December 27, 2009

Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year!

I had a chemotherapy session on Christmas Eve (Thursday). I felt pretty good on Friday and made it all the way through Christmas. On Saturday though, I felt tired and nausiated most of the day. I did though get 12 hours sleep on Saturday night. Today, I feel pretty good.

I have been back to work for a week and will be in the office this week. It's been a great blessing to see my friends and co-workers from General Dynamics and the Air Force. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many were following this blog to check on me.

Only two chemotherapy treatments to go! Then we'll see what the next set of scans say for any further treatments beyond January.

Love, peace, and blessings

Bill

December 14 Update

Last Friday, I had another chemotherapy treatment. That was my fifth one - I may have as few as three more to go.

My recent CT and PET scans from two weeks ago showed that the tumor has shrunk in size by about 40%. I will get another series of scans after I've undergone my next three treatments.

My chemotherapy patterns are now consistent. I feel nausiated and fatigued for 2-3 days after each session. I then start to gain strength. Last week before my session, I felt really great!

I'm planning to go back to work this week. I'll ease into it, of course.

Thanks again for your well wishews and prayers.

Bill

Update, November 27

I got my fourth chemotherapy session this morning. I'm feeling pretty good.
I will get my white blood cell booster shot tomorrow.

I have felt really the good this week, the best I've felt in months.

The only 'negative' this week is that I'm starting to lose hair. But let's face it, there wasn't much on top to start with and who couldn't stand to lose some of the hair on their back and the tops of their feet?

Thanks again for all your prayers and support. I have a series of CT and PET scans that I'll get on Monday morning. I will have much more information next week on my condition.

Bill

Saturday, November 14

Yesterday, I got my third chemotherapy treatment. That went fine. I will be getting another white blood cell booster shot from Joy later today. Although these make my drousy for a couple of days, the doctor told me that this side effect will decrease through my treatments.

I also had to visit the hospital this week because my temperature rose to 100.5. It turned out to be a mild case of the flu, however, the doctors are always cautious and bring me in to make sure I don't have any type of bacterial infection. It turns out to have been a 48 hour viral bug and I feel fine now.

However, while I was at the hospital, I picked up good news from my blood tests and my x-rays. My white blood cell count is back to normal and my immunity system is strong. This means I'll need to get the white blood cell booster shot after every chemotherapy session. They also learned from the x-ray that my tumor had shrunk another 2-3 cm. So, I continue to make very good progress. But, there's still a long way to go.

Thank you again for all your kind wishes, thoughts, and prayers.

Bill

November 7 - Trachea Stent Removed

I got the trachea stent removed yesterday at the Cleveland Clinic. Everything went well. It only took the doctor 10 minutes to remove the stent. Of course, I was knocked out and don't remember a thing.

I feel much better today. With the stent gone, I no longer cough in the morning or after meals.
I also have more energy and none of the body aches I had earlier this week after I had the white blood cell shot.

Once again, I appreciate all your prayers and best wishes.

My next chemotherapy session is next Friday at the Wright Patterson hosptial. I will no longer need to return to the Cleveland Clinic.

Peace and love,
Bill

Oct 31 - Afternoon

I went through two procedures this week. First on Thursday, I had outpatient surgery to put a chemotherapy port in my chest. That procecure went very well. So well, that they used the new port to administer my chemotherapy session on Friday. That also went very well. With the new port, my chemotherapy sessions only last one hour.

So far, I have no adverse side effects from yesterday's chemotherapy session. I feel pretty good today and just returned from a walk.

The only concern right now is my white blood cell count. A healthy person has a white blood cell count of 3-4 thousand in a sample. Because chemotherapy for Hodgkins Lymphoma reduces white blood cells, my current count is only 500. Today, I took medication that will boost my count to 1000. Because the cancer clinc was closed, Joy was glad to administer the boosster shot to me. Joy did a very good job and can give me shots anytime.

So, until my white blood cell count increases, I am more vulnerable to infections and will keep a low profile and take all the necessary precautions. I will be pretty much housebound.

I also had CT scans done yesterday, so I should no more next week on how well I am progressing. I also got a call from the Cleveland Clinic today saying that they may want to take out my trachea stint as early next week.

Once again, I thank you all for your wishes, prayers, and cards. I greatly appreciate it and have thanked God for your support.

Bill

Saturday, October 24, Evening

I got some very good news yesterday that my tumor has shrunk by 3 cm with only one chemotherapy treatment! We're now on the way.

I will now be getting chemotherapy treatments every other Friday somewhere between 12 and 16 times depending on progress.

I really appreciate all your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. They have made a great contribution!!

I've made good progress this week. I am up and walking every day. I've also gotten lots of rest.
I have some on-going pain and discomfort, but I'm so thankful that I'm on the road to recovery.

Thanks again!!

Bill