Back to Work

Just a quick update....feeling very good and looking forward to going back to work. I'm going to talk to my doc about taking me off of Valtrex....the anti-viral med, or at least lowering the dose. It seems to give my heart an irregular beat. Do you ever get that feeling that your heart is drumming to a different beat? That's the feeling I get and I'm quite aware of it. Anyway, we'll see what he says. In two weeks I start cycle 2. I hope it goes as well as cycle 1. I'll keep you posted.

Results are in

O.K. I had to report this. My doctor was very pleased with the results of the chemo. My blood work is more normal than it's been in years! The little cancerous white blood cells took a wallop, my lymph nodes are normal and my spleen has markedly decreased in size. After only one cycle......wow! He even took me off allopurinol since my uric acid is fine. Less meds means less toxicity.  One cycle down, five to go. Next one starts 5/15.  On a side note, I read a quote just when I needed it. It said, "That which you manifest is before you." From the book, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Reminded me of the importance of believing in positive outcomes. I won't delude myself to think that this always is true but it sure gets you through the dark days.

Snow Day

I am thankful for the snow day today! That means I have company (my lovely wife, who also has the day off) and I wasn't charged for a sick day! Bonus! Cooking a stew and going out to get some supplies. I'm a bit light headed but some would say that's normal! I'll blog more when there's something new to share. Otherwise, all is good.

Deletion of Anti-nausea Meds

Feeling almost human today! No anti-nausea meds and feelin' fine about that! Just the anti-viral and another called Allopurinol which is a class of medication called a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. It works by reducing the production of uric acid in the body. Uric acid can build up with the death of the cancer cells. If it wasn't addressed, the kidneys might have trouble. It's all about balance. Anyway, looking forward to the week. The further the infusions get behind me, the better I feel. I have a doc appointment coming up to check my progress. I'll be interested in seeing my blood work results. That will show how the treatment worked so far. Don't know what to expect. They were headed down after the first day of treatment. Five more cycles should bury it deep. I'll keep you posted.

Two Days Out

After a rough start today I'm feeling better. Even had a chance to play some guitar! The ancillary drugs you have to take play havoc with the plumbing, sleep and the head. Either that or it's leftover from the chemo. I may be able to go off the anti-nausea meds tomorrow, that might help. While I haven't felt nauseous, the fear is that once I go off, I will. That may not be the case since I am no longer receiving the chemo for this cycle. At any rate, I may experiment a little tomorrow. Step by step, day by day....that's the way it'll have to be.

The Day After

Feeling pretty good today. The weather helps! Some fatigue but that's to be expected. Had a chance to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Now I'm watching movies. Guess I should be resting up so that's what I'll do!

Day 3

Day three is in the books! Faster than I thought. They were able to push the meds quickly after figuring out how to interrupt my allergic response to the Retuxan. Everyone gets some form of reaction. Mine was just a small rash on Monday which they know how to handle. So today they up the Benadryl and give hydrocortizone right off the bat, both in IV drips. Home now feeling good and hungry. No nausea, probably thanks to meds but I don't want to do it any other way! Don't know how I'll feel later....more of the unknown. I'm am maximally toxified at this point so there may be repercussions. Time will tell. Next report tomorrow but I am a happy man knowing I'm done for 25 days!!!

Day 2

Things are going well and fast today! Should be home for the afternoon. Today is the day we increase the toxicity of two of the chemo drugs. Tomorrow is the long day, maybe 8 hours because of the need to do the Retuxan slowly. After this cycle I get Retuxan only during the first day where this cycle I had to do it on day 1 and 3. I feel good..the steroids get me jacked up. Felt like running this morning but knew it was the drugs talkin' so I didn't! More tonight!

Lift off

Lift off! Heading to Wilmot Cancer Centrer. Blood work, talk with my doctor, then the infusion of the FCR cocktail. This day seemed so far away......more later.
-We'll it's 3 pm and one drug is done...the Retuxan. Minimal reaction of rash. Benedryl took care of that. You get a bit loopy but it beats the alternative. Two drugs to go, Fluderabine and Cyclophosphamide. A half hour each. I can do this! The staff has been great...the different drugs I take on top of the FCR would make a pharmacist blush. They find a balance and it makes future infusions easier. Nap time. More tomorrow.
-10:40 pm....still feel good! Two more days and 1 of 6 cycles are done! Also to note, ate half of a pizza and washed it down with a protein shake for dinner. Hey, a man's gotta eat! LOL!

T-minus 2 days

Strange emotions as the time for treatment approaches. I have to wrap my brain around it. Expect the unexpected. More to come.

Randomization

It's official. I have been randomized into my clinical trial and will receive the standard treatment of FCR. Fludarabine (F) and cyclophosphamide (C) are chemotherapy drugs that prevent cancer cells from dividing and growing, and can eventually cause the cancer cells to shrink and die. Rituximab (R) is a new type of drug, called a monoclonal antibody, which targets cancer cells more precisely than chemotherapy drugs. What's "nice" is that it's three days of treatment and 25 days off. Then five more of the same. T-minus 5 days and the games begin.

T-minus 14 days

Bone marrow biopsy done, check. Eight vials of blood taken, check. Urinalysis done, check. Countdown T-minus 14 days to lift-off. Over and out.....for now.

Prelaunch

The photo above is of the launch pads at Cape Canaveral just before a shuttle lift off. It kind of felt like a metaphor for where I am today.
My CT scan is done. Check. Next will be my bone marrow biopsy. I had one before and it was rather painless. There are two words you need to know before getting it done though. They are: "Ativan, please!" That puts your mind at ease before they bring out the big needle. They could've sawn my leg off and I would have been fine with it! Good stuff. After that comes the staging of my disease and the F.I.S.H. test which determines the chromosomal abnormalities to my white "B" cells. Some chromosomal abnormalities have poor prognostic indications which determines how well the chemo works. I had good factors before but they can morph. I'm hoping that they haven't!