At the hospital

Sitting in my hospital room. Got me a private room due to low census. Staff is great! No meds have started yet. Getting hydrated first and the the meds will go in.

Part 1 of round 1.. Checked into NYOH about 8:30am.  Was escorted into the transfusion were my wife knows one of the  nurses..  My nurse gave  me some tylenol and when the needle was inserted into the port (which did not hurt much at all).. I received a drip of NaCL and Benedryl.  Next cam the Rutxan.  Because it' a monoclonal antibody the body can have a allergic response to the drug.  And that's just what happened.  I started to feel flushed and my cheeks (the ones on my face) were red, so my nurse turned off the drip for a few minutes.  Once restarted the infusion continued for a while but I became flushed again and we had to stop again.. This time the nurse hung some steroids and I felt better faster and we continued..  The last thing that happened was Cathy noticed a rash on the inside of my leg. What she was doing looking at the inside of my  leg... IDK. So my nurse hung some more benydryl and the rash went away very quickly.  The drip was continued and I finished around 2:30pm..
Mom and Joe came in and hung out with us.  There were a number of other folks in the room but the three nurses in the room did an excellent job of caring for their patients.
I'm home now.. I ate.. and am relaxing.. I feel pretty good.
Tomorrow I check into the Oncology unit at St. Marys for an over nighter to get the rest of the treatment.  After I get out I rest for a couple of weeks.  Next doctor appointment is 6/11 and to schedule Round 2 around 6/18 if my counts are good.
Just a bump in the road..

Happy Memorial day weekend..
It's been 48 hours since the port has been installed and I just changed the surgical dressing and got my first view of the port site.  Covered with a couple of pieces of surgical tape I could see the stitches.  they will come out next week. The port is under my skin so I don't have any visible indication that it's there except a rise in the skin.   Cathy and I did the chemo class and it seems that the major theme to this is to KEEP HYDRATED !! So lots of filtered water and green tea for me..  Nausea is manageable and the hair lose is not bothering me at all.. Round one will start Wednesday with the Rituxan.  I'm pretty anxious because everyone has been raving about this drug.. I'm very curious..   I'm going to rest this weekend and I've got a scheduled vacation the following week for Andrews birthday (27) and our anniversary (29 years).. More next week..

Post port in AMC,..

Post is installed. Feeling good from the drugs..going home to relax

The port is IN... and reaady to go..

Glad today is over as another milestone is left in the dust.  The port went in without a glitch.  I’m a little sore but I got me some happy pills.  Now tomorrow Cathy and I will attend the Chemo class and my first chemo will be next week. 

After the class I'll get caught up on work and enjoy the weekend !!

Thanks for your continued prayers and support.. We love you all !!

Plan of action

Ok so this is written in my calendar..

Port goes in tomorrow .. 9am appointment with the good folks at AMC Radiology.   Twilight anesthesia and a local.  Plus they send me home with pain pills..  ;-)

Wednesday 5/30 I'll head up to NYOH for the Rituxan..
Thursday 5/31 I check into St. MAry's for hydration and infusion of the other elements of the R-CHOP protocol.  I came home Friday 6/1 and celebrate Andrew's birthday and begin a 3 week rest cycle.

One down..

Preliminary battle plan

Ok so yesterday afternoon I went to see my doctor to get test results and discuss the “battle plan”..  The results came back with no surprises.. which is good.  Bone marrow was normal.. So we are on track for the R-CHOP protocol. 

We are set up to take a Chemo class on Friday at 8am.. Takes about an hour or so.. Patty called to say the appointment for a sub-clavian port to be inserted is all set for Tomorrow, Thursday.. 9am. Once the port is in place Chemo can start.

I asked the doctor about the uncomfortableness in my belly and how soon I should get relief from that.  He indicated very quickly.. probably after the first infusion..

Then around 8pm last night Dr. W. called the house.. (I was out) and spoke to Cathy.  He’s been dwelling on the lymphoma size and is concerned about this “Tumor lysis syndrome”.. He wants to play this safe and is suggesting that I get my first infusion on the oncology ward at a local Hospital.  He’s recommending St. Mary’s in Troy.   So once I get the port scheduled I could be looking at going to the hospital Monday.. and getting released Tuesday once the infusion is complete.   Future infusions would be done as an outpatient..

I am hoping to feel “different” next week..   Oh and btw.. my weight went up a little.. from 188 to 191.. BP is still good.. Mental status is still good ready to DO THIS !!

Had my appointment with Dr. W.  We discussed the tests and scans I had last week.  No real big surprises.  I did find out that the lymphoma is a T(14:18) trans location mutation.  That will not effect the treatment regime which is still the R-CHOP protocol.
So my schedule as I know it will be Friday morning we take a chemo class... gee, I wonder if I can count this as a continuing education course ... ??  he he he..
Pat is going to call AMC to schedule the subclavian port.  she will call in the morning.  I anticipate the first chemo to be next week.  The first session will probably take two days.  The Adriamycin will be slowly infused first to minimize the side effects.  Then I'll come in the next day and get the other infusion done and come home with a prescription for prednesone for 5 or 6 days. 6 to 8 session, 3 weeks apart. Doctor says my discomfort should be lessened very quickly.. like even after the first infusion.. So I am looking forward to that..

Back home and working after the chest CT.. Now I can breathe a sigh of relief until Tuesday afternoon when we go to the doctors to discuss our "Battle Plan"..

Ok... so today I had 2 appointments at Albany Medical Center.  I was scheduled for an echo cardiogram in the morning and a PET scan in the afternoon.  So I wake up at 5am and by the time I came to my senses it was like 7am.  I was hungry but because I had to fast for the PET scan for eight hours I could only drink water.. SO I fasted all day. The echo was no problem.. jelly on my chest and the tech using the echo probe to get the images and measurements needed.  The echo is done because the chemo can stress the heart out and we need to be sure my cardiac system can handle it. 
Came home and relaxed.  With a a PET scan you cannot do anything strenuous.  So it's 1:15 and Andrew drove me in.  It's a good thing I work at the VA because I just park there and walk across the street to AMC.  I get checked in and after a few minutes I get called in.  They give me an injection of radioactive glucose to trace and I have to drink the barium shake.. which really was not that bad..  Then you sit for an hour and relax.  After the hour you are brought into the scanner room.  Much like a CT scanner.  A huge mechanical donut..You lay down and put you arms above your head and stay still for like 30 minutes as the scanner shoots pictures of your insides.  The toughest thing was keeping my hands held up.  They started to cramp at the end.  So then Andrew drives me home and we order Pizza, wings and garlic knots.. yummy !!   Now I'm relaxing for the evening watching my favorite show.. The Big Bang Theory..  

Morning folks..
I'm up early today to get my heart Echogram and then this afternoon to get my PET scan.  tomorrow is my Chest CT and Tuesday we meet with my doctor to discuss our battle plan.  I want to thank everyone for their concern and prayers.  I do get strength from your prayers.   I also have a new respect for any pregnancy woman..lol..   Having your internal organs competing for space does cause some interesting feelings.. I'm just thankful this thing is not a kicker .. lol..

So this morning I had a bone marrow biopsy and aspirate done.  Having worked in Hematology for 1 years and having assisted in specimen preparation on probably hundreds of marrows at the VAMC needless to say I was very curious.
I did get to spend like 20 minutes in the room by myself and just prayed and chatted with my heavenly Father, Holy Spirit and Jesus.. 
I was very familiar with the process, although the biopsies were taken first not the aspirate...
Lidocaine was administered under my skin and then down to the bone.. Which the doctor peppered very well.  Thank you doc !!
Biopsies were taken, and then the aspirate which was a little painful.. sharp pain going down the leg.. Like a 2 out of 10.  It was not bad at all.  Now the lidocaine is wearing off a little and there is a dull ache in my hip but a little advil will take care of that.

PET scan is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.. MUGA and Chest CT are pending yet..

Still feel good.. am working.. no fatigue.. sleeping well at night.  I'm down to 188 having gained a pound form the last visit last week.. BP is good.. Blood tests look good..   more later..  

Weekend wasn't too bad folks.  I definitely am finding I have to learn how to take it easy.. The scans are getting scheduled.. I have a Bone Marrow scheduled for Tuesday at 8:45am and the PET scan and Thursday afternoon.  The MUGA and Chest CT are pending.

Still feeling good.. no fatigue.. but that will come when the treatments begin.   I really do appreciate all the prayers for my friends and family.  I get my strength through HE who cures all.   God's will is my will and I expect to be serving Him a for some time to come.

More tomorrow ...

Got back from the appointment with NYOH this afternoon.  Doctor did an exam and looked at the CT scan.  Had my blood drawn (CBC was normal).  Looks like the plan will be for a chest CT, MUGA and PET scans next week as well as a bone marrow...oh and a Hep. B Antibody..
I've assisted on hundreds of bone marrows at the VA.. I told the doc to be sure he peppers the periostium real good.. he said.. Oh yes I do..
Chemo will start soon after.. probably the next week.    R-CHOP is the protocol.. 6-8 treatments, in 3 week intervals.  Side effects are pretty standard, hair loss, fatigue, sun sensitivity.. They also have to monitor me because of the effects that the tumor breakdown may have on my body.. Spiked Uric acid levels..  So we move forward..

And so it begins...
NYOH oncology appointment scheduled for Friday morning 10:30am ...

May 8, 2012

May 8, 2012

Well I have a story to begin writing about.. or should I say a saga..

A few weeks ago I went to my doctor thinking I was dealing with a hernia. The doctor examined me and referred me to a surgeon to have a look. The surgeon ordered a CT scan to rule out the hernia. I took the scan and a few days later was notified by the surgeon that the scan revealed an abdominal mass and that she wanted to do a biopsy.

So I had the biopsy done last week and Cathy and I went in yesterday to get the results and talk to the surgeon about a course of action.

Weeeelllllll ... The biopsy showed I have a Large B Cell Lymphoma in my belly. The mass looks to be involved lymph nodes. She does not see evidence of any organ involvement. These type of lymphomas respond very well to chemo and I have already bee referred to NYOH in Latham. I have already spoken to them and once they get all the data from the surgeon an initial appointment will be made and the trek God has laid out for us will begin.

My Spirits are good..

I feel pretty good. am in good health.. strong and young.. My family is strong. Mom, Joe and Joni are very supportive and Joni is a wealth of information. My kids are OK.. this is something we just have to get through. It is not life threatening.. and we will be OK.

Keep stationed to this blog.. I'll update it as much as possible.

God is in charge.. He has the wheel !!