A couple of people have asked about my chemo regimen or have said it seems intense. From what I understand, yes, it is a rather intense treatment.
My chemo days start with intrathecal Methotrexate, which is given through a lumbar puncture at UAB hospital in I believe Interventional Radiology. I know how to get there but don't read the signs.
Then I get wheeled over to the Kirklin Clinic (don't need to walk the quarter mile or so in the internal corridors by that point) to Infusion Therapy for Rituxan, Adriamycin, Cytoxan, Vincristine, and then Prednisone tablets at home for 5 days. This is known as "R-CHOP" chemo, plus the Methotrexate.
Four down, two to go.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Chemo, round 4
The worst part about chemo to this point has been the aftermath of the chemo, not the treatment themselves.
On Tuesday of this week I had a PET scan, which shows where the cancer is and if it's spread, gotten smaller, etc. My oncologist told me Wednesday afternoon that the large B cell lymphoma in my neck is gone, and the small B cell lymphoma in my sinuses is in remission. That was the best news possible from the situation. After the sixth chemo treatment I'm not sure if I'll regular PET scans or what exactly will happen since the oncologist said the small B cell couldn't be cured, but could be treated.
On Wednesday I started out again with the intrathecal chemo, where they do a lumbar puncture to draw out some spinal fluid then inject some chemo (methotrexate to be exact) into my spinal column so it can get to my brain. I wasn't feeling so hot by the time the intrathecal (on the 6th floor of UAB hospital) was over and I was waiting to be called back to the infusion room (at Kirklin Clinic) for the regular chemo. I slept most of the time, which was good.
Wednesday night wasn't as bad as the first two rounds had been. I've learned to eat very little on chemo day to lessen the likelihood of getting too sick that night. I was sick (again, throw-up sick) Thursday morning, and like cr*p most of the day Thursday and Thursday night, but not as bad as last time.
I feel a little better today and have eaten more ( a one egg omelet this morning and a blueberry pancake tonight) than on Fridays after rounds two and three, but not as much as I usually eat, which is too much. Hopefully by Monday I'll feel up to taking on a Moe's burrito.
My brother, Barry, was with me for the day on Wednesday and Audrey was with me after my middle stepdaughter had surgery at a different hospital the same day.
Thanks for the continued prayers. I'll still have the fifth and sixth chemo treatments to further make sure all the bad gunkie is gone.
Shout outs to all who have offered their prayers, good thoughts, and best wishes.
God is good. I got good results, but even if the doctor would've said the cancer had spread, God would still be good.
On Tuesday of this week I had a PET scan, which shows where the cancer is and if it's spread, gotten smaller, etc. My oncologist told me Wednesday afternoon that the large B cell lymphoma in my neck is gone, and the small B cell lymphoma in my sinuses is in remission. That was the best news possible from the situation. After the sixth chemo treatment I'm not sure if I'll regular PET scans or what exactly will happen since the oncologist said the small B cell couldn't be cured, but could be treated.
On Wednesday I started out again with the intrathecal chemo, where they do a lumbar puncture to draw out some spinal fluid then inject some chemo (methotrexate to be exact) into my spinal column so it can get to my brain. I wasn't feeling so hot by the time the intrathecal (on the 6th floor of UAB hospital) was over and I was waiting to be called back to the infusion room (at Kirklin Clinic) for the regular chemo. I slept most of the time, which was good.
Wednesday night wasn't as bad as the first two rounds had been. I've learned to eat very little on chemo day to lessen the likelihood of getting too sick that night. I was sick (again, throw-up sick) Thursday morning, and like cr*p most of the day Thursday and Thursday night, but not as bad as last time.
I feel a little better today and have eaten more ( a one egg omelet this morning and a blueberry pancake tonight) than on Fridays after rounds two and three, but not as much as I usually eat, which is too much. Hopefully by Monday I'll feel up to taking on a Moe's burrito.
My brother, Barry, was with me for the day on Wednesday and Audrey was with me after my middle stepdaughter had surgery at a different hospital the same day.
Thanks for the continued prayers. I'll still have the fifth and sixth chemo treatments to further make sure all the bad gunkie is gone.
Shout outs to all who have offered their prayers, good thoughts, and best wishes.
God is good. I got good results, but even if the doctor would've said the cancer had spread, God would still be good.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Lessons on the light side
Prednisone plus coffee equals crawl out of your skin. Chemo plus Zofran equals cork. Benadryl can be a sleep aid while on Prednisone. I want to gripe at gripers who gripe about little things, just like I usually did before all of this started.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Third round of chemo
The day of my third round of chemo, Wednesday, January 16, started by getting to the office at the UAB medical center and finding out they didn't have me scheduled for the intrathecal. It was corrected eventually, so no biggie, just put everything behind a couple of hours.
I didn't get sick (as in throw-up sick) on the night of the chemo this time, but did the next morning. Thursday was a bad day, but Friday was a little better. I'm off work until Tuesday, so should feel most of the way better by then.
I have another PET scan on February 5, the day before chemo round 4.
Haven't shaved my head yet, though about half to two thirds of my already thinning hair has fallen out. I'll probably shave it or get it shaved in the next couple of weeks. Whether or not I have hair is far down on my list of concerns, though.
I appreciate all of the continued prayers and good wishes. I especially want to thank my wife, Audrey, my church family at Lamb of God Church in Helena, Alabama, my high school class - Selma High class of 79 - still friends after all these years, other family members, friends, fellow writer and Facebook friends (whether we've met face to face or not, they're still friends) who've asked how I'm doing. If I left any group out, it wasn't intentional.
Had a great time tonight playing Stephen King Trivia on Facebook. Those folks have tremendous senses of humor and help keep me laughing.
The One who is on the throne sees all, knows all, and is over all.
I didn't get sick (as in throw-up sick) on the night of the chemo this time, but did the next morning. Thursday was a bad day, but Friday was a little better. I'm off work until Tuesday, so should feel most of the way better by then.
I have another PET scan on February 5, the day before chemo round 4.
Haven't shaved my head yet, though about half to two thirds of my already thinning hair has fallen out. I'll probably shave it or get it shaved in the next couple of weeks. Whether or not I have hair is far down on my list of concerns, though.
I appreciate all of the continued prayers and good wishes. I especially want to thank my wife, Audrey, my church family at Lamb of God Church in Helena, Alabama, my high school class - Selma High class of 79 - still friends after all these years, other family members, friends, fellow writer and Facebook friends (whether we've met face to face or not, they're still friends) who've asked how I'm doing. If I left any group out, it wasn't intentional.
Had a great time tonight playing Stephen King Trivia on Facebook. Those folks have tremendous senses of humor and help keep me laughing.
The One who is on the throne sees all, knows all, and is over all.
Friday, January 4, 2013
A night at the ER
I got a headache on New Year's Day (not from drinking) and it still hung around until yesterday, January 3. Plus I felt more lethargic than usual, and looked pale. I called the oncologist's office yesterday afternoon and they told me to go to the ER to have some lab work done. I got there at 5 PM.
First lesson learned - don't carry a pocket knife to the ER. I had mine with me when we got to the UAB ER and it was confiscated. I later was reminded there was a shooting at another local hospital a couple of weeks ago.
I explained about 4 or 5 times what I'd told the doctor's office and what they'd told me. The ER was very busy and we (Audrey and I) were pleasantly surprised when we were in a room within the ER examining/treatment area between 6:30 and 7. The doctors were concerned I could have meningitis so they eventually did a CAT scan of my head and took spinal fluid (yes, another lumbar puncture). At one point before the lumbar puncture they gave me morphine for pain. Within a few seconds of having it put in my IV I felt worse, and continued to feel worse until they gave me something for nausea, caused mainly by the morphine, and something else for pain. I found out I don't react well to it and hope I never have to have it again.
We were told there was about an 85% chance I'd be admitted and kept overnight, if only because it could take several hours for the spinal fluid to be examined.
That turned out to not be the case. We left a little before 2 AM and drove home. Early in the evening I'd asked the doctor if I'd be able to work today, he laughed and said no. I retrieved my pocket knife from the security station before leaving.
The headache and extreme fatigue were probably caused from a reaction to the intrathecal chemo I'd gotten on Dec 26. Everything was clear as far as meningitis or encephalitis goes. I have an appointment with my oncologist on Monday, hopefully he'll be able to shed some light on what all happened and why. Post-chemo second round has been much worse than after the first round. The third round is Wednesday, January 16. At least I already know I'll be off work until Tuesday, January 22.
And still waiting for all of the short-term disability stuff to get worked out.
First lesson learned - don't carry a pocket knife to the ER. I had mine with me when we got to the UAB ER and it was confiscated. I later was reminded there was a shooting at another local hospital a couple of weeks ago.
I explained about 4 or 5 times what I'd told the doctor's office and what they'd told me. The ER was very busy and we (Audrey and I) were pleasantly surprised when we were in a room within the ER examining/treatment area between 6:30 and 7. The doctors were concerned I could have meningitis so they eventually did a CAT scan of my head and took spinal fluid (yes, another lumbar puncture). At one point before the lumbar puncture they gave me morphine for pain. Within a few seconds of having it put in my IV I felt worse, and continued to feel worse until they gave me something for nausea, caused mainly by the morphine, and something else for pain. I found out I don't react well to it and hope I never have to have it again.
We were told there was about an 85% chance I'd be admitted and kept overnight, if only because it could take several hours for the spinal fluid to be examined.
That turned out to not be the case. We left a little before 2 AM and drove home. Early in the evening I'd asked the doctor if I'd be able to work today, he laughed and said no. I retrieved my pocket knife from the security station before leaving.
The headache and extreme fatigue were probably caused from a reaction to the intrathecal chemo I'd gotten on Dec 26. Everything was clear as far as meningitis or encephalitis goes. I have an appointment with my oncologist on Monday, hopefully he'll be able to shed some light on what all happened and why. Post-chemo second round has been much worse than after the first round. The third round is Wednesday, January 16. At least I already know I'll be off work until Tuesday, January 22.
And still waiting for all of the short-term disability stuff to get worked out.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Friday, Dec. 28
I'm thankfully feeling better today than yesterday. Had few bites of food for dinner, have had some Ensure and Boost today. Will try to eat some breakfast tomorrow. Plan on being in bed most of the weekend so I will hopefully feel like working on Monday. Continued prayers are appreciated.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Day after chemo round 2
Okay, the chemo is kicking my butt a lot worse than after round 1. Last time I worked the day after the treatment, today there was no way that could happen. I've been in bed all day except for getting up a few times for a few minutes. Got sick (throw-up sick) last night, despite taking Zophran after getting home yesterday evening, then was sick again this morning.
The thought of solid food makes me nauseous, which it didn't do last time. I had a Boost this afternoon and will try some pudding after while. I seem to have a slight fever as well. Thankfully I'm off until Monday.
But with that being said, God is in control. His mercies are new every morning because we're a mess every day.
The thought of solid food makes me nauseous, which it didn't do last time. I had a Boost this afternoon and will try some pudding after while. I seem to have a slight fever as well. Thankfully I'm off until Monday.
But with that being said, God is in control. His mercies are new every morning because we're a mess every day.
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