Thank you everyone for your kind messages and sharing in my good tidings!

Beaker, Kathryn, Deb and Max, thank you all for your informative messages about the PET scan - I have visions of looking like the Ready-Brek advert after the scan, with a 'glow' all around the outline of my body. You may be too young to know what I'm wittering on about!

As I work in a school, I'm wondering if I'll need to have a bit of time off after the scan so that the children won't be affected - no doubt the medical team will advise.

Deb, the CRUK site mentioned that sometimes these scans are done in hospital car parks! I understand too, that some hospitals don't have PET facilities and an out of town trip is necessary, but I'm lucky that one of the hospitals where I have my treatment, does them. It is organised by an outside agency apparently. I'll take a warm cardi just in case!

Brian, Hope and Nicola, thanks for your continued messages of support too! I'm loving the ideas for celebration - maybe I'll take your advice, Hope, and do all those lovely things!

Nicola, thanks for your other message too - I'm such a computer dinosaur, I hadn't realised I could have just edited the title of that thread instead of starting a new one!

Max, I smiled too when I got the 'phone call! You're right about what constitutes 'good news' for us these days!

Will keep you all posted, but in the meantime, there's a left over Easter egg that seems to have my name on it!

Phase 1 of the celebrations, Hope!

Love to everyone, Jo xx

Hi Jo

Many congratulations on the good news.  Keep smiling.

When I was due a PET scan they told me that I should keep away from babies for about 4 hours after the scan.  Mine was booked for 5pm one day and I was told I would be fine to go to work next day.  Did not actually get the scan as I was admitted two days before scan was due.

Do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes.

Gill

Hi Gill,

Thanks for your message!

Depending on the timing of my scan, I suppose I'l lhave to wait and see if I can wangle a morning or afternoon off work! (as if I haven't had enough time off!)

Joking apart though, I've read on the CRUK site that I may need to starve for 4 to 6 hours before the scan (presumably to clear the system of sugars?)

I'm not sure I'd manage a morning in work on 'low fuel' especially as the staff room table always seems to have naughty treats on it!

I follow your threads / posts and it's great to read about you meeting up with Lisa. She sounds a very bubbly and fun girl through her posts.

Am I right in thinking you're nearing the end of your chemo? You seem to have coped really well with it. It's great when the finishing line appears on the horizon isn't it? I became a bit 'calendar obsessive' during my treatments, especially during Radiotherapy - constantly counting down the sessions left!

Well, we're having a lie in with the papers - the new puppy is noticable by his absence, so I'd better go and investigate - or send my partner. As the saying goes, "Why have a dog and bark yourself?"

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, hugs to you, Jo xx

Hi Jo

I always used to feel guilty about taking time off work for appointments but that changed with my first visit to the doctor when he ordered blood tests and chest x-ray.  It was also simplifed as I finished work at lunchtime on 14 jan to go and see consultant to discuss a drug trial they wanted me to sign up for .   Expected to go back to work in the afternoon but because my neck was very painful I got admitted that day.  Work have been very good and told me to take as long as I need before going back.

Have to say I cannot remember them saying not to eat or drink for 4-6 hours before the PET but they might well have done given that you can only drking clear fluids for four hours before a CT Scan.

Last full chemo is on Tuesday.  A week after I go back for a top-up of the trial drug and I have two further infusions of Rituximab at three week intervals then I am done.  Well apart from a CT Scan (a doddle) and a bone marrow trephine.  Not looking forward to this at all.  Had one done at the start.  The wipe the skin with what they say is a local anaesthetic but before it chans chance to do anything they then put a large needle in which then they proceed to push very hard until they go through the bone until they get to the bone marrow.  Not nice at all.  They want to do this again as the first time it showed a low grade lymphoma in about 10% of my bone marrow.  Want to check and see what if anything has happened since chemo.  Consultant said he does not think anything much will have changed as it usually spreads very very slowly.  I said does that mean something else will kill me first and he said yes it probably would.

I am planning to go back to work part time on 02 June which will be about 5 weeks after my final full chemo.  Was told I could go back to work when still having the two infusions as this is more immunotherapy than chemotherapy.  Have tried to do something each day to try and work back up to a level where I can actualy cope with working again but have been getting very tired.   Went to bed at just after 9pm last night and did not wake until 6.45am.  This was a surprise as usually the cat wakes me up at about 6am or sometimes at 5am!  When it is 5am the cat gets shoved off thebed with a "get lost".  She then waints until about 6am to jump on me again.

Hope you have a good weekend.

Gill

Hi Jo

I always used to feel guilty about taking time off work for appointments but that changed with my first visit to the doctor when he ordered blood tests and chest x-ray.  It was also simplifed as I finished work at lunchtime on 14 jan to go and see consultant to discuss a drug trial they wanted me to sign up for .   Expected to go back to work in the afternoon but because my neck was very painful I got admitted that day.  Work have been very good and told me to take as long as I need before going back.

Have to say I cannot remember them saying not to eat or drink for 4-6 hours before the PET but they might well have done given that you can only drking clear fluids for four hours before a CT Scan.

Last full chemo is on Tuesday.  A week after I go back for a top-up of the trial drug and I have two further infusions of Rituximab at three week intervals then I am done.  Well apart from a CT Scan (a doddle) and a bone marrow trephine.  Not looking forward to this at all.  Had one done at the start.  The wipe the skin with what they say is a local anaesthetic but before it chans chance to do anything they then put a large needle in which then they proceed to push very hard until they go through the bone until they get to the bone marrow.  Not nice at all.  They want to do this again as the first time it showed a low grade lymphoma in about 10% of my bone marrow.  Want to check and see what if anything has happened since chemo.  Consultant said he does not think anything much will have changed as it usually spreads very very slowly.  I said does that mean something else will kill me first and he said yes it probably would.

I am planning to go back to work part time on 02 June which will be about 5 weeks after my final full chemo.  Was told I could go back to work when still having the two infusions as this is more immunotherapy than chemotherapy.  Have tried to do something each day to try and work back up to a level where I can actualy cope with working again but have been getting very tired.   Went to bed at just after 9pm last night and did not wake until 6.45am.  This was a surprise as usually the cat wakes me up at about 6am or sometimes at 5am!  When it is 5am the cat gets shoved off thebed with a "get lost".  She then waints until about 6am to jump on me again.

Hope you have a good weekend.

Gill

Hi Gill,

It's great that you have such understanding employers. On top of everything we go through, having work stress is something we can well do without. Not everyone is so lucky! I work in education so I know I'm extremely lucky!

I presume you'll have some sort of a phased return in June? Even going back part time, you need to build up your work stamina. When I first went back,  I was a bit gung ho, thinking I was 'stronger' than I was. Thankfully, my boss extended my phased return (I also have the added bonus of regular half term holidays!) Back again tomorrow after a lovely two week break!

The bone marrow trephine sounds extremely painful - poor you   How long does it take to recover from that invasive procedure? I'm normally not a very squeamish person, but your description made me wince.

One of my cats wakes me up early too! A massive ginger Tom, jumps up alongside me and gently bunts me! He's always hungry, but I use your technique too and he tends to disappear for a while. What's the betting he doesn't do it in the morning when I have to get up!!!

Well, it's time to start getting ready for bed - I'm sure I go to bed earlier than some of the children I teach!!

Have a good week,

Hugs Jo xx