The Chemo meets the Cancer

The Chemo meets the Cancer  

    This blog post is going to be a little different. Instead of giving you a day by day, blow by blow ( or is it symptom by symptom ? ) account of my Chemo treatments, and their side effects, I am just going to mention the highlights and interesting things I saw or heard. Do you really want to read about whether I was feeling constipated or about to have the runs on any particular day ? No ? That's what I thought.....

Saturday September 30, 2023: ( Surprise ! ) Party 

    Michelle told me a few days ago, that she was holding a birthday party for Megan, and I was invited. What she didn't tell me was that it was also a " Kick Cancer's A** " party for me, complete with a
cake telling cancer to " Go to H*** ". Thanks Michelle ! Remind me to never make you mad. Does your husband know how cunning you are ?? To paraphrase Ringo Starr " I Beat Cancer with a LOT of help from my friends."

My Awesome Co-Workers: Michelle, Paula and Megan

Monday, October 2, 2023:  The first dose....

    My Neighbor and friend Karen drove me to the hospital this morning. Thanks Karen ! First order of business was going over the results of all the tests. I have Stage 2.5 Non - Hodgkins Lymphoma. I have Lymphoma in three Lymph Nodes on the right side of my neck, a possible Lymphoma in my chest and another possible Lymphoma on the left side of my neck. Dr Hazzi said it wasn't worth the strain and effort to do the surgery to get the biopsy samples from the left side of my neck and my chest. He said that if the Lymphoma is contained to the right side of my neck it is Stage 2. If it has spread to the left side of my neck and my chest it is Stage 3. Either way, the treatment is the same: 6 doses of Chemo ( a drug "cocktail" called R - CHOP ) spaced three weeks apart. Dr Hazzi said that other than the Lymphoma, I was in good shape.
    At about 9:30, they started my first dose of Chemo and I promptly fell asleep. I had meant to read the guide to the Southern California  section of the PCT, but the Benedryll ( an "industrial size dose" ) in the R- CHOP put me to sleep. If the nurses weren't waking me every half hour to check my blood pressure, I would have slept through the whole thing. At 3:00 the nurse asked if I had a pace maker, because every time she checked my pulse she got the exact same reading.
    At 4 PM Karen arrived and waited with me for about 30 minutes while I got the last little bit of Chemo. I was released at 4:30 and Karen kindly drove me home. I had meant to go for a walk around the neighborhood ( it was a warm, sunny day ), but as soon as I sat down in a comfortable chair ( I told myself I was going to rest "for a few minutes" ), I was out like a light. When I woke up it was 7:30 PM. I made myself some dinner and called it a night.

My First Dose of Chemo

 October 3 - October 22, 2023: Hey, this isn't too bad !!

    The one major side effect I had was "Chemo Fog". I really have to concentrate on what I am doing and the days tend to blur together. To be honest, other than the ( occasional ) Chemo Fog, my systems were really mild. I didn't even experience serious nausea. If I couldn't feel the port on the right side of my chest, I would have sworn that it was all a dream. I even managed to do some walking every once in a while without feeling winded. The swelling in my neck was mostly gone within a week. I felt so good, I sometimes wondered if I needed the other 5 treatments.

Note the 30 Pound Exercise Vest

Monday, October 23, 2023 - Dose 2 ( Chair with a View )

    Dr Hazzi said my test results were good ( they do a blood test the Friday before each dose and another just before each treatment. ) but there was still a little swelling in my neck. Good thing I didn't cancel the rest of the treatments !! This time I had a "Chair with a view" so I had a pleasing cascade to look at. It really made me miss the PCT. Oh well.... The Benadryl that was part of the R-CHOP cocktail put me to sleep, and this time they weren't waking me up every 30 minutes. They added a new twist and gave me a shot in my stomach. For not having any prep, it only stung a little. After the treatment, Kyle drove me home. Thanks Boss ! So far my side effects have been mild, some bits of mild nausea and occasional difficulty going "Number 2". I am starting to lose some hair.

Saturday, October 28, 2023 - Halloween Party at Michelle's 

    Michelle invited me to a Halloween Party at her house. Megan came dressed as Cleopatra. Michelle and her step daughter were dressed as Rock Stars. I went as Bond, James Bond. NO, not the silly fictional bugger you Yanks make so many movies about, the real one. The Ornithologist. My hair is really starting to fall out. All in All, I had a good time. Thanks Michelle !

Cleo Megan

 

Cleo Megan, Rock Star Michelle, and "Bond, James Bond. The Ornothologist"

Megan and her family.

Sunday, October 29, 2023 - Embracing the "Captain Jean Luc Picard" Look

    Seeing as most of my hair has fallen out, I decided to shave my head. I actually like the look and it has a number of practical advantages. I don't have to spend money on shampoo or haircuts and it cuts my time in the shower considerably.

 

 Monday, October 30, 2023 - More Moral Support

    When I got to work this morning I found this sign on my desk. Did I mention that I have awesome
co - workers ??

My Co-workers decorated my cluttered work space.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023:  Halloween - WHO ORDERED THIS ?!!

    So today is Halloween. The neighborhood kids love coming to my house. Why ? Because I give out MONEY ! I honestly don't expect many kids tonight. Why ? Because it started snowing at 3 PM. That's why. Now before all you Canadians start saying we Michiganders are wimps, I must point out it has NEVER snowed in Jackson, Michigan on Halloween! By the way, how do you folks handle 90 degree temps with 60% humidity ? Yeah, I know in Alberta, you make your kids Halloween costumes to fit over a snowmobile suit, but that's for crazy people who don't live in a reasonable climate (just kidding). Much to my surprise, I had 74 kids come to my door. The next morning (All Saints Day, for those of you who keep track of such things) there was still some snow on the Obedient Plants and the bushes in my yard.

 

 

 

 

Monday, November 13, 2023 - Dose # 3 ( A Royal Pain in the Gut )

    This time Joan Feldvary ( she's a friend of Karen and I ) drove me to the Hospital. It started off like every other treatment ( I slept a lot). The nurses and I traded jokes (theirs were better than mine)
" Did you hear that Joe lost his job at the Pepsi Distributor ?"
" Yeah, they caught him using Coke."
    Things went fairly well until they went to give me the shot in the stomach. Ouch !! That hurt !! It felt like I was being stabbed with a dull knife. Aunt Linda, thinks (and I'm now inclined to agree) that it was a case of "Human Error". The last shot didn't hurt. Leo said that I now have something to bellyache about....
Joan drove me home after my treatment and I slept most of the afternoon as usual.

Thursday, November 23, 2023 - Thanksgiving with Friends

I spend most of the day relaxing at home. No, I didn't watch a football game on TV. That's not my thing. I did watch several YouTube videos about Archeology in England ( Time Team ) and backpacking though. Yeah, I'm weird that way. I spent the evening with Megan and her family. I had a good time. Lots of good conversation, lots of laughter ( the World's best Medicine ), and even a good time playing some board games. Thanks Megan !!

Monday, December 4, 2023 - Dose # 4 ( I am cleared to hike, sort of.... )

    Dr Hazzi says my labs are good. Even better, he said that unless something goes wrong, he doesn't see any problems with me hiking the PCT. YAHOO !! Unfortunately, I don't have a "view" today, just a brick wall on a cloudy day. Oh well, I will probably sleep most of the time anyway. Obviously, the painful "Gut Shot" last time was due to Human Error, because today's shot was relatively painless.

 

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 - Sleep, baby sleep...

I didn't sleep much at all last night, only getting an hour or so of sleep every so often. I finally dropped off for a few hours at 6:30 . IN THE MORNING ! I was so tired I phoned in to ask for the day off. In spite of how busy the store was ( retail store two weeks before Christmas ), Kyle didn't hesitate in giving me the day off. THANKS KYLE !! I phoned the Oncology department, and they suggested that I start taking Benadryl to help me sleep. It works !! 

My "Over the Counter Sleep Medicine"

Friday, December 22, 2023 - " Can you stand on your head ? "

    I was supposed to have a "routine blood draw" today. Basically they draw several ( two or three ) tube of blood from the Smart Port in my chest. They do this so they can do blood tests to make sure I am healthy (or at least as healthy as a guy getting Chemo can be) and to make sure they wont have problems administering my Chemo through the port a few days from now.
    I guess I should explain the whole procedure. In the morning after I shower I put a small amount (about the size of a quarter) of Lidocaine ointment on the area were the port is and cover it with Saran Wrap to numb the skin. I go in at 11:30 and they do a quick check of my vitals (height, weight and blood pressure). Then I sit in a chair and they wipe the ointment off my chest. Then they poke something that looks like a long thumbtack attached to an IV line into the port. They draw two or three vials of blood for analysis, put a band aid over the port and send me on my way. Usually the whole process takes 15 minutes from arrival to departure.
    Today was different. For some reason, the Nurse couldn't draw any blood from the port. They had me hold my arms up, turn in different directions, and I can't remember what else. This time it wasn't the Nurse's fault. A flap of skin had grown over the port and closed it off. In the end it took 3 nurses more than 30 minutes to get the blood drawn. I hope it's not this hard for the Chemo.....

Saturday, December 23, 2023 - We survived another Holiday season...

    Today was the last, crazy, chaotic day of the Holiday shopping season. This past week has been totally hectic. Thank God our Customers like to spoil us at Christmas. I brought in a lunch on Monday. It was Thursday before I had a chance to eat it, and I eat fairly fast. Lunch for most of this week was a cookie grabbed off a "Goodie Plate" brought in by a customer. On Friday, Kyle brought in Pizza, and insisted that everyone take the time to have a couple pieces. Today, Kyle's business partner Dave Hood brought in sandwiches and chips from Jimmy Johns ( It's a sandwich shop similar to Subway ). There was so much, that all of us ended up taking some home. Thanks Dave !!

The Closing Crew, December 23rd. We Made IT !!

Lunch is Served !!

Monday, December 25, 2023 - A Relaxing Christmas at Home

    I spent Christmas Day relaxing at home. After the hectic last week, I needed the break. At 2 PM, my Aunt Linda phoned and I had a good chat with her and my Uncle Eldon. After that, I decided to take a nap. At 3:30 PM, my doorbell woke me. My neighbor and fellow Lymphoma Warrior left me a Christmas Dinner. Turkey with all the fixings. Thanks Mike and Bev !! I actually received most of my Christmas presents early this year. For starters, my symptoms and side effects have been very mild (some nausea, some difficulty getting to sleep, and some difficulty going " # 2 " ). 

    Then Megan gave me the ultimate Trivia Nerds Christmas present. A "Fact of the Day" calendar. For example did you know that you had more bones as a baby, than you do now ? You were born with 300 bones, but as you grow up, some of them merge together, so you end up with 206 bones as an adult. Thanks Megan !

 

Tuesday, December 26, 2023 - Dose Number 5

    After the troubles the nurses had with the smart port on Friday, I was expecting some trouble with the Chemo this morning. Turns out, I didn't need to worry. Other than feeling cold ( thank goodness for nurses bringing me heated blankets ) It went like clockwork. Dr Hazzi said my Hemoglobin count was a little low, but nothing to worry about. All my other labs were OK. 

Sunday, December 31, 2023 - Happy New Year !

Michelle and Justin invited me to their Christmas / New Years Party. Thank goodness we have tomorrow off, so I can sleep in. Lots of good conversation, lots of laughter and plenty of Pinball machines for those who are interested. I had a great time, but left early because I was tired and didn't want to disturb my friends with my snoring.

 

Thursday, January 4, 2024 - A Present from a Good Friend

    Look what arrived in the mail !! My good friend and trail partner Alyssa Kroeker, found this cool drawing of a Killdeer (the bird I got my trailname from). She also made the cool plushie to go with it. Thanks Littlefoot !!

 

Monday, January 15, 2024 - Last Dose of Chemo

    According to Dr Hazzi, other than my (expected) low Hemoglobin count, my labs are good. Now for the final dose of Chemo. For some reason, I was really cold today. I wore a hat, and was covered with 4 blankets, and was still tempted to put on my coat. I wore a mask because I had a cold and didn't want to give it to any of the other patients. Yes, I am sometimes greedy that way ... 😉 The treatment went well and I had my usual "Afternoon, After Treatment Nap "

Trying to stay warm...

Hopefully the last view I have from the Oncology Center....

Monday, February 12, 2024 - Treebeard will see you now...

    If you didn't get the "Lord of the Rings" Joke (Treebeard was an Ent), don't worry about it. At any rate I saw Dr Ali ( The Ear, Nose, Throat Doctor ) this morning. Dr Hazzi wanted Dr Ali to look at my throat because the PET scan (scheduled for Sunday) will only show vertical swelling (if any), whereas Dr Ali would be able to see the width and thickness of any swelling. Turns out there is no swelling at all. YEAH !!! As near as Dr. Ali can tell, the Lymphoma is completely eradicated.

Friday, February 16, 2024 -  My Co-Workers tried to prank me

    Yesterday morning, I was feeling a little sleepy and didn't have any projects to do at work (February is one of our slow periods, the other is July) so I asked Kyle if I could stay home and he agreed. When I came into work this morning, I found this sign on my desk. 

They thought I would come in through the backdoor of the store ( I usually do ) so they would have time to hide. Unfortunately for them, I came through the front door and saw Paula and Kyle before they saw me. To be honest, they wouldn't have been able to pull it off, because I saw their cars in the parking lot..

Sunday, February 18, 2024 - PET me once, PET me twice....

    This test is for all the marbles (or at least all the Lymphoma). They did a PET scan to make sure that the Lymphoma was all gone. As you recall, I had Lymphoma in three Lymph nodes on the right side of my neck, a possible spot of Lymphoma on the left side of my neck and another possible spot in my chest. I got lucky this time. They couldn't find any of the horrible drinks (you might remember I tried "Chocolate" last time) they normally make you drink. According to the Technician, Henry Ford Allegiance is the only hospital he works at (he does PET scans at 6 different hospitals in Southern Michigan) that wants every patient to take the drink. The drink is (if I understand the Tech correctly) mostly used to check for cancer in the stomach area.

Friday, February 23, 2024 - ALL CLEAR !!

    Dr Hazzi is most pleased with the results. There are no spots anywhere (which means the spots on the left side of my neck and in my chest were probably Lymphoma) on the PET scan. My Hemoglobin count is still a little low (Note to self: Start taking Iron), but should recover now that the Chemo is done. My hair is starting (slowly) to grow back. Dr Hazzi want's to see me in 3 months ( May 23rd ) and at the end of August. This will make the logistics of my PCT through hike a little more challenging, but I will make it work. YES I AM GOING !! Doctor Hazzi (in an offhand manor) that there is possibly a 10 to 20% chance that the Lymphoma might return (Lymphoma is like that), so this might be my only chance, so I'm taking it.