Life After Chemotherapy: My PET Scan Results, Recovery, and Renewal
The Hardest Rounds of Chemo
My last two chemotherapy cycles hit the hardest in terms of fatigue. I was exhausted, taking daily afternoon naps for weeks.
I also lost all my hair—eyebrows, eyelashes, nose hairs—everything. I felt like an avatar at the start of a video game, waiting for my features to be filled in. You don’t realize how functional these tiny hairs are until they’re gone. My eyelids would stick together when I blinked, and my nose became an unpredictable leaky faucet. Thankfully, I’m now starting to see regrowth!
Waiting on bloodwork results after my last round of chemo
Waiting for My PET Scan
When I was discharged after my final cycle in late June, my PET scan was scheduled for August 8th. That meant six long weeks of waiting to find out if treatment had worked.
For most of this journey, I held firmly to optimism and only envisioned one outcome: eradicating the disease. But as the weeks passed, doubts crept in:
What if it didn’t work?
Will I need more chemo?
How long will this last?
To ground myself, I focused on what I could control—caring for my body. I slept when I needed to, ate nourishing whole foods, took longer walks with my dogs, kept up my Pilates practice, returned to strength training, connected with loved ones, and rooted myself in gratitude.
My IV placed by the ultrasound nurse for my PET scan
PET Scan Day: Facing the Unknown
My 5:45 a.m. radiology appointment began with an IV for the radioactive tracer, followed by an hour of waiting as it spread. Then I was bundled in hospital blankets for a twenty-minute ride through the PET scanner. Afterwards, I treated myself to coffee and headed home.
Just a few hours later, the results appeared in the UC Health app:
The mass was still visible.
It had shrunk to 6.0 x 1.5 cm (down from 16.1 x 11.4 cm at diagnosis).
My SUV number was 2.8 (we want it equal to or less than my liver’s 1.7).
It wasn’t the clear-cut “cancer free” verdict I had been hoping for. Better, yes—but how much better?
Finding Support in Community
That afternoon, I attended a yoga class for cancer survivors. Just introducing myself and naming my cancer brought me to tears. The class itself wasn’t great, but the sense of community was deeply comforting. I’ll probably go back.
When I got home, I shared my worries with Jordan. He gently reminded me not to make assumptions—to wait for Friday’s appointment with my oncologist.
Waiting to meet with my oncologist after getting my blood drawn
Meeting with My Oncologist
On Friday, I dressed in a favorite mood-boosting dress and headed to the bone marrow transplant outpatient wing. After a quick blood draw, we met with Dr. Bair.
He pulled up all three of my PET scans side by side. Seeing the contrast was staggering: at diagnosis, nearly the entire right side of my chest was filled with disease; after two cycles, the mass had already shrunk by more than half; and now, only a tiny blip remained.
Dr. Bair reminded me that large B-cell lymphoma is highly inflammatory. It takes time for inflammation to resolve, which explains the residual tissue on my scan. He believes what’s left is scar tissue.
To ensure insurance approval for another scan in October, he officially scored my scan as “X” (unknown). As long as the tumor’s uptake stays the same or decreases, I’ll remain in the clear. Most importantly, he assured me with confidence: no more chemo. That was my biggest fear, and I felt an enormous wave of relief.
Heading out for lunch on my birthday (eyebrows are finally coming back!)
Life After Chemo: Rebuilding Health
I’m not completely finished with follow-ups—I still have appointments with my cardiologist, fertility specialist, and ongoing check-ins with oncology—but I am profoundly grateful for my health today.
Just a few months ago, doctors told me I had three weeks to live if untreated. Dr. Bair, a lymphoma specialist, said my mass was the largest of its kind he had ever seen. Now, I feel better than I have in years—long before I even realized how sick I was.
This journey has changed me, reshaping my perspective on health, balance, and what truly matters. I’m excited to carry these lessons forward as I return to my work with Spring to Life.
