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Follow my unexpected cancer journey...the good, the bad, and the ugly!
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​CANCER CHRONICLES

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A little good, a little bad, a little ugly...

8/14/2017

12 Comments

 
I can almost guarantee this will be one of the only days I do two blog upates on the same day BUT I figured since it was my first day I should update how it went...
The good
: initially we thought/were told I was going to have to do chemo EVERY week for the entire 18 weeks. Now it's been clarified that I do a full week of chemo M-F with my additional shot on Friday for my white blood count, then have 2 weeks "off". Now during my 2 weeks "off" I still have to come in T/Th to get labs done to make sure my levels are ok and this determines how much higher or lower dosage they give me my next chemo round.
The bad: However, apparently the 2 "off/lab weeks" are when you are the sickest so not sure if that's an upside of not having to come in for treatments or not. BUT, only 30 total days of chemo/6 full weeks sounds a whole lot better than 18 full weeks so I'll take it! So, I will have 3 days a week on my 2 consecutive "off/lab" weeks we wont have to drive into Austin...even if I am feeling bad, I'll take it! I'm hoping I will feel ok enough to sub on these days unless it's a time where a lot of sickness is going around and then I can't take the chance. I was told if I get sick at all during my 18 weeks they have to postpone and push back a week which would then bring me in to still have chemo treatments in January which I will do anything to not have to do. So, my plan on subbing may or may not work out...tbd.
The ugly: Oh dear, the biggest surprise of all.....I also found out today I have a new best friend that gets to go everywhere I go 24/7 that's attached to me...he's officially named the Wolf Pack (no I didn't choose the name, and no the liquid in him unfortunately has no connection to any Hangover movie or I might like him a little more)! Apparently, I'm one of the lucky ones that not only has to continue chemo at home during my full chemo weeks 24/7, but I also have the largest quantity you can have so my Wolf Pack is quite the lug around. So, showering, sleeping, eating, and just doing pretty much anything is going to be quite the sight! I will have this lovely contraption hooked up to me 24/7 from M-Th on full chemo weeks then they keep it Friday after my treatment and I don't have it for 2 weeks until my next full chemo week. So much for being cancer incognito until my hair falls out, this thing is quite the fashion statement!

Please excuse my swollen face/neck and no make up! As you can see the rest of my cancer friends have an easy 40-50 years on me so I felt like quite the youngin' for once! And you just can't beat coming home to gorgeous flowers ; ) sure miss my sweet Beachers! Oh, and make sure you get a good look at my new bestie, Wolf Pak!

12 Comments
Stephanie Bonnet
8/14/2017 05:24:19 pm

Hugs XOXOXO you are so strong as nails sharing your story. We are praying for you :)

Reply
Maritza Aguirre
8/14/2017 06:08:07 pm

You are one brave and strong woman. Thank you for sharing your story. You got this!

Reply
Katelyn Houchin
8/14/2017 06:29:27 pm

I've been thinking about you today, girlie! You are going to kick some serious cancer booty! ❤️

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Alisia Fee
8/14/2017 09:52:29 pm

Man lady! Thinking about you and wishing you well. Just think of it like one of your Whole 30 adventures...it will suck, but you totally got it!

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Becky Preslar
8/14/2017 09:54:25 pm

Brianna, you look amazing! I will keep praying, hopefully the weeks off won't be too bad. Love your piggie friend by the computer!

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Melissa W
8/14/2017 10:15:12 pm

Love ❤️ you! Cancer ain't got nothing on you. Callie and I are constantly praying for you. 😘

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Kassey LeBlanc
8/14/2017 10:17:19 pm

Can't imagine what you are going through but I so admire your courage, outlook and humor. Thinking of you always.

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Esther Hilda Ehrlich
8/14/2017 11:12:46 pm

Beautiful as always. You will win this fight.

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Amber Alonso
8/15/2017 02:48:03 pm

Praying for you during this part of your life. I know it will not be an easy battle, but with faith you will prevail. Dont push yourself to hard and allow body to heal. Chemo is rough. Keep posting updates. Your little beacher Emma misses you.

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Brenda Weiss
8/15/2017 04:50:39 pm

Yay for good news!! I can imagine your relief to hear you get some off time during this! Prayers your way.

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Keri Swanson
8/15/2017 11:22:43 pm

You are amazing and beautiful. I love you and I'm praying for you. Hugs!

Reply
Donna
8/16/2017 08:46:51 pm

Kaiden sends his prayers and love!! He says " one day he wants to visit you!"!

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    "You either get bitter or you get better. It's that simple. You either take what's been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you."
    ​~Josh Shipp

             

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    When Cancer Comes a Knockin'

    Timeline

    On August 2, 2017, Brianna was diagnosed with Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Beginning Monday, August 14, 2017, Brianna will begin chemotherapy treatments. She will be commuting to Austin for 18 weeks to receive treatments. This site is set up as a donation page to help Brianna and her family cover medical costs and living expenses, as well as a one stop shop to get updates on how chemo is going and even buy a shirt or two in support!

    UPDATE:
    After getting her final PET scan to confirm the aggressive chemo did it's job, we got the news that it hadn't and that the tumor was still active when it shouldn't of been. Brianna is now undergoing radiation for 5 weeks, everyday in Austin. 


    UPDATE March 2018:
    Brianna begin having the same cancer symptoms as she did this past summer during spring break, except more painful this time. She was sent to get a CT scan which showed her cancer had returned. She then met with her oncologist who planned the next steps which include to do more chemo (a differnt regimen this time) followed by a stem cell transplant. 
    She thought she was done....she was done.....and now she is having to start the cancer journey all over again...including losing her hair that had just start growing back.


    UPDATE
    END OF MARCH - JUNE 25th
    ​(at the moment....things have yet to even begin apparently.)

    If I didn't feel like I was really dying or truly out of options to live....I do now. Remember  I was basically on our plan F and everything was just getting worse instead of better. I really thought I was done these last couple weeks and being in the hospital for another little week vacay. I finally updated by blog since so many people were asking, so you can read the detailed updates.

    October 2018 Update:
    Insurance has finally approved all of the CAR-T procedure and I will be getting my T-Cells retrieved from my body next week. (Oct 10th if all goes as planned)


    MARCH 2019
    The first post CAR-T pet scan showed the main mass has shrunk in size, even though still active. Hopefully, the CAR-T will continue to work its magic over the next few months before the next scan.


    To donate to Brianna's GoFundMe page, please make sure the donation is made on the GoFundMe Page found here:
    ​
     https://www.gofundme.com/teambonnet
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