All Checked In For Round Two!

I am all checked in! I am super excited about getting a great room at Hoag so I can have a place to relax and move around. We started chemo but we had to stop to put me on magnesium. My red blood cells are dropping super fast but I am feeling pretty good. I am pretty much bald now with a few little speckles of hair that are holding on but I am loving all of my beanies. I will keep you updated on my progress and thank you for all of your prayers!

Going back in

So I am patiently waiting to go back into Hoag today to start round 2 of chemo. The floor is completely full so I am waiting for someone to be discharged. I had a fabulous past couple of days relaxing in the hot sun in Palm Desert at my friends Steve's house. I had great food when I was there thanks to Rick, my sisters boyfriend. Also I got to see my good friend Dawn that lives out there too which is always a treat. It was a great mini trip and I wish I could do that every time I get a week off from chemo. It took my mind off everything! I am now going to get myself packed and ready for my 2 week vacation at Hoag. Thanks everyone for being so supportive! I will update you as the days pass. I also wanted to mention that today is my special friend Noah's one year since his death. I can not believe it has been that long! I think about him all the time and I know he is one of my guardian angels. He is always with me and he will always be missed! You only live once....

Good doctor visit

So this morning I went to Dr. Mahdavi's office, who is my wonderful oncologist, to check my blood counts and they are up and normal. I was very surprised since I still have a cough & cold and I have been pretty tired lately. I thought if my counts were better everything else would be perfect, right? I guess I am healthy with a normal cold. It shall pass just like this stupid cancer! We have decided that this Sunday would be the perfect day to go back in to start chemo. The doctor said I have to do the chemo every 3 weeks and this Saturday would be exactly 3 weeks! I am feeling really strong about going back in on Sunday for the start of round 2 of chemo. After this treatment is done I finally get my first CT scan to see how much this mass has decreased in size. I know it has decreased and it will continue to shrink and die. I know this and I do BELIEVE. My doctor is letting me go in on Sunday because I am being treated to a few relaxing days at a friends home in Palm Springs with my sister and her boyfriend. I am looking forward to reading and laying out (in the hot shade). Thanks again!

I'm home

So my counts finally got high enough and not had a fever in 2 days so i was discharged from the hospital on Friday. Thank goodness for that blood transfusion and those shots that get my bones to start producing white blood cells. I have a simple cough and cold but they are not worried about that. It is so nice to be at home. Even though it is really nice to be monitored and pampered at the hospital there is no place like home.. Sometimes i do say there is no place like HOAG. I always have such a great experience there no matter how sick i get. I actually look forward to going back next weekend to kill this stupid cancer! My doctor is giving me this week off to build my immune system back up. I have an appointment with him on Tuesday where he will check my counts to make sure i am on track. From there i may go back and get rechecked and if I'm lucky a possible ct scan to see if the chemo is working. He feels that it may be to early to check but i know this stupid cancer is dying fast! Plan is i return to the hospital next weekend to start round 2 of chemo. We are not wasting any time! I realized today my hair is falling out!! I barely grab it and it comes right out. It is so interesting to me how that happens. I knew it would only take 2 weeks for it to fall all the way out. It is a little cold but i have beanies and scarves that keep my head warm. I'm feeling well and very positive with all your great love and support! Thank you all again for that. Believe...

Coming Home!

So I just got the orders from my doc that I can come home!! Yeah! I have a pretty crappy cold but I am doing okay. My scalp is starting to hurt like my hair wants to fall out so I am getting my head shaved again by my favorite hairstylist Audrey :). I am going to have a week off at home and then it is back to the hospital for another set of treatments and recovery.
So my friend that helped put the web site together got a pretty disturbing call today and I just want to clarify where the donations that so many FRIENDS have been sending in are going. My medical insurance, co pays, medications, car payments, car insurance, phone bills and all other things that everyday jobs would pay for don't disappear just because I have cancer. These donations help me pay for all of the things that everyone else has jobs for. I have had so many kind hearted people offer to put money together for vacations to lift my spirits and even money for me to get my eyebrows tattooed and it really is shocking that someone has the time to question my motives. I want to say THANK YOU again for all of those who have chosen to donate time, money, services and auction items. It truly is amazing to have such kind hearted friends. Thank you again!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Sorry it has been a couple of days since my last update. So here is what is going on! I finished chemo on Wednesday 3/11 and by Friday 3/13 my counts DROPPED! I started getting my shots to boost my immune system a couple times a day. It takes a while before that starts to kick in and I am still waiting. My heart rate has been super high :( and I have had a fever every night so I am in isolation. That means no yummy fruits and veggies, no flowers in my room, no physical contact and I can't even brush my teeth (don't worry, I am rinsing). My whole body aches because my bone marrow is working extra hard to make more white blood cells and I get IB Prophren for the pain. My nose has been bleeding and I cough up blood which is not so fun. I am doing breathing treatment every four hours and at night I sleep pretty good.I get hot flashes every once in a while from when they put my ovaries to sleep and then all of a sudden I am super cold. Every hour is something new at this point. I got a blood transfusion on Sunday 3/15 to boost my immune system and I am hoping that will kick in soon so I can get the hell out of here. My spirits are high and I so appreciate all of the kind messages on my guest book. It really means so much to me. Thank you so much for the support!! Happy St.Patty's Day!

B E L I E V E

Update on Renee and all things Renee!

Thank you for all of your support! Renee is defenitely feeling the love. We are working very hard to get you all of the information on the upcoming benefit but we ask for your patience till we have all of the information. In the meantime, you can email us at ReneeBensonBELIEVE@yahoo.com to sign up for a mailing list to be notified about the event.

Now for Renee and her progress! Yesterday she had an X-ray of her chest and even though they did not get as clear of a reading as you would with a CT-scan, they were able to say that the density of the mass had gone down a bit. GREAT NEWS!! She has been having chest pains from the muscles surrounding her lung and her counts are down (so if you are sick at all, please wait to visit) but over all she is doing good. She is blown away with the support she has received from all of you and so keep it up! Your prayers and thoughts are working! Thank you and I will continue to keep you updated on all things Renee until she figures out her new phone and she can do it herself :)!

Renee Benson Blog Page

Thank you all for your support! We will be working hard to keep you updated on Renee's progress. Keep praying for her and we know she will beat this one!!