheep (love love love).
So I'm thankful today for so many things....I'm feeling well today, I'm going to kick this cancer's butt, I'm going to use the extra week or two before radiation to get the holidays started, I have the best family and friends, Notre Dame won today, and I had time to blog. I've missed you guys! I even have another post or two that I think I'll share in the next few days....don't worry, this is probably the only post I'm going to mention stupid cancer in.... back to yarn, knitting, doggies, baby niece, and fun! I believe in prayers and positive thinking and I know you guys rock that, so I did want to share what I've been going through.
I know I've barely been around the blog and ravelry the past few months, so thanks for sticking with me. A little thank you appreciate sale sounded good too! So from now through 11:59pm PST on Monday evening, I'm offering you guys a coupon code for 50% off any of my IGK patterns that are $6.00 or less! Time for gift knitting right! Coupon code: grateful
Now back to watching some football and knitting!!!
Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
