LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 21, 2024) – In 2018, Bobbi Jo Allen was exercising when she discovered a lump in her pectoral muscle. Three days later, she obtained a telephone name from her physician. For the primary time, Bobbi Jo needed to digest these phrases: stage 4 most cancers.
Bobbi Jo was recognized with stage 4 massive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This kind of most cancers usually presents as a quickly rising mass. Though it’s aggressive, it usually responds effectively to chemotherapy. After being recognized, Bobbi Jo rapidly began remedy on the College of Kentucky Markey Most cancers Heart. To assault this fast-growing most cancers, she was given doxorubicin, a potent and extensively used chemotherapy drug that’s earned an fascinating nickname for its purple shade and powerful unwanted side effects.
“I thank God I discovered this lump, as a result of at that time, it was all riddled by way of my physique,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “The remedy was one of many strongest and most poisonous chemotherapies in the marketplace, ‘purple satan chemotherapy.’”
For eight months, she was handled with doxorubicin. After a number of months of intense remedy, Bobbi Jo reached remission.
However 5 years later, she was doing yoga and deep stretching when she felt one thing on her neck. It was an irregular lump, and she or he knew she wanted to talk along with her physician as quickly as doable. Whereas she was going by way of completely different exams and offering blood work, Bobbi Jo additionally seen a pea-sized bump proper under her stomach button.
She talked with a number of medical doctors and checked out all of the completely different take a look at outcomes. It was July 2023, nearly precisely 5 years of remission, when Bobbi Jo’s medical doctors informed her that she did certainly have a most cancers reoccurrence. She confronted the reality that she was as soon as once more recognized with stage 4 massive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and would wish to have a bone marrow transplant.
“I saved questioning the prognosis at first,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “They mentioned the one remedy they may provide me was a bone marrow transplant. I assumed I might deal with chemotherapy once more, however a bone marrow transplant…”
She spent the rest of the summer season and fall going by way of chemotherapy and making ready her physique for the transplant. Bobbi Jo lives an total wholesome and lively life, however she needed to be as sturdy and wholesome as doable earlier than starting the transplant.
She exercised as a lot as doable and even labored with a nutritionist to verify she was gaining the correct amount of weight and muscle forward of the process.
Bobbi Jo was capable of spend the vacations along with her household. Then on Jan. 24, 2024, she obtained a bone marrow transplant.
Together with her immune system being so fragile, no guests have been allowed to stick with her.
“My immune system was completely worn out. I had nothing to guard myself,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “Being remoted was a concern of mine.”
Bobbi Jo talked along with her care staff and determined she needed to become involved with further companies that may very well be offered by way of UK HealthCare’s Integrative Medication and Well being program. Music had been a giant a part of her life since she was little, inspired by her mother and father. When she was youthful, she says she would consistently be singing. Music remedy was one thing she was trying ahead to whereas she was within the hospital this time round.
“Music remedy was positively one I needed to arrange with,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “Music evokes me; it provides me nice pleasure.
Jennifer Peyton is a board-certified music therapist with the UK Integrative Medication and Well being program and offers companies to sufferers on the Markey Most cancers Heart.
“When Jen got here into my room and I noticed her stroll over along with her guitar on her again, I did not even know who she was, however I used to be simply so grateful that she was strolling in my room to play the guitar for me,” mentioned Bobbi Jo.
“Bobbi Jo approached most cancers remedy with a beautiful mixture of willpower, religion, gratitude, humor, humility… and elegance,” mentioned Jennifer. “Her enthusiasm about all the pieces, not simply music remedy, was so refreshing and permeating.”
That they had an on the spot bond connecting by way of music and Bobbi Jo discovered a strategy to launch no matter she was feeling that day.
“We acquired to know one another,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “The primary day, she sang some Beatles songs and it simply introduced me again. The music helped scale back some stress I used to be going by way of for the time being and helped calm me down.”
Bobbi Jo was dealing with anxiousness and stress over how she felt bodily, the isolation that she was going by way of and concern of the unknown. Spending time with Jennifer, listening to the music and singing alongside was a launch.
“It created this connection along with her that made me understand, after all of the therapies that I went by way of, after all of the instances that she came around me, I actually acknowledged that music remedy was positively a part of my therapeutic staff,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “It takes a village if you’re going by way of a bone marrow transplant.”
Throughout their classes, Jennifer at all times had her guitar. Every day she would verify in with Bobbi Jo to see how she was feeling each bodily and mentally. Some days, all Bobbi Jo wanted was to hearken to Jennifer play guitar, different days she would sing alongside. She even had the chance to write down a track with Jennifer to precise her emotions.
“I’ve by no means written a track in my life,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “However Jen informed me we might rewrite a track. In order we have been creating, I mirrored on the sacrifice my daughter made to assist me by way of my journey. That is once we determined to rewrite the Natalie Service provider track ‘Sort & Beneficiant.’”
Songwriting is one among Jennifer’s favourite music remedy interventions to assist sufferers address their experiences.
“Songwriting may be enjoyable, humorous and satisfying to do, but it surely may also be critical, tearful and cathartic,” mentioned Jennifer. “Whereas a lot of the therapeutic outcomes are met within the songwriting course of, the ultimate product is one thing sufferers can hold ceaselessly as a reminder of what they went by way of, and that’s actually particular.”
On Bobbi Jo’s closing day within the hospital, they recorded the track collectively. Jennifer was capable of share the file in order that Bobbi Jo’s daughter might hear the track.
“It simply made me cry,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “It grew to become a full circle for me. Music takes you down reminiscence lane. It takes you down good instances and perhaps not-so-good instances, but it surely helps you cope. And that is what Jen did, she was a tremendous healer in my journey.”
Jennifer is grateful to be a part of her affected person’s therapeutic course of by way of a wide range of music remedy interventions.
“It’s actually astounding to see simply what number of points of a person’s most cancers journey may be positively impacted by music remedy,” mentioned Jennifer. “I really feel very lucky to work in a hospital that values integrative medication approaches like artistic arts therapies.”
Medical doctors had estimated that Bobbi Jo would wish to remain within the hospital for 3 weeks. However after 15 days, she obtained information that she was effectively sufficient to be discharged.
“I used to be decided to get out of there,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “Now I’m setting new targets, and I am attaining these targets. I am simply residing life day by day to the fullest.”
Immediately, Bobbi Jo is 148 days post-bone marrow transplant. She not too long ago had her closing PET scan and with the outcomes, she is now in remission – once more.
“Finest information ever,” mentioned Bobbi Jo. “I’ve no illness in my physique, no indicators of something in my physique. I’m in full 100% remission and it feels nice. I’m now a two-time survivor. So with that, my mantra is to maintain planning.”
