Cancer Part Duex

Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Well, we learned the biopsy results today. As it turns out, good news indeed, it’s the same as last time, Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. It happens to be the most common type like 30-40% of all lymphomas. It also happens to be curable. And on top of all that since it just showed up in my neck again, it’s Stage I which is the best of the four stages.

My oncologist didn’t nail down the exact treatment regimine, but he’s leaning towards 6 cycles of RCHOP over RICE or something like that. He’s also not really sure I need to do a bone marrow transplant at this point given that it is Stage I. It turns out with another relapse you can do the bone marrow transplant then. But given that he wants us to check with Stanford, because they have different ideas on things.

I’d like to think I can just do some RCHOP and be done again, but I’m not getting my hopes up to high. Better to be prepared for something big like a bone marrow transplant still. So we’ll see tomorrow. I did find a pretty good blog on lymphomas with RICE and a BMT by a younger guy in Utah. It didn’t sound like it was too rough for him.

Tomorrow is second opinion at Stanford.

Finally, the Results

I should know pretty much what I’m facing in 45 minutes

I’m leaving for the oncologist’s office in a few minutes now. Soon I’ll know pretty much exactly what I’m up against. Plenty of questions.

NHL Biopsy

Anesthesia Lightweight

I’m feeling much better now. My biopsy and portocath operation was actually two days ago, but as I remembered from last time I have a hard time recovering from the anesthesia. It was better than the last biopsy/removal of 4.5 years ago, but it still really knocks me out for 24 hours. I really don’t like brain altering chemicals in me.

So now a little portocath under my shoulder on my right side, that will probably be in for a few months. My little chemo/bone marrow transplant friend.

Biopsy Today

Small Things

Tomorrow is the biopsy, so no more food tonight. I have that drilled in, no food past midnight. Anyway I finally spent spent some time researching the part that worries me the most about my upcoming treatment, unless of course I get really lucky and the biopsy shows something besides cancer–bone marrow transplant. Of course I read about it during the first occurence, but it seemed like a fairly distant possiblity. Anyway according to the article I might even be able to swing an outpatient transplant, which would really rock. So it shouldn’t be as bad as my mind keeps imagining.

We talked to our oldest daughter tonight. Luckily for our little three month old she’ll just ask questions many years later about Daddy’s hair or lack of. Anyway she seemed slightly interested as we explained I had cancer, and that I had to take powerful medicine for it. She seemed more interested in washing hands and being in charge of Daddy’s water bottle, for I am a notoriously bad drinker of plain water. So naivete is bliss in this case.

Memories from the First Fight

Don’t give up.

During my first battle with cancer, I remember visiting the XUMA offices in San Francisco when one of the project managers David something pulled me aside. He told me an emotional story of his father who had also fought and lost a battle with cancer. His overridding concern was that I fight the thing, since his father had really given up and then just succumbed. Probably exactly the sort of memories I need right now. I’m ready to fight tooth and nail right now, I’m just a little unsettled about not having the particulars figured out.

And tomorrow we explain cancer to our 4 year old.