Still in remission!!

I had approx 2 year PET Scan and CT Scan at Albuquerque VA last week. Nothing new!! Still in remission. Had a stomach reaction for several days, probably from the Barium....don't forget to flush that crap outta your system with LOTS of water for a couple of days!

Reflections on emotions

I have reread my blog.  I realize that I did not record a lot of the emotional side of what I went through.  Now I have a close family member who has been diagnosed with Stage III Mantle Cell Lymphoma just last week.  He is going through a lot of the emotions.  I have been helping to be his advocate for the best care that can be found.
I first learned that I had cancer on a Tuesday when I was getting processed through a very routine CT scan for an unrelated issue. BAMM! by Wednesday I was driving home wondering if I had days or weeks to live!! My whole world had caved in.  As the days went by I dealt with my emotions by becoming completely immersed in internet research on the topic. Fortunately, within a week or two, I learned that I was stage II lymphoma with two major clusters in my abdomen.  Emotionally I thought FINE maybe I'll live six months to a year.  I little more time to plan, but my life was still closing in.  I started looking around me and was VERY thankful being a partner with the best woman I've ever known and having a wonderful, supportive family. We are JUST financially OK to  not get terribly panicked about the future.  I started thinking about how I might spend my last year on earth.  By the time had had my actual diagnosis three months down the road, I was LUCKY enough to find that my NLPHL lymphoma could actually be treated for a complete remission!!  Yahoo!!! bring on the treatment.  Now, after a year in remission, I still kinda think that the cancer cells can take hold again and that I may eventually die of this nasty disease.  BUT, I could also die from a piano falling from an airplane.  My experience has left me for the better, bound to enjoy and savor what life I have.

If you work hard to learn everything you can and push for the best, soonest treatment that you can, then you can quickly get to the emotional point where you can feel that you are being treated by the best people and that there is a LOT of possibilities for living a quality life.

No trace of active" cancer !!!

Went down to VA on 3/29 and had PET scan.  Got resutls from oncologist same day.  I have no active cancer.......I think that means that I have a chance of not having cancer again for quite a while, if ever!  We flew on to Alabama for the rest of the week and celebrated the news wirth our new grandson, Knox.

I feel VERY lucky that they found it early and that it was treatable. Stopping by the VA infusion lab and seeing the continuous stream of 30 or so vets that are probzbly a lot less luvky than myself, I felt very humbled.  Cancer ain't like the Super Bowl.  Results aren't final.  I assume that my cancer may rear it's head again in a year or 10 years or 20.  Right now I glad to have the opportunity to regain my strength and go mountain climbing again this summer.  Yahoo!!

I DID get a case of SHINGLES in January that has progressed to the "post healing nerve pain stage."  I was a little angry with the doctors, who did not tell me to be on the alert for the very clear shingles symptoms.  If you know anyone getting cancer treatment and is over 50 or so, they are a prime candidate for shingles, but the severity can be reduced by taking Valtrex before the rash breaks out.  You first feel like you've bruised a rib for a couple of days and then you develop flu like symptons for a couple of days before finally breaking out.  Tell your doc that you want to be ready for Valtrex if you develop the first sysmptom.  I didn't know what was happening.....shingles!  what's up with that! 

Anyway...........I am elated with the healing news and I'm ready to go get life again!

5 days after #8

Final infusion...for now !!!   I will return for rebaseline PET scan on March 29th.   I would guess that the worst I may have will be a slowly developing new cancer.  The best will be complete cure.  I am doing very well.  It seems like the side effects lesson towards the end of all of these infusions.  I'm looking forewardd to regaining my strength, hiking, traveling, and enjoying family and friends in 2010!!!  

Two weewks after #7

I've gone through the usual 2 weeks, mostly low energy.  Heading into week 3, I'm feeling good. New Years eve will be 2 days after the final #8.  Roberta and I will watch the Virginia Tech - Tennessee game.  We will be rivals!

2 days after #7

We blew back through Albuquerque on Sunday, 12/6, for chemo on Monday, 12/7,  We were on the road back to Pagosa by 1:00.....just in time to race the blizzard home!  So I'm back to my steroids and neupogen shots for a week.  Low energy, weird dreams will be status quo for the next 6-8 days.  Number 8 on Dec 28th will be the last !

Five days after #6

Doing very well.   Got through 5 days of steroids with only one completelt sleepless night.  The hacking cough has NOT returned !   I'll see if it resurfaces over next couple of days while I'm still taking neupogen type shots to restore white blood cells.  Main issue is very low energy.........I can deal with IT!

We leave on road trip to California on Monday.  Will swing back buy Albuquerque on way home, December 7th  for #7.