laleclair's Journey:

I was experiencing back pain initially, then shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue and night sweats. Went to the doctor once and was told I had a neck sprain. Went back 6 weeks later, and was finally given a chest xray and a grapefruit sized tumor was found. I was admitted immediately, had a CT, MRI, PET and biopsy. I stayed in the hospital through my first round of R-CHOP.

R-CHOP is no cake walk. I feel like I had minimal side effects that were well managed with medication thanks to my doctors at Park Nicollet Methodist's Frauenshuh Cancer Center. My primary complaints are fatigue, nausea, headaches. I'm fortunate that I can be away from work, I don't have kids, and I can take a nap everyday--that really helps me manage.

After two rounds of treatment, I was given a PET scan and we learned that my tumor was responding very well to treatment. Fortunately that has continued on my scans since then. I just finished chemo after 8 rounds, and I'm thrilled to be done. My doctor doesn't think I'll need radiation, but we'll know for certain after my next PET and CT scan on Oct 8.