Final chemo!

(blog at www.mynhldiary.blogspot.com)

Yesterday (Wednesday, 6-18) I had my last chemo session! The session, as usual, was totally uneventful. I offered to demonstrate a set of 20 pushups by the front desk to show them how well I have done by them, but K. felt that might be over the top. I have felt fine today.

Dr. D. reiterated that he found my response/tolerance "amazing," in that most people look (and are) pretty debilitated by this point in R-CHOP.

Perhaps even more encouraging, when I deliberately introduced the phrase "when it comes back" into discussions of the future, he said, "Do me a favor. Let's say, 'IF it comes back.'" So, I'm not letting my hopes rise too far, inasmuch as the statistics say it probably *will* come back, but I think we're warranted in taking that statement as a hopeful sign. He agreed that my case does not fall into any neat diagnostic categories of NHL at present, which to my mind kind of makes looking at statistics pointless (and needlessly depressing).

I'm expecting this upcoming "nadir" to be deeper than before, but I'm prepared to take as many naps as necessary, and am also armed with precautionary antibiotics. Yesterday's WBC was 3700, still below the normal person's minimum of 4000, but not so bad.

From here, they give me a "handful of months" for my immune system to recover, followed (perhaps) by a PET scan, and for sure by CT scans, perhaps every 6-8 weeks! I expect to glow in the dark, soon. The PET scans are notorious for false positives, especially after chemo, so Dr. D. is going to consult with Dr. F at Dana-Farber on that. Also, on my case in general since I do not fall neatly into either the indolent or mixed-cell diagnosis at this point.

Whatever.

K is doing well, but a bit frayed around the edges -- not only from concern about me, but she's picked up nearly all of the Star Island registrar's work that we're supposed to be sharing... in addition to extra church responsibilities that have cropped up. Oh, well. Neither of us knew I'd be in for chemo when we signed up as registrars. I continue to do what I can to at least take care of home stuff, and will be picking up the Star work for a while, and getting increasingly diligent about finding some work.

As usual, thanks for all your support and concern, and for following this blog!

love,
D

Same old np

Got the usual "nadir" blood test & exam today, no surprises.

Have been a bit more tired than usual this week, and tired earlier than usual (e.g. 7 days instead of 9 after chemo). Some unexplained but familiar pains under the right rib cage fore and aft, and perhaps some neuropathy (tingling, numbness) in the nerves of the extremities, but very slight. This can be a somewhat durable side effect of the Vincristine. Tingly fingers. Tingly finglies. Hey, wait, the head is an extremity, too, right?

As expected, I'm neutropenic again, although a tad less so than at the last nadir exam. (WBC of 1000 vs. 800) So, I think what happened is the nadir just happened early and I'm on the uptick.

Neutropenic -- It's good to know some Latin, isn't it? Makes it so easy to break down these medical words. Let's see. Obviously "neutro" as in "nutrition", "penic" as in... well, ... hm. Food for the ... no, that for sure isn't the case. Must have Greek roots.

Brother S. gets some important test results this week, too. Keeping him in the old T. and P.\

best to all, D