Tamara’s Story

Site created on April 1, 2019

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement.  This particular website is for the support of Tamara DeRidder as she fights Follicular Lymphoma.  This non-Hogskin's Lymphoma cannot be cured - only managed.  Although it was found at stage 3 the oncologist Dr. Luftkin found that it is 'slow growing' so it is grade 3A.  We are treating the cancer aggressively as if it were fast-growing by using a chemo cocktail of Bendamustine + Rituximab.  There will be a total of 6-rounds at 28 days apart for this treatment. Thank you for visiting.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Tamara DeRidder

Today I have terrific news!! The PET scan taken of my body on Monday June 3rd revealed NO cancer remaining in my lymph nodes!! No sign of cancer in my liver or spleen!! All my blood work on June 5th came up with both my white and red blood cell counts in NORMAL range. Dr. Luftkin stated that he had not seen my hymocrite this high since back in 2016! He is proceeding with the full 6 treatments of chemo with #4 starting on June 5th in order to take care of any free-floating cancer cells. Plus, although my liver is back down to normal size, my spleen is still a bit on the large size.  Everything is looking great and it is our hope to chase all of this cancer out of my body so I will not have to go through another round like this for a VERY long time. My last 2 chemos are scheduled for July 2nd and July 30th.
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