finishingup

I know it has been a while since my last post but that is actually a good thing.  To catch you up.. after treatment #6 my doctor took me off the adriamycin.  A nurse call it "the red devil".. and she was right.  Doc substituted another med in it's place and and ordered an echo-cardiogram.. The echo was normal.. thank God.. because the adriamycin has a side effect on the heart.

Round 7 was given 3 weeks ago with the substituted med and I tolerated it so much better..  It's the third week and I feel like my old self.  Still dealing with numbness in the hands and feet.  My weight is 206 which is a little more that what I want, but I'll deal with that later.  My last treatment is Wednesday 10/31.. Halloween.  I'm hoping the nurses dress up.. I have a PET scan scheduled for December 3rd and a doctor's appointment on 12/7.
I'm still working from home as my white counts are below 3.0 consistently.. I have not been sick like with a cold or fever.. which is great and even though at times my WBC is low, and my neutrophil count were low before my treatments, my counts have come back to a point where I can take my treatment without getting a Neurlasta shot..

So I'm looking forward to being done.. getting my hair back, and the feelings in my fingers too..

Thanks you all for your prayers and thoughts.. God Bless you all as we begin to enter into the holiday season..

Round 6

After Round 4 I had a CT scan.  The results came back pretty good.. The lymphoma has shrunk in half and it's response to the chem is very good.  All my organs are normal.. things inside are great !   I met with y doctor who is recommending we take this out to 8 treatments,  which is what I was planning on anyway.. So today was round 6.. My CBC last week had a WBC of 1.7 which the doctor felt was low.. so we had another one done today and my WBC bounced back to 2.5 which meant I did not need a shot of neulastin.
So I tool my treatment and mom took me to lunch after I was done.. Thanks mom !!  I came home and took a nice nap and am now relaxing, watching The Big Bang Theory..   So six down and two to go, then life should return to normal.. well almost.. We are now looking at 2 weddings this year.. Peter and Holly in June, and Jon got engaged to Sammy this weekend.. They are looking at a late summer wedding.. we are so excited for both couples and I get 2 beautiful daughters in addition to my beautiful Annie..

Pre-round 5 appointment

It's been a while and things have been good.  I've been feeling real good after the last couple of rounds of chemo.  After the first day or so I'm bouncing back better.  Today I went to the doctor for the pre-chemo visit.  My weight is increasing.. I'm at 200 lbs now.. which I may want to hold back a few pounds.. I like the 180-190 range myself.  My white count is normal and my hemoglobin and hematocrit is back up to the 14 and 42 range respectively. That explains my energy.. We got a copy of the CT scan I had last week and the scan reported good news.  The lymphoma has shrunk to about half it's size and reports the chemo is working quite well with all my internal organs normal.  Praise GOD !!!
I've been exploring additional activities this week as I was on vacation.  Andrew and I went to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls.  I helped Jon out today with his "water extravaganza" youth event.. that was fun and boy am I tired.. So round 5 is scheduled for Monday morning.. let's keep shrinking this thing !!

Pre-Round 4 doctors appointment..

I'm recovering from round 3 really well.  It seems like it took a few more days for my digestion track to spring back but once everything evened out I feel great.  Yesterday I felt like getting some exercise so I went out and mowed the lawn.  Boy did that feel good.

Today I had my doctor's appointment prior to my next round of chemo.  The doctor and the nurse practitioner examined me and neither one of them could detect an abdominal mass or any enlarged nodes. The doctor and the NP were very happy with my progress.  Dr. Charlie actually said I was doing fantastic. 
Round 4 is scheduled for this Wednesday.  We are 99% sure that I'll only need a total of 6 treatments.  I'll get scheduled for a CAT scan around the 20th of August.  I am at the top of the hill and can start coming down the other side of the hill.

Round 3 day 5

Sunday.
The weekend went pretty well.  In all  honesty I felt a little drawn out this weekend.  A little tired as the meds work their way through. So I take it easy..  Pick one thing a day and accomplish that.  Saturday I went to see Spiderman with Andrew, Jon and Sammy.. Loved the movie !!   Sunday I went to church and then to my moms with Peter and Holly.  Went to Friendlies for lunch, Thanks mom !! and it was great.. God I miss have a Friendlies in Albany county !!

I'm off the prednesone now and the Alopirinol.. so no more meds until the next round.. YEAH !!   Back to work after the weekend will be good.. Always good to keep busy..

Round 3 - Day 1

I had a 9:15am appointment which started with a CBC to check my white count.  Guess it was OK because they started the treatment about 10:15am or so.  Annie drove me and stayed for a bit but it's so boring for anyone to just sit there for a few hours.. so I sent Annie home.  My mom showed up just as the Rutuxan was going in.  The infusion was given this time without having to use a pump.. The drugs just went in one after the other infusion rates were manually set. I was done by 1:00pm..
One thing I did discover was the nurse that took care of me 2 out of 3 times is a Christian.  She actually knows the leader that Jon is with on his mission trip this week.   That is what we call an accidental intercession..
So tonight we ordered pizza of which I may have eaten one more piece than I should have... but I feel good.. a little drawn out.. but a good night sleep will help for sure.  Cannot wait to see Jon tomorrow evening.. and having him home.

Pre-Round 3 doctors appointment

Saw Dr. W. yesterday.  He seemed very pleased with my progress.  He even rubbed my nearly hairless head for luck.. He seems pleased there are no node involvement.  He checks my neck, axillary (armpit), and groin nodes. He felt around in my belly but did not take a measurement, but he did seem pleased.  

I'll have a CT scan after my 4th round treatment. 

I am still feeling very well, strong and healthy.  We shall see how this third round does tomorrow and I am very optimistic.