Sunday, March 29, 2015

Next up… Biopsy

3/29/15 – Last year on April 2nd I started back at work following months of recouping from my Stem Cell Transplant. This year on April 2nd I will be having a biopsy to gain a better understanding about my latest relapse. Boy, what a difference a year makes. 

Unfortunately, I am pretty sure I know what the results of the biopsy will reveal. For one it should confirm that my MCL is back. Secondly, it will find that my MCL is more on the aggressive side of things.

So if we already know what the results will be why put me through this? Well the reason we need to go through this next,important step, is to help determine what the best course of treatment will be for me. 

To be honest, I am not stressed over my MCL being aggressive. It really is the nature of the disease. I have dealt with this before and I am confident that I will do so again. The thing that makes me a little anxious is that I just want to know what the plan is and then I just want to get going with it... The waiting is always the hardest part.

With today being Palm Sunday I wanted to share a fantastic song with you. It is called “At the Cross (Love Ran Red)” by Chris Tomlin. Here is link to the song. Enjoy!

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

More to come…

http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/

Friday, March 20, 2015

Getting all my ducks in a row

3/20/15 – I met with Dr. Goy today. He assured me that there are many options available to me but he first wanted to perform a full work up on me and get a better picture as to where I stand. It started with taking a full blood screening. Next, there is a PET scan scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th. Once that is done a biopsy will be scheduled within a week later. At that point Dr. Goy should have everything he needs to recommend a course of treatment (including just how aggressive my cancer is). Between Dr.  Goy and my transplant doctors Dr. Rowley and Dr. Donato, they all seem to think another ALLO transplant is something to strongly consider after we find a way the re-achieve remission. To be honest this option does not make me leap for joy. If you think about the amount of time I invested into the stem cell transplant (SCT) compared to how long I was mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) free, the math does not WOW you. My SCT was 19 months ago. I was able to resume working about only 11 months ago. It hard to see that as a success. I would have expected a few years of remission (at a minimum). When I passed that thought by Dr. Goy he said that the short remissions was due to the lack of me having graft versus host disease (GVHD). I do know that Doctors Rowley and Donato were concerned that I have never showed any evidence of GVHD but I guess I never realized it would lead to a short remission. I always viewed the fact that I did not get GVHD as a good thing. I guess a little bit of GVHD is a good thing but too much of it could be pretty bad. Oh well, I guess it is something I will be more concerned with for my next SCT.

There is no doubt that I am disappointed with my latest relapse... but I do not have the luxury to dwell on it. I have an awesome year ahead of me. My Goddaughter is getting married in May and my daughter is getting married in July. There is nothing that can stop me from being present at these wonderful events with bells on… and to be present in my family’s lives for a long time after that.

True, MCL is something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life… my long and productive life… but I will not let it define me… nor will it turn me into a victim who runs and hides from it… nor will it keep me away from the things I consider most important. 
I am stronger than my cancer… and I will beat it… again.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

More to come…


http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 19, 2015

My “Not So” Lucky Shirt

03/19/15 - It is now 19 months since my stem cell transplant. I have been very doing well… up until now.

On March 17th I celebrated my 54th birthday. With it being St. Patrick’s Day, I enjoyed some corned beef, cabbage and Guinness. One of the gifts I received from my wife was a green Irish tee shirt with a 4 leaf clove on it and the words “Lucky Shirt” printed on it.  
Being I had scans on March 16th and my follow up monthly appointment was on March 19th to get my results, I figured it was a great idea to wear this “Lucky” shirt to the Cancer Center. The plan to simply get my blood work, meet with the doctor for a checkup and get my results, and then go for my monthly IVIG (note: I have been having IVIG’s for that past 3 months).

Well, I guess you should never count your chickens before they hatch because my “Lucky Shirt” was not that lucky after all. I received results today that it appears that my Mantle Cell Lymphoma is back. The scans revealed that there are 4 new enlarged lymph nodes, one of them being larger than the one that was found back in 2013. Just 90 days ago my scans were completely clear. It sure seems that once MCL decides to wake up it moves pretty quickly. 

I will be meeting with Dr. Goy tomorrow for a consultation. I have all the confidence in the world that he will have some outstanding options for me.
So again my adventure with mantle cell lymphoma has taken an unexpected turn. At this point I have no idea what I will do. I do know that this will require strong faith and trust in God (and my doctors) and a positive attitude.

He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is assured; he will not fear. In the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
Psalm 112:7-8

More to come…

http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/