Well, really.
2nd round of chemo finished and off for results I go - CT and Gallium scans. How is the chemo working on my tumor...
RESULTS - No major changes in the tumor.
Well,
I have not failed this many tests since first year university. I am
hoping that this is very similar to first year Psych and yes, while I
blew most of the term quizzes, the exam was worth 70% and by acing that
(92%) I actually end up with a decent mark in the class. All thanks to a
very nice young lady who had made very detailed notes on the text book
and was willing to let me photocopy them.
So... anybody have REALLY good notes from Lymphoma class?
What does this mean...
I
have a fairly chemo resistant tumor. The one in my neck seems to have
disappeared but the main one in my chest is being stubborn and remains a
7cm x 7cm lump. While I could do more, harsher, chemo treatments
(mini-BEAM for example) that may be successful, chances are for me that
they probably would not. The goal is to get the mass smaller because if
I were to get to ABMT (stem cell transfer) I have a greater long term
survival rate if the mass is small (<5cm x 5cm) at the start of the
program.
Since chemo is not working, then it is probably time to try
something else. I will be doing radiation starting in late November to
try and shrink the tumor (80-90% chance of a good response according to
my RadOnc [radiation cancer doc]). This will be every day for a month. Woohoo!
Apparently prep for this may require my getting my first tattoo so
that they can properly set up the machine each time to radiate the
correct area... so whoever has dragon in the tattoo pool is the winner
(can you imagine at the beach... "hey, nice dragon holding a sign saying
ENTER HERE." "Thanks, I got it to direct my radiation for lymphoma").
Or maybe it will just be a bunch of dots and lines. They were not
clear during the meeting.
In the meantime I have gone through the start of the protocol to get
my stem cells collected for transfer (now expected to happen in
January). This involves chemo (done last week), lots of VERY expensive
shots (thank you BMO health plan - $5,500 for each shot of Neuprogen is a lot of cash
I would have needed just lying around), and then hopefully collection
next week. Very important that the stem cells can be collected so here
is hoping that I am a big producer.
That is about it for now.
Summary:
Stem cell collection
for next week. Radiation after (assuming collection has been
successful) for a month. Home for Christmas (greatly appreciated).
Stem cell transfer and extended hospital stay in January. Probably more
radiation after that.
Some "preachy" thoughts:
From an actuarial point of view if you
are around my age it is more likely that you will use your Long Term
Disability coverage than your Life Insurance. What is your coverage?
Do you know?
How good is your Health Care coverage? Are you coordinating
benefits? Being covered on the last two has saved me a LOT of money -
over $35,000 in non OHIP covered medical bills so far.
Finally,
life is short... what are you putting off for tomorrow that you really
could do today (and yes, I was talking about that report for your boss,
so just get it done).
Cheers,
Rob
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