12/24/08 – I celebrated Christmas Eve with family, without infections. Yeah! I had a great time .
12/25/08 - I celebrated Christmas Day at home. Double Yeah! No Infection. Another great day with family.
God has been good to me allowing me to get to spend Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas day out of the hospital without infections.
12/26/08 – I had a follow up appointment at Hackensack Hospital. All my blood counts look great. My white blood cell count is up to 9.9 (this is a great number).
I have another follow up appointment of Monday, December 29th.
My next treatment (treatment 6/cycle 3B) is scheduled for January 5th. If all goes well with my follow up scans this should be my last round of chemo.
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
Friday, December 26, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A Merry Follow Up Appointment
12/23/08 – I had a follow up appointment today. So far I am fever and infection free. My blood counts were good except for the fact that my white blood counts are low (.6). This, of course, is expected. I will just need to be careful until they come back up. Dr. Feldman said I should not isolate myself through the holiday season, just be careful and follow common sense.
I also had a chemo push today in the cancer clinic. It went well. I sat next to a wonderful elderly woman who is a heart transplant survivor and battling cancer. She seemed very wise and had much advice to offer. Her words that really stuck to me were:
“You can not control what is dealt to you; you can only control how you deal with it”.These are words that we all can live by everyday. I am glad I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with this wise woman.
I am feeling well since I have come home from the hospital. I am hoping that I stay this way for the next couple of days.
I would like to take this time to wish everyone a
Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.
Here is one of my favorite contemporary Christmas Carols:
Manger Throne
by Third Day
What kind of king would leave His throne
In heaven to make this earth His home
While men seek fame and great renowned
In loneliness, our king comes down
Jesus, Jesus precious one
How we thank You that You’ve come
Jesus, Jesus precious one
A manger throne for God’s own Son
You left the sound of angels praise
To come for men with unkind ways
And by this baby’s helplessness
The power of nations is laid to rest
Jesus, Jesus precious one
How we thank You that You’ve come
Jesus, Jesus precious one
A manger throne for God’s own Son
What kind of king would come so small
From glory to a humble stall
That dirty manger is my heart too
I’ll make it a royal throne for you
Jesus, Jesus precious one
How we thank You that You’ve come
Jesus, Jesus precious one
How we thank You that You’ve come
A manger throne for God’s own Son
My heart is a throne for God’s own Son
A manger throne for God’s own Son
My heart is a throne for God’s own Son
My heart is a throne for God’s own Son
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
I also had a chemo push today in the cancer clinic. It went well. I sat next to a wonderful elderly woman who is a heart transplant survivor and battling cancer. She seemed very wise and had much advice to offer. Her words that really stuck to me were:
“You can not control what is dealt to you; you can only control how you deal with it”.These are words that we all can live by everyday. I am glad I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with this wise woman.
I am feeling well since I have come home from the hospital. I am hoping that I stay this way for the next couple of days.
I would like to take this time to wish everyone a
Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.
Here is one of my favorite contemporary Christmas Carols:
Manger Throne
by Third Day
What kind of king would leave His throne
In heaven to make this earth His home
While men seek fame and great renowned
In loneliness, our king comes down
Jesus, Jesus precious one
How we thank You that You’ve come
Jesus, Jesus precious one
A manger throne for God’s own Son
You left the sound of angels praise
To come for men with unkind ways
And by this baby’s helplessness
The power of nations is laid to rest
Jesus, Jesus precious one
How we thank You that You’ve come
Jesus, Jesus precious one
A manger throne for God’s own Son
What kind of king would come so small
From glory to a humble stall
That dirty manger is my heart too
I’ll make it a royal throne for you
Jesus, Jesus precious one
How we thank You that You’ve come
Jesus, Jesus precious one
How we thank You that You’ve come
A manger throne for God’s own Son
My heart is a throne for God’s own Son
A manger throne for God’s own Son
My heart is a throne for God’s own Son
My heart is a throne for God’s own Son
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Home from Treatment 5/Cycle 3A
12/13/08 through 12/16/08 – I received my Cycle 3A cycle treatment. All seemed to go well. I was released about 9:30 PM on 12/16/08. We did get home late but it is sure great to be home.
12/18/08 – I have a follow up appointment to check by blood counts. I am hoping we are headed it the direction of no infections. So far I am feeling well.
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
12/18/08 – I have a follow up appointment to check by blood counts. I am hoping we are headed it the direction of no infections. So far I am feeling well.
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
Friday, December 12, 2008
Remission Accomplished
12/12/08 –I had an appointment today to check my blood counts, review my scans and begin the out patient treatment of my next chemo treatment (treatment 5/Cycle 3A). This was a very good day... I received great news. I am now considered to be in full remission and my tumors have again shrunk significantly. Dr. Goy was thrilled to give us this wonderful information. His go forward plan for me will be to have me scanned after treatment 6/cycle 3B and if the results continue to be excellent he will stop my treatments there being he would have achieved his goals. If my treatments stay on schedule treatment 6/cycle 3B should begin early January. In addition, Dr Goy expects that I will be able to get through treatments 5 and 6 without getting infections.
I know I still have 2 more treatments to go through but I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and support I have received from you. I truly believe that I would not have made it this far without my faith and your prayers and support.
I will be going into the hospital tomorrow for the inpatient portion of treatment 5/cycle 3A. The plan is for me to be in the hospital 12/13 through 12/16.
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
I know I still have 2 more treatments to go through but I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and support I have received from you. I truly believe that I would not have made it this far without my faith and your prayers and support.
I will be going into the hospital tomorrow for the inpatient portion of treatment 5/cycle 3A. The plan is for me to be in the hospital 12/13 through 12/16.
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Scans
12/3/08 – I go for my CT and PET scans today. I have an appointment scheduled for December 12th to review the results. These scans will show how effective my treatments have been.
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Another Bump in the Road
11/19/08 – You know what they say about “the best laid plans”. Well I had every intension of waking up and getting my CT and PET Scans today but instead I woke up with one of my dreaded fevers and had to rush over to the hospital. At the hospital my fever was 102.5 and I was admitted. I have tried so hard to remain upbeat throughout this process but I have to admit that I am now officially discouraged.
11/20/08 through 11/24/08 – The big objective with my hospital stay will be to get my fever down, eliminate the infection and see why the infection happened again. Out of my 4 treatments I have had infections with 3 of them.
When I started treatments I have a Porta Cath surgically installed. This would be used for receiving all my chemo treatments, for drawing blood, and for a number of other things. It certainly keeps me from getting poked and saves my veins from getting overused. It was decided that the port had to come out and that it most likely is the cause for the infections. The removal procedure was quick and easy.
Once my fevers were under control with new antibiotics the next step would be to have a PICC line installed. This will be where I get my treatments and have blood withdrawn.
I was given the good news that tomorrow I will have the PICC installed and then I will be released from the hospital. This, of cause is great news. It means I will be home for Thanksgiving.
11/25/08 – I had the PICC line installed. Again this is a very quick procedure. The PICC requires much more care then the Port did but if it prevents future infections I will give it a try. While I am home I will be on 4 weeks of intravenous antibiotics.
I am released and sent home. Hopefully my next stay in the hospital will be to receive treatments.
11/26/08 – I am home enjoying time with my family.
I still look forward to having my scans to see how the treatments are progressing.
I am now about half way through my treatments. I need more than ever to focus on being positive. I must attack my disease and not let it to get the best of me (mentally). I also need to remember the little prayer my pastor gave me when this all started:
"Jesus, I believe in you and you will take care of me.
Jesus, I believe in you and you will give me peace"
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
11/20/08 through 11/24/08 – The big objective with my hospital stay will be to get my fever down, eliminate the infection and see why the infection happened again. Out of my 4 treatments I have had infections with 3 of them.
When I started treatments I have a Porta Cath surgically installed. This would be used for receiving all my chemo treatments, for drawing blood, and for a number of other things. It certainly keeps me from getting poked and saves my veins from getting overused. It was decided that the port had to come out and that it most likely is the cause for the infections. The removal procedure was quick and easy.
Once my fevers were under control with new antibiotics the next step would be to have a PICC line installed. This will be where I get my treatments and have blood withdrawn.
I was given the good news that tomorrow I will have the PICC installed and then I will be released from the hospital. This, of cause is great news. It means I will be home for Thanksgiving.
11/25/08 – I had the PICC line installed. Again this is a very quick procedure. The PICC requires much more care then the Port did but if it prevents future infections I will give it a try. While I am home I will be on 4 weeks of intravenous antibiotics.
I am released and sent home. Hopefully my next stay in the hospital will be to receive treatments.
11/26/08 – I am home enjoying time with my family.
I still look forward to having my scans to see how the treatments are progressing.
I am now about half way through my treatments. I need more than ever to focus on being positive. I must attack my disease and not let it to get the best of me (mentally). I also need to remember the little prayer my pastor gave me when this all started:
"Jesus, I believe in you and you will take care of me.
Jesus, I believe in you and you will give me peace"
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Follow-up Appointments
11/14/08 – I had a follow-up appointment today where my blood cell counts were checked. All my counts look good.
11/18/08 - I had another follow-up appointment and again my blood counts look good. My White blood cell counts are low (.4) but that is expected at this point. Also, my test for the C Def infection came back negative so I guess the antibiotics are working.
Tomorrow I will have a CT Scan and a PET Scan. This will show what progress has been made with the shrinking of my tumors and how close to full remission I am. The results will most likely determine if I need 6 or 8 treatments (I am in treatment 4 now). It seems Dr. Goy is already leaning toward 8 treatments but you never know. I will, of course, follow whatever he decides.
I have had a few days in a row where I am feeling strong. I hope this continues through Thanksgiving. On that note, I ask you to remember that the word “Thanksgiving” is a word of action. I am very thankful for all the people who are supporting me, praying for me, and keeping me in their thoughts. Even with my illness I feel I am very lucky.
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
11/18/08 - I had another follow-up appointment and again my blood counts look good. My White blood cell counts are low (.4) but that is expected at this point. Also, my test for the C Def infection came back negative so I guess the antibiotics are working.
Tomorrow I will have a CT Scan and a PET Scan. This will show what progress has been made with the shrinking of my tumors and how close to full remission I am. The results will most likely determine if I need 6 or 8 treatments (I am in treatment 4 now). It seems Dr. Goy is already leaning toward 8 treatments but you never know. I will, of course, follow whatever he decides.
I have had a few days in a row where I am feeling strong. I hope this continues through Thanksgiving. On that note, I ask you to remember that the word “Thanksgiving” is a word of action. I am very thankful for all the people who are supporting me, praying for me, and keeping me in their thoughts. Even with my illness I feel I am very lucky.
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
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