Prep

It's interesting how focused one can get when you face a life changing event that you know is coming. You try to plan everything because you want to control it. That's the way I felt about my upcoming chemo treatments. What's hard to deal with is that there are too many variables, plans change, new horizons come into view or you hit a pothole. So I'm throwing the plans out the window and I am going to control only what I can by expecting the unexpected, staying positive and going at it with vim and vigor. In reality, what else can you do?

Line in the Sand

The line in the sand has been drawn. The battle starts 4/17. Six cycles of treatment: 5 days of infusions and 23 days off. Last one in early September. I've gone ahead and planned a few Midlife Crisis shows and I am optimistic that we will rock on. Without plans there are none and that's what drives me to keep making them. I know that things might come up but that's the way I'm gonna roll.

"No Reason to Get Excited"

Next week I find out about my treatment schedule. Just after that will be my bone marrow biopsy to fully stage my condition and use as a control to see how the treatment works. Been there done that for all but the treatment. "No reason to get excited, said the joker to the thief." Got to love that Hendrix!

The Gift of One's Time

I talked to another CLL survivor yesterday. That makes 3! It is so great to hear from those who have experienced similar if not the same treatment protocols that I will. Hats off to those who volunteer with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to make these calls! The gift of their time brings so much hope. The fear of the unknown becomes knowledge and the feeling of power. I hope I was able to express to all of them how much I appreciated it and hope to do the same for others in the future........ My hands are back on the steering wheel and control has been regained............ That is an awesome feeling.

Welcome Information

I called the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and they have a program where they put you in touch with someone who has CLL (or any blood cancer for that matter) and has gone through treatments. I received the call on Sunday afternoon and it turned out to be a very enlightening talk. The person was about my age and physical condition, a professor and a CLL survivor. Where we differed was the fact that he had treatment 1 month after diagnosis due to the severity of his condition in 1998. He had been through the 6 cycles of treatment which at the time, did not contain the newer drug Retuxin, proven to be very effective when given with the cycles. He had little nausia, no hair loss and worked through much of his treatment period! Promising news! He continued his protocol with a stem cell transpant and 12 years later is disease free! While there are other possible options now in the works for me after my treatment other than the stem cell transplant, his news was uplifting. I can't fool myself to think that only positive experiences exist in this chemo therapy treatment. I've read others that did not turn out as well but I am ready and have been patiently waiting to give cancer a swift kick in the ass.