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Mandy Marshall Mullins, Taylorsville, NC (2026)

04/21/2022

CT was great!!! Nothing new, nothing grew!! Seen Dr. Peterson today Dr. Orlowski is on vacation but Dr. Peterson was way more informative and spent more time and explained more. He said the CT shows “ no evidence of cancer!” He explained that the cancer is still there in the lymph nodes but not visible on a scan. It’s just kinda hanging out. But to hear them say no evidence of cancer was wonderful to hear. Will continue with immunotherapy said no less than 2 years. Will still have to get scans every 3 months though which is fine lol maybe we won’t be so worried with each one now. I know with every scan there’s the chance it will “ come out of hiding “ or whatever but right now we are overjoyed! Such a weight lifted off both of us! All the love and prayers are so appreciated and I know all those prayers is what got us here!! Prayers work!! We love y’all so much and I promise to try and add more updates lol but honestly glad there’s not been more to post “ No news is good news “ ?? In this case yes!!

04/21/2022

Not much to update lately but today Richard has treatment and we get results of his scan he had on Tuesday. I’m always worried after a scan not knowing what to expect. This time I’m more worried because his leg was swollen again a few nights ago and it was somewhat larger than before. Last year after 6 months and 6 rounds of chemo, everything was shrinking! The rib was gone and all others were smaller, however, after 6 months and 6 rounds of immunotherapy, nothing new showed up but a couple places had grown some. I’m not sure if they have grown more this time if they will say chemo again or what. Not knowing is what drives me crazy! Everything that goes through my head until we know for sure and Lord knows the ONE thing I’m good at in life is worry! Not slept well and when I do sleep I have nightmares. Waiting and worrying!! Will update as soon as we know anything!! Appointment supposed to be 10:15 but so busy today he’s just now at the window to check in. Prayers greatly appreciated!!

02/02/2022

Got Richard home earlier and settled but I had to go back out and I am finally home for the evening! He does have covid. They did a flu test as well and it was negative thank goodness! The PA at oncology is wonderful! She came out to the car as well and had him get out so she could listen to his lungs. I told her the drug we have at my pharmacy and she got the ok from oncologist so they called it in as well as a list of vitamins they recommend for their patients. Got all but 1!! My coworker Erica, has been trying to order it at work but the places we order from are out and the 4 other places I went this evening are out. It’s Quercetin. I can order from Amazon and that may be what I do tonight! That one along with Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 and 1 low dose aspirin. Kristin and I will also start these vitamins!! PA told me that more than likely I will get it as well and that I should test myself in 4 days. So that’s where we are now. Y’all I still smoke so I’m praying I don’t get it! I know I know I should have quit years ago 🤦🏼‍♀️ I do not have the will power!! I’m weak!! I gave him the drug as soon as I got in the car and the pile of vitamins as soon as we got home and he ate. He will take another dose of the meds before bed. His lungs sounded good his BP was good and his 02 was good. At the moment other than feeling like he’s been hit by a truck he’s ok. Will update if anything changes and again thank you everyone for all the prayers!!

02/01/2022

Totally forgot to update last week 🤦🏼‍♀️ about the stent! They did remove it but will have to keep a close watch on the kidney so he is scheduled for an ultrasound on the 7th . Not sure how often he will to have the ultrasound done but the way the urologist talked it will be often. Now!! For today’s problems!! Richard Mullins started feeling bad yesterday at work later in the day because he only had an hour left of work but he came home and had a temp of 101 . I get off at 6 and stopped and grabbed the home Covid test and yes it was positive!! Being it was after hours when we tested I called oncology as soon as they opened this morning and you never get a nurse when you call you have to leave a message and they call back. Normally it’s really quick but this morning for whatever reason it was at least an hour before she called back. So it’s been back and forth all day !! We have one of the new drugs at the pharmacy I work at so I wanted to see if it was safe with Keytruda and if he qualified for it. At the moment we are sitting in the parking lot at oncology waiting on them to come to the car and swab him. In order to prescribe the drug he has to be tested here so waiting….. they do use the rapid so we will know shortly. So again I’m asking for more prayers for Richard. On top of everything else now this. I promise to update soon lol phone may die before I can update but as soon as I get it charged I will update!!

01/26/2022

Heading to urology appointment!! Prayers and good luck greatly appreciated that they can/will remove the stems!! Will update when we know!!

01/19/2022

Sorry I didn’t update yesterday I’m still not sure exactly how to explain lol but most of the PET scan looked good, however, the groin lymph nodes are a little larger than they were back in September ( I think?) on the CT. I asked for the sizes because back when we had the CT 2 days after the scan his leg swelled again so we had to get an ultrasound on that leg. In that ultrasound it showed to be measuring 2.8cm. So the first scan at first diagnosis it measured 1.5cm. After 6 rounds of chemo on the first CT after, it was half its size ( oncologist words) so I asked yesterday what the actual size was bc they had never said and she looked it up and said 0.7!! But after 6 immunotherapy treatments at the ultrasound only 2 days after the CT , which the CT didn’t mention the lymph nodes at all but again only 2 days after the ultrasound showed it measuring 2.8x1.7x1.1 🤷‍♀️ PA and oncologist didn’t seem really concerned and said immunotherapy is working, it is a long term therapy and we just keep going with what we are doing. He has an appointment with urology on the 26th and it was to see about being able to remove the stent which causes him so much pain and discomfort but yesterday oncologist said he wouldn’t remove it said his opinion is to leave it. So today I will call urology and tell them what was said and have them also read the scan and see if they agree. They did say though that we will start scans every 3 months instead of every 6 months to keep an eye on these lymph nodes and in case we need to change treatments. PA and oncologist both said “ we don’t want to call it active progression at this time “ SO! That’s all we know at this point which I feel kinda lost and confused to be honest we always see the PA more and the oncologist we have is “ the best in the area” I agree, he is great at what he does BUT he acts as if his time is too precious to spend more than 30 seconds with us. From the start he made me feel like any questions I asked were stupid like I should know all these medical terms ! The PAs though are great and take their time and answer any questions we have . Sorry for the rant lol but thank you all so very much for all the love and prayers!! Truly appreciated more than you will ever know!!

01/18/2022

Prayers appreciated this morning!!! On our way for treatment and results of the PET scan last week!!! We are both a little nervous as expected lol we did get out of the iced over dirt road lol but only because Richard Mullins was driving!! He says “ you have to go this fast or you’ll not get out!! It’s the only way you’re gonna get out! “ scares the life outta me though! My luck I’ll slide in the creek 🤦🏼‍♀️ I have never liked the snow but having to try and drive in it causes me so much anxiety!! Anyway I will update as soon as we know results!! Will go ahead and send many thanks and much love for all prayers and love!!

01/06/2022

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!!!! TODAY!!! Richard is 53!!!! Screaming HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the love of my life, the best husband, the best “ Pops “ and best Pawpaw !! You are loved and admired more than you will ever know!!! ❤️

12/15/2021

Quick update before I have to go to work. Urologist did end up putting a stent back in yesterday. He only found one place that he biopsied but said it really looked like scar. Just to be sure though he put the stent back in and said we will give it about a month to heal from yesterday and of the biopsy comes back good he can take the stent out in the office!! That procedure is awful having it done in the office!! Richard was still in recovery when he came and explained everything to me and said he will leave it up to Richard when we see him on the 21st for follow up. Of course he went to work this morning even though he’s still sore but said if he starts hurting too bad he will come home. Thank you to everyone for all the love and prayers!! They are appreciated more than you will ever know!!

12/14/2021

Stent replacement day! Already checked in and in his fancy gown lol urologist is gonna biopsy anything he finds and IF the ureter is clear he may be able to just leave the stent out! The stent is what causes Richard the most pain and discomfort. This will be the second replacement ( has to be replaced every 4-6 months) had pre-op last week and asked again if it’s possible to just take it out. Urologist said he will see once he’s in there 🤷‍♀️ so we won’t know for sure til it’s over I guess. He always comes to talk to me while Richard is in recovery. This time however, Kristin has her last final of the semester today and I’m by myself! I like having her with me because she stays calm and remembers questions to ask and remembers what dr tells us. So fingers crossed and prayers it all goes well and maybe just maybe he finds nothing to biopsy!!

11/16/2021

Ok so the CT he had last week is clear! BUT! Two days after he had the CT his right leg was swollen again. He asked me Wednesday night ( like about 10pm!) if his leg looked swollen. Yep! It definitely was! I immediately panic because that is exactly how this journey started on New Years Eve day! I called oncology as soon as they opened on Thursday morning, waited for the nurse to call me back. Richard and I both went to work that morning and I made the calls and waited to see what they wanted us to do. Sent us to the hospital for a Doppler of the leg. We both knew it wasn’t a blood clot because we had been here before and he had no red or hot places. After the scan we waited again to see what we were to do next. Was told to make him rest and keep his leg elevated and they would see us Tuesday ( today) didn’t want to share all that until after we got the results this morning but now we are still not quite sure 🤷‍♀️ CT was clear!! Oncologist said the CT showed nothing!! But the Doppler he had only 2 days after the CT shows “ something “ in that right groin lymph nodes. The PA came in first this morning and said the CT and Doppler were “ conflicting “ the oncologist says the immunotherapy is working so we will keep going with it because the CT was clear! Said we will get a PET scan in January but he didn’t want to do that right now. I think we are both worried the CT wasn’t done correctly or whatever lol because the PA said with the Doppler it showed “ a few “ but she never said a few what!! But one measuring 2.8 cm. AND if there’s a tumor there measuring that size, why didn’t the CT show it? I think I’m just scared to believe that everything is clear since the other showed something. Having to wait until sometime in January to know for sure is gonna be a long wait!! Actually in with urologist now to get scheduled for the stent replacement. Richard wants to get rid of the stent as it causes so much pain. He told us he will go in and inject dye and if it is clear in there he can leave the stent out. So if the tube is all clear he will leave it out and go from there but if he gets any other blockages in there it will have to be put back, but we just take one step at a time one day at a time now! Again, so many thank you’s for all the prayers!! We appreciate them more than you will ever know!!

Mandy Marshall Mullins

04/21/2022

04/21/2022

02/02/2022

02/01/2022

01/26/2022

01/19/2022

01/18/2022

01/06/2022

12/15/2021

12/14/2021

11/16/2021

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