Handling My Treatments Beautifully

I can not tell you how much I appreciate all the thoughts, prayers, and support I have received from all my family and friends. I really believe that all the prayers are working. My treatments are progressing nicely. Things are looking and feeling better every day and there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel.

9/24/08 – I had some tests today that will show how my treatments are progressing. I should get the results in a couple of days.
9/26/08 – I had an appointment with Dr. Goy where I had a check up (my blood counts were all normal) and received my out patient Chemo Therapy which is the beginning of my next treatment cycle (cycle 3 = 2A).

Also I received GREAT news today. According to Dr. Goy, I am handling my treatments beautifully. I am at a point where I am almost in full remission. In addition, my tumors have been greatly reduced in size. All this after only two treatment cycles. Of course I know there is more work to be done and only 100% remission can be considered a complete success, but I am almost there. With another 4 to 6 cycles ahead of me I am confident I will be as good as new.
It is a great feeling to see Dr. Goy and his staff so happy with my results. More importantly they are truly happy for me and my family. With a rare decease like Mantle Cell Lymphoma, I can not tell you how lucky I am to have such a great doctor so close to my home. People literally travel from all over the world to see him. I can thank God that he is only an hour away from me.

Tomorrow I will check into the hospital for my outpatient chemo therapy. Although chemo cycles vary by patient, by cancer, by treatment type, etc… my treatment cycles span 21 days and looks like the following:

• Day 1: Outpatient Chemo - The first day of the cycle I receive outpatient chemo therapy. This lasts about 3-4 hours and then I get to go home.
• Days 2-6: In the hospital - The next 4 to 5 days I spend in the hospital receiving chemo therapy treatments
• Days 7-21: Home Care, Recovery and Follow up - Over the next 15-16 days I will take an array of medications and average two office visits per week. The key is checking my blood counts to make sure all is well. If my counts are off my caretakers will react by taking necessary actions (transfusions, additional medications, additional stay in hospital, etc…). Over these 15-16 days at home I have experienced the following:
• I feel pretty tired my first couple of days home with me regaining my strength each day.
• While I am home it is expected that around days 10 through 14 (of the 21 cycle) my white blood cell counts will drop (this is supposed to happen). This means that my immune system is weak and I need to stay away from germs, bacteria etc… until my counts are back to normal. During this time is when I should avoid being in contact with other people.
• My counts should return to normal between days 15 and 17. My guess is this will vary with each cycle.
• Once my blood counts are back to normal we start planning for the next cycle.

More to come…


http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/

Unplanned Office Visit

9/19/08 - I woke up not feeling so well today. We immediately spoke with our crack medical team who wanted to see me ASAP. I was given a blood transfusion and started to feel better almost at once. In checking me out we received some good news is that my blood counts seem to have improved.

9/20/08 - I feel so much better today. I have lots of energy and no sick feelings. I have to say that no matter what I am encountered with Dr. Goy's team knows how to treat it.

I am getting ready for my next cycle (cycle 3 = 2A) towards the end of next week. In the mean time I will be getting a number of tests (on Wednesday) to see how well things are progressing. I fully expect to hear more good news.

Below is a lyric to a song that is now my ring tone. It gives a very positive message.

Tunnel : Song by Third Day
I won’t pretend to know what you’re thinking
I can’t begin to know what you’re going through
I won’t deny the pain that you’re feeling
But I’m gonna try and give a little hope to you

Just remember what I’ve told you
There’s so much you’re living for

There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
For you, for you
There’s a light at the end of this tunnel
Shinin’ bright at the end of this tunnel
For you, for you
So keep holdin’ on
You’ve got your disappointments and sorrows
You ought to share the weight of that load with me

Then you will find that the light of tomorrow

Brings a new life for your eyes to seeSo remember what I’ve told you
There’s so much you’re living for


More to come...


http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/

Cycle A versus cycle B

9/10/08 – 9/18/08

I have discussed me going through two cycles to date and that I will have a total of 6 to 8 cycles. When I had cycle 1, in actuality it was considered cycle "1A". Cycle 2 is considered cycle "1B". When I begin my third cycle it will be "2A". The cycles are as follows:

Cycle 1 = 1A
Cycle 2 = 1B
Cycle 3 = 2A
Cycle 4 = 2B
Cycle 5 = 3A
Cycle 6 = 3B
Cycle 7 = 4A
Cycle 8 = 4B

All the “A” cycles include the same medicines and all the “B’s” are the same as well. I can not have a cycle “A” cycle without a “B” cycle following it. Lastly, “A” and “B” cycles include different mixes of medicines

Why did I just go through this? It seems that my body did a better job managing the chemo after effects of cycle “A” than “B”.

It is 9 days since I am out of the hospital and I am still very tired most of the time, I get sick to my stomach when I eat, my white blood cell count is very low (which means I am very susceptible to infection), and my platelets are so low I required a transfusion. This being my first time with a “B” cycle it is very likely it will go smoother next time. Dr. Goy’s medical team does not seem surprised by “B” hitting me the way it has. Cycle “B” is considered to be harder on the patient than cycle “A”.

The most important point with this is that I knew going into to this that it was not going to be a walk in the park. Chemo Therapy is serious business and will very likely be a rough (but very passable) road.

On the positive side, in about six months this will be over and I have every intention to be back as good as new. Also, I must say that through all this I have not been in any pain. I will not let these small bumps in the road get me down. I will keep positive and at my weakest moments I need to push harder and know that Jesus is carrying me as I go through this.

"Jesus, I believe in you and you will take care of me.

Jesus, I believe in you and you will give me peace"
More to come…

http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/

My 2nd Treatment

9/5/08 through 9/10/08 – On to my 2nd chemo therapy cycle. Everything went well without any issue. I am now home resting and feeling fine.

What I am finding is that my days in the hospital make me a little stir crazy. It is easy to get bored. Yes, I have continued with my bike riding and walking but I need more to keep me busy. One thing that has helped me is that I have met many people with all different kinds of backgrounds while in the hospital. Some have sad stories and others are trying to remain upbeat. I find talking to other patients helps both me and them. My goal is to try and have a brief conversation with as many patients as possible during my hospital stay. I figure if I start a simple friendly conversation that I could maybe add a little pleasantness into other people’s day. I think overall that I am doing a good job in raising the spirits of those on the floor. Sure there are some very sad situations on the cancer ward. For these cases I offer my prayers to their friends and family. Speaking of prayer I do have a Eucharistic Minister or a Priest visit me each day with Communion. This lifts my spirits significantly.

Did anyone get to see the “Stand Up to Cancer” telethon? This should show you how many people are fighting for cures that are not all that far away. If you think about some of the statistics 1 out of every 2 men and 1 out of every 3 women will be touched by cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that they collected $100 million dollars in donations. It was a great friend (and Goombah) who told my wife and me that God did not give cancer to me but it will be God who will heal me. As I think about that I believe that it is very possible that some of God’s healing powers exists within some of these great doctors I am lucky to have treating me. We always hear how God needs us to be his hands and feet. While in the hospital I have seen medical professionals (volunteers to doctors) taking up the role of compassionate healers. Below are the words to a song that make me think of what Jesus asks of us.


Hands and Feet
An image flashed across my TV screen
Another broken heart comes into view
I saw the pain, and I turned my back
Why can't I do the things I want to?
I am willing yet I'm so afraid
You give me strength
When I say
I wanna be Your hands
I wanna be Your feet
I'll go where You send me
I'll go where You send me
I'll be Your hands
I'll be Your feet
I'll go where You send me
I'll go where You send me
And I try, yeah I try
To touch the world like You touched my life
An I'll find my way
To be Your hands
I've abandoned every selfish thought
I've surrender everything I've got
You can have everything I am
And perfect everything I'm not
I am willing, I'm not afraid
You give me strength
When I say...
I wanna be Your hands
I wanna be Your feet
I'll go where You send me
I'll go where You send me
I'll be Your hands
I'll be Your feet
I'll go where You send me
I'll go where You send me
And I try, yeah I try
To touch the world like You touched my life
An I'll find my way
To be Your hands

This is the last time
I turn my back on You
From now on I'll go out
Send me where You want me to
I finally have a mission
I promise I'll complete
I don't need excuses
When I am Your hands and feet
I am Your hands and feet
I wanna be Your hands
I wanna be Your feet
I'll go where You send me
I'll go where You send me
I'll be Your hands
I'll be Your feet
I'll go where You send me
I'll go where You send me
And I try, yeah I try
To touch the world like You touched my life
An I'll find my way
To be Your hands
More to come…


http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/