Jeff Tanner's Cancer Blog

4 months have flown by

2008-09-01T12:19:00.002-05:00

It has been about 4 months since I finished all my treatments (chemo & radiation) for Lymphoma. I had a great check-up in June with no cancer recurrence. I have my 2nd check-up in Sept which I hope will go well. I returned to work in May full-time and have jumped back into the activities of life with both my feet. I have gradually regained more strength and endurance with each passing week and am now exercising regularly and feeling stronger. It is amazing how your body is broken down as a result of the treatments, but how within a few short weeks you can start to feel good again. I mention often to my family and friends how it just feels good to "feel good" again! It is a pretty simple statement, but really sums up what it is like. I am excited to just be able to not feel tired all the time....which when I was going through chemo, it was a constant effort to do the smallest things.

I praise God that I have come through this. I know the first year is critical in my recovery in that if it comes back it is more likely within the first year after treatment. I am trying not to think about that possibility, but instead live without fear of that and trying to trust in God's plan for my life regardless of the bumps in the road.

I will post more news of my next check-up in Sept.

It is over!

2008-04-27T18:58:00.002-05:00

I am FINALLY done with my radiation! I am still in a bit of a shock that all my treatments are over. I have been taking a treatment of some sort now since November 14th, 2007. 4 months of chemo and 41/2 weeks of radiation. I am still pretty sore around my neck and chest, but that should start to get better in a week or so. I will go back to the Dr. for a check-up in June.

I know that this chapter in my life is over and am looking forward to the next. I have so many people to thank for supporting me the last many months that it will be impossible to say thanks to everyone individually here. I have so many family, friends and co-workers that have supported, encouraged and prayed for me during this time. I know that I am a different person as a result and will hope to see life through the lens of this experience and be better for is. I also hope that my experience has also helped others who have had to deal with cancer. I have learned much about cancer and how people deal with it.

I am not sure how to end this blog..... It has helped me in the healing process and want to see how I can continue to use it in someway maybe to help others. ...I'll think about it. Let me know if you have any other ideas.

One more week to go.

2008-04-19T08:34:00.003-05:00

This is the radiation room at MD Anderson. I lie on a table with my shirt off and my face in a stabilization mask while the radiation machine zaps my chest and neck. This only takes about 20 minutes total. Most of that time is getting my body in the exact position so the radiation beams can zap the right tissue.

I have most of my treatments in the mornings Tuesday through Fridays. On Mondays, I have the treatment in the afternoon, as I drive from Fort Worth on Monday mornings. The radiation areas on my body are getting very red and itchy at this point. During the second week my throat became sore which made it difficult to swallow. I have been given some medication to relieve some of the pain and swollen areas of my throat. I had a doctor's appt on Thursday where she said after the radiation, I will need to have check-ups every 3 months. They watch for recurrence in the first two years. If I get beyond 3 years with no recurrence, then there is a very high chance of it never returning.

The weeks have gone by pretty fast. I have had a great opportunity to connect with some of my long-time friends in Houston. I am also able to work some at the SAP Houston offices.

First 7 radiation treatments

2008-04-08T18:01:00.004-05:00

My radiation treatments are now in full-swing here in Houston. I drive down to Houston on Mondays and return on Fridays. Each treatment involves my lying down on a table and positioning me in a very precise way to make the radiation beams target exactly the same place everytime. They have made a mold of my face which is strapped to my head each time to keep me from moving....which really works! When this is done, it leaves a mesh pattern on my face which looks like I have been hit with a tennis racket! These treatments will last several more weeks and are a piece of cake compared with chemo. The only side effects are some fatigue, sore throat, and red chest and neck.

During the time I wait for my turn in the waiting room, I see patients who are going through this at the same time as chemo. They remind me so much of how I use to feel and I try and tell them it will get better, but from their standpoint, it does not help much. All they want is to feel better...now. I can't imaging doing radiation and chemo at the same time as they are doing. Also, I am only doing 22 treatments, and many of them are doing 35. I am thankful that I only have 22 total treatments and that I am done with chemo already.

Radiation treatments begin this week...

2008-03-24T19:36:00.002-05:00

I will start taking my radiation treatments on Thursday this week in Houston. My oncologist strongly suggested I take my radiation at MD Anderson due to the location of my Lymphoma. It is very close to my heart and lungs and they need to make sure to avoid those vital organs and they feel better about doing this treatment at MD Anderson. Also, the radiation will enhance my remission rate.

So...I will have a total of 22 treatments starting on Thursday, March 27th and ending on Friday, April 25th. I will be staying in Houston during the week and traveling home to Fort Worth on the weekends. I know Houston very well, so I am not stressing over it. I will however, miss 2 of Daniel's golf tournaments, but he tells me he will not make any hole-in-ones without me there to witness!

Easter celebrates new life...

2008-03-23T07:47:00.006-05:00

Today I recognize and celebrate how Christ was raised from death. It is an appropriate time to look to the future and hope for new life which God can give.

This reminds me of how all cancer patients feel when they are finished with chemo. They feel they have been raised from the dead! They have new energy. They have new purpose. They have that look in their eyes which says, "I'm back".

I pray that everyone has a sense of that feeling this Easter day. Even if you have not gone through chemo, we all have issues and can experience hope for the future. I have hope for the future that I did not once have. I pray for healing in everyone this Easter.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.—Saved by his life.

“For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.—But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.

Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

1 Pet. 1:3; Gen. 41:52; 2 Cor. 1:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:6, 7; 2 Tim. 4:17; 1 Pet. 4:19

New Study on NHL...

2008-03-11T21:15:00.003-05:00

This is a picture of a Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma cell (pink) being attacked by the chemo drug "Rituxan". I took this chemo drug 6 times over 4 months and was a big reason for my remission. The picture was taken from a recent article in Scientific American which discusses the recent study confirming the increase in patients living longer using these drugs. This drug is made by Genentech and has been used since 1997. I am hopeful that I will be one of the "long lifers". It also mentions that 20 in 100,000 will get NHL. That is incredible odds against most people getting NHL. I think it is 1 in 5,000 or 2 in 10,000 or 8 in 40, 000. How many of you have been to a Ranger's baseball game? That means that 8 people in the entirely full stadium would get NHL. That seems like pretty good odds for most people. So, the next time you are at the Ballpark...look around and see if you can find the 8 people. And, for people under age 45 who are using Rituxan, 56% of the 8 will live 10 years or longer.

Counts back up...in the snow!

2008-03-08T15:51:00.008-06:00

My latest lab test showed improvement in my blood counts! One of the things I have been doing all along is keeping a pretty detailed record of my counts over the weeks. Here is a snapshot of the past 3 weeks and how it has moved up and down through chemo and recovery. The numbers at the top are what "normal" ranges should be in a person my age.

(The PLT count is actually pretty low; it should be over 100. Some of you remember when I had a blood transfusion, the PLT count was at 3).

I am now on the "upper end" of normal lows, which is pretty good. That means that for a chemo patient, they are pretty normal, but for a non-chemo patient, they would be pretty low. I feel much better today and am still a bit tired, but feel more energy today than in the past 2 weeks. I should start improving with each day as my body continues to replace much of the cell loss over the past 4 months. I have another test on Tuesday and Friday of next week.

I have several tests and dr. appts in Houston the week of March 18th at MD Anderson. These tests will indicate the current stage and ultimate results of the 4 months of chemo. Each of the last 3 tests have all showed no cancer growth and reduced tumor size in my medial stinal (chest) area, so I am looking forward to the same progression results. The tests in 2 weeks will also give a base-line for the radiation oncologists to recommend radiation in the next phase. As indicated by my oncologist, he recommends 4 weeks of radiation once chemo is completed. I should be able to start the radiation treatments the last week of March here in Fort Worth.

I am looking forward to the radiation treatments as the final stage of this incredible process. I have heard that radiation is not as intense as chemo, so I am hoping to be able to return to more normal activities during this treatment. ...can I remember what "normal" activities means?

It snowed here in Fort Worth on Monday and Thursday of this week. It has been so warm and sunny in the 60s and 70s for many days prior to this week. We all were getting use to the warmth and expecting Spring to be here for good. However, life can be unexpected at times! We enjoyed one more week of winter in Cowtown.... we will be longing for these days in August.

Low counts today...

2008-03-04T10:12:00.003-06:00

I am entering my low blood count stage of chemo today through Friday and so I will be watching things pretty closely. My WBC and Platletes are all very low today. The issue (as always) is fighting simple infections with such a low WBC and also the threat of excess bleeding with a low Platelete count. I will stay away from un-cooked foods for several days and also keep my "contact sports" to a minimum to avoid possible bruising.

My RBC and HGB are low, but not too low like in past rounds. The RBC is where my energy comes from and it has been decent so far relative to past rounds. I still don't feel great, but am pushing to the finish line as much as I can because I can't stand this any more! Feeling tired and sick for 4 months kinda gets old. I know that my low counts today through the week will get better, so that keeps me staying positive.

Last Day of 6th Cycle

2008-02-28T12:05:00.002-06:00

I am about finished with my 48 hour chemo session on my last scheduled 6th round of chemo. I can hardly believe the chemo is almost over. It has been so long in coming and I have anticipated this day for many weeks. Although I feel really bad today (exhausted), I am looking forward to leaving this chapter of my life and can only hope it will be many more years before I have to endure this again. I will post again when feeling better. I appreciate all the calls and emails concerning my status. I am looking forward to better days ahead!

Wed

2008-02-20T08:06:00.003-06:00

I have had increasing energy levels each day this week. I can really tell that this chemo round was less intense to my body from the last protocol. I still have a few more days before my counts could drop (Thur - Sat), so we will see. As of Tuesday, my counts were all pretty good....not normal, but for chemo, normal. I had a somewhat low WBC (4.2), but the HGB was 11.9, which is really good compared to last time at 7.7. Also, my RBC count is at 3.77, which is good...again considering my last round it hit 2.44.

I am eating well and trying to do some exercises in walking. It is important to stay active during times when I have energy. During chemo days, all I want to do is sleep and rest.

I am staying focused on the last few tasks for my completion of the chemo rounds. I am scheduled to start my last round on Tuesday, Feb 26, with the full treatment lasting till Thursday. Again, I will be able to take this out-patient. In mid March, I will return to MD Anderson for a re-staging test, then see a radiologist for setting up the radiation rounds. Radiation should last 4 weeks. I don't know yet what the effects of this will be, but hopefully it will be less intense as chemo.

Saturday: Better day

2008-02-16T09:29:00.002-06:00

I feel much better today than the last 4 days of chemo. I have not felt like doing anything but sleep and rest. As you know, I was able to take my chemo at the chemo Center on Tuesday, then take a 48 hour chemo pump home. This was a great alternative to me having to take chemo in the hospital. This process however did not remove the tiring effects of the chemo as I was still really drained Tue - Fri. However, I awoke this morning feeling much better, even as our weather here in Fort Worth is cold with lots of rain. I have more energy and was able to get out of bed and think much clearer than the past several days.

It is amazing how much the chemo can drain you of energy. I have been told that with each new round of chemo, you body will feel more tired because of the months of chemo build-up in your body. I can tell, but am still hopeful that I will grow more energy as the days pass. The next remaining hurdle will be how low my blood counts will go. On Friday, they all were in very good ranges. All normal ranges with a few exceptions. So, we will see how Days 10-12 look (Thur, Feb 28 – Sat, Mar 1). That is when my counts typically drop to their lows.

Sandra's marathon training is going well. She has also reached her fund raising goals already which she is so excited about. We are in the process of making the travel plans now to Vancouver for the weekend of May 4th. Sandra's remaining 2 months of training are getting more intense, but she has renewed focus and determination and seems to be getting stronger with each week. Thanks for all your support, encouragement and prayers for both Sandra and I as we meet our challenges in the coming months!

First day of R-CHOP

2008-02-12T18:53:00.000-06:00

I just returned from a day of receiving my R-CHOP chemo treatment. It is great to be home. All my other chemo treatments required my being in the hospital for 4-6 days. I am so thankful that I can now be home and still take my chemo. Once the day was complete, I still had to take home a portable chemo pump which will allow me to receive a very slow chemo drug over a 48 hour period. I will return on Thursday at 4:30pm to return the pump. The pump is a quiet, small device which lives in a medium sized "fanny-pack". It connects directly to my PIC line. It is a pretty easy device and I just need to remember that it goes "everywhere" I go. (it kinda looks like a PSP...I'm trying to get some games on the thing)

My Dad had one of these devices when he was going through chemo last year. I remember he would come over for dinner and have that thing in tow. He called it his "bag". He did not have to do this every week, only on special occasions when he needed some extra drug. I have to say that I did not know much about all the different drugs he was taking. He really did not keep up with them much either. I have been very different however. I know every single drug I am taking including the pre-meds. I have actually caught my chemo nurses doing things differently than what my doctor originally ordered. I think the nurses at my chemo center are very competent, but sometimes things can get messed up and it is important for patients to take ownership in their treatment and be aware of everything that is being done to them. I have tried my best to practice this.

OK, here is what it really looks like....

Take care and I will talk to you soon again!

New chemo plan... 2 more to go.

2008-02-10T19:14:00.000-06:00

I have not posted in over a week and need to give you an update on what has been going on. Last week I went to Houston to see my primary Oncologist (Dr. Hagemeister) for restaging tests (x-ray and CT Scan) to see the progress of my treatments and the status of the cancer. All checked out well as the tumor is continuing to be non-active and shrinking due to the chemo. However, due to the intensity of my chemo plan, they are concerned with my blood levels as they have not been rebounding as well as expected, therefore, he has rewritten my chemo plan to a less intense program (same drugs, less dosage). I can also take this chemo out-patient, which is great news to me (no more Harris Methodist medieval castle dungeon). The plan is called R-CHOP and is a more well known chemo plan for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma patients. It can be given in 1 day...long, long day. I will also have a chemo that I will need to take home for 48 hours. I will take this R-CHOP this week, then again in 2 weeks and that will be it for my chemo. I will also then have to take 4 weeks of radiation. This will be radiation every day (Monday - Friday) for 4 weeks. I was not expecting this, but the Dr. says it is very important and is necessary to keep the cancer from returning. This puts me through the middle of April for the final radiation treatment.

I am soooo ready for these treatments to be completed. I was just thinking over the past several weeks all the activities that I cannot do now, that I am looking forward to doing again...Here are just a few....

Throw a baseball with my son. (my Pic line makes this hard to do)
Play golf. (I have not played in 6 months).
Swim (although it has been too cold).
Take a shower without wrapping my PIC line.
Jogging.
Standing in line at the airport (traveling again for my job).
Washing my hair.....actually having hair.
Eating fresh fruit and veggies without worrying if I will get sick.
Not taking 10-12 pills a day.
Going to church every Sunday....(only once a month during chemo).
Going places without a box of Kleenex (my nose runs constantly due to the chemo).

Well...there are many more on my list, but I will stop here. I will say that I am fortunate to almost be done with chemo as I have corresponded with several people who's chemo treatments are much longer and more intense. I continue to pray for them for courage and staying positive. I know that it takes a lot of both to get through this. I have also learned to only focus on each day alone. When I think about all the weeks left, I get discouraged. When I just think of today and what I have to do to get through today, I can handle that. I think others have said the same. Marsha and Cindi...hang in there.

More blood

2008-02-02T12:19:00.000-06:00

I had been unable to fully recover this past week from my chemo without an additional 2 units of blood. I have been told that as chemo treatments continue, your body will take longer to recover. I have seen that happen this week. My HGB and RBC counts stayed really low all week and it was only after 4 units of blood and a unit of platelets, did I finally feel better today.

So, a recap....we had a bit of a scare yesterday as I had trouble getting my breath. With HGB at 7.7 and RBC at 2.45, very little oxygen was able to fuel my body when doing any kind of walking or moving around. I got very winded on Friday afternoon and was unable to really recover. We decided to go to the emergency room at Plaza Medical center which was near the building I was planning on getting my 2 additional units of blood. After I was given some oxygen, I was evaluated as stabilized and no apparent heart issues were present. They wanted to watch me over night and also give me the 2 units of blood through the evening.

I awoke this morning feeling much better and was able to go home this morning. My counts are back up to acceptable levels (HGB 9.0 and RBC 3.0) and I feel a ton better as a result.

We will still keep my meetings at MD Anderson next week so we can get my restaging accomplished as planned. Therefore, we will be in Houston, Tuesday - Thursday for these meetings.

Counts still low...

2008-01-30T22:02:00.000-06:00

It has been several days since my last post. I have been feeling pretty good this week (so I thought) and felt like the 2 units of blood I received on Sat were going to get me back to acceptable levels. Today, I had a blood test and they were still very low. In fact, they are lower than they have ever been. I think I need a refund on the blood from Sat. My doctor sent me back to the blood bank for a unit of platelets as my HGB count was 3..... it should be between 200 and 400. Also, I am quarantined for several days as my WBC is at 0.2, which is pretty low. I am thinking that I am going to feel better tomorrow as I have no where to go but "up". :-)

We have lots going on these days at home as Daniel is preparing for a school play where he is a munchkin (Wizard of Oz). They have been working on this since Sept and will be fun to see all the pieces all come together. He will have 3 performances and I hope to make the one on Saturday. Sandra's training for the marathon is getting more intense every week and she is doing a great job. Walking every day several miles and 8-10 on Saturday. It is encouraging to me to see her commitment and dedication to something like this. She is not a big athlete, so this is a big challenge.

That’s all for now. I'll post again when my counts are up...hopefully this weekend. Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement so far. I can see the ending in sight and just have a month to go till I can finish chemo.

Sunday

2008-01-27T17:36:00.000-06:00

This past week has been a pretty good week regarding my recovery period from cycle 4 chemo. My blood counts typically bottom out Thur - Sat and that is what happend this week as well. Friday, my doctor recommended another 2 units of blood. So, Saturday, I went to Plaza and got 2 units. That process went very smooth and I can already feel better as a result. The main reason I needed blood was my HGB was 7.7 and the RBC was 2.44. The Red Blood Cells are what take oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When you are low on RBCs, just simply walking across the room makes you winded. I had a hard time just walking around the house most of the week and Friday and Saturday was the worst. I still feel pretty tired and run down, but I know that I will get stronger as this week progresses. So far, I have not had any fever, so no infections at this point. The white blood cells is the other big issue. WBCs fight infection and a normal person has between 8 and 12....Mine was 1.0 on Friday. I take a drug everyday to help my body produce more WBCs and I know they will go back up rapidly on Monday and Tuesday.

Today the weather has been so nice. The temp reached the upper 60's with plenty of sunshine. I know much of the country is fighting the cold and snow, and it is nice to have weather like this for a few days in Fort Worth.

Sandra's Marathon training update

2008-01-24T09:23:00.000-06:00

Sandra has been training for her Marathon now for the past month and has made great progress. This weekend she does an 8 mile walk! She is doing a great job! Please pray for her as the next month will be very challenging on her physically in building up the miles.

Her fundraising is also going well. She is at 70% of her goal and I know she will reach 100% soon! Recently, there have been numerous contributions from my "extended" family at SAP America (my current employer http://www.sap.com). Mary Sibley has communicated to many people at SAP about Sandra's Marathon challenge and they have responded in stellar fashion! SAP also has a matching program so those contributions will have a doubling effect! Thank you SAP and Mary for all the support during this time.

I know many of our friends and family have also contributed and we are grateful to all of you as well. It is a financially difficult time of the year for many people and your contributions are very much appreciated. Sandra and I are so excited about raising money and awareness about Leukemia and Lymphoma and the money donated to this organization goes a long way in supporting that mission.

Her website is located here: http://www.active.com/donate/tntntx/sandratanner

Home a day early...

2008-01-21T08:46:00.000-06:00

I finished cycle 4 on Sunday afternoon and after my Methotrexate levels were confirmed, I was able to go home around 3pm. This was a great blessing as it is always better to be home than in the hospital!!! I am now just trying to get over dizziness and I also have some pain in my arms which I have never experienced before. I am not sure what is causing it, but will ask the doctor today about what might be causing it.

I also now begin the downward slide down to low WBC/RBC counts. I should bottom out around Friday and will hopefully not need any blood.

In the middle of cycle 4 at Harris

2008-01-19T17:28:00.000-06:00

I should be finished with this round on Sunday, but will most likely not go home until Monday or Tuesday. I am feeling very good at this point with little or no side effects. I seem to have much more energy than last round and am hoping my counts will not drop as far during next week.

I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel these days and am focused on getting through the next several weeks. I will be going to Houston in 2 weeks for more restaging tests which should give us another indication of the progress of the chemo.

Starting cycle 4

2008-01-16T08:15:00.000-06:00

Today starts the beginning of my cycle 4 chemo treatements. I take one chemo drug (Rituximab) today in as an out-patient, then check in tomorrow to the hospital for the rest of my chemo. I should be in the hospital through next Tuesday. This round will also take my blood counts down at the end of next week.

I am feeling very good these days and am hopeful my round of chemo will go smoothly.

I'll give everyone an update at the end of the week.

Counts back to normal...

2008-01-10T14:06:00.000-06:00

I am happy to report that after my tests on Wed, my blood counts are back in the normal range. I am feeling much better. I really know that getting the 2 units of blood really helped me a great deal.

I have been asked several times about how people can possibly donate blood on my behalf. Apparently, you can donate blood and designate it for my use. Even if you are not the same type, it can be banked in my account and used if necessary.

Based on my current chemo schedule, it is very possible I will need at least another 6 units over the next 6 weeks (2 units the week after my chemo cycle). If this is something you feel strongly about, then it would be a great gift. I know many people cannot donate blood for various reasons and I personally have not given in many years.

All of you have already done so much for me and my family so far, so I am reluctant to post this, but everyone has been encouraging me to share my needs, so this is what I have done.

Again, thanks for all your support and prayers. I only have 3 more treatments so far, and am hopeful that I will make it out with no issues.

My current chemo (all at Harris Methodist Fort Worth) schedule is as follows:

Cycle 4 - Jan 16 - 22
Cycle 5 - Feb 6 - 12
Cycle 6 - Feb 27 - Mar4

2 pints please...

2008-01-06T15:44:00.000-06:00

After feeling great on Friday morning, I went downhill in the afternoon. I typically get lab work done on Friday afternoons and this Friday was no different. The results showed my Red cells very low. This is why I have been so short of breath. Your RBCs carry oxygen to your body so you can function. When you have few RBCs, you body struggles to keep the oxygen supply up to stuff. Well, it got the best of me and while I was in the clinic, I had a fainting spell and almost passed out.

As a result, they decided I needed 2 units of blood to boost my system. I went into the Plaza center on Saturday morning and got 2 units of O negative blood. It is amazing to me how this can work. Several hours later, I was feeling much better.

Today, I have way more energy and can tell a big difference. There is power in the blood!

I am hopeful that this week my counts will rebound quickly and I can get back to some normal activity. I am still in an "at risk" stage for infection, but that should subside as my counts rebound.

Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement this past week.

Feeling great today...

2008-01-04T12:46:00.000-06:00

It's amazing what a few days makes. I feel great today. After earlier in the week being so rough, I have rebounded significantly today. I have been able to do quite a bit today around the house and some at work.

I will be entering the low cell count period (Friday - Monday) today through the weekend, so I will be vullnerable to infection as always, but am hopeful I can make it through without any hospital visits.

Just as a review. I am half-way finished with my chemo treatements. I started on Nov 14th (cycle 1) and I just finished on Jan 1st (cycle 3). I have 3 more cycles to go which come at 3 week (21 day) intervals. This will put me finished with chemo somewhere at the beginning of March. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Cycle 3 - home at last...

2008-01-02T11:33:00.000-06:00

It has been several days since my last post and I know many of you have wanted an update as to my status. My last update was so positive based on my good news of the good test results. I felt so good the first part of my treatment last week based on that news. However, the chemo finally took it's toll on me over the weekend and through yesterday (Jan 2nd). I have had some of the roughest days so far. All my energy has been zapped from my body and also have had much nausea. The Zophran has been working pretty well, but it is still not 100% effective.

I am finally back home now and will hopefully start to feel better, but right now I am staying pretty low. more later...

Re-Staging results...

2007-12-28T10:57:00.001-06:00

We just received the results of my re-staging tests at MD Anderson last week in Houston (Dec 19, 2007). These re-staging tests are used to determine the current state of my cancer and also determine if my current chemo protocol is working.

The bottom line is that by all tests performed, the chemo is working and most of the cancer has been greatly reduced or eliminated all together. Additionally, the cancer has not spread to other parts of my body (bone marrow, spleen, kidney, lungs, brain, liver, and other lymphnodes below my diaphragm).

Obviously, this is great news and I am incredibly blessed by how this is all going. I know it is due to all the support from the doctors, my family and friends who are praying for me daily and sending all the positive thoughts and encouragement. God has been so good to me so far and I am in His hands for the duration.

Have a great New Years and be thankful for all your blessings as I am!

Also, I have added a new video at the bottom of my blog. It is from my current stay here at Harris Methodist Fort Worth.

Take care!!!!

Start of Cycle 3...no rest for the holidays!

2007-12-26T12:14:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas yesterday. It was great to be home and spend time with Daniel and Sandra and my sister's family in Keller. I almost didn't make it home as I was in Houston on Christmas Eve in the hospital!..but they let me out and we drove back to Fort Worth on Christmas Eve! This Christmas had special meaning to me as I sat in the hospital and pondered the possibility of not being home. I realize now what others feel like when their "normal" Christmas experience is disrupted and they face the possibility of not being with family and friends. I thank God that I was allowed the treasure of spending time with my family at Christmas this year.

Today, I have started my first day of cycle 3 chemo treatments. I feel great and am looking forward to getting this cycle going and completed soon. Hospitalization is required for this treatment and I will be in the hospital Thursday- Tuesday (New Year's Day). Mainly this is due to the non-stop nature of this type of chemo. I am still on the "hyper CVAD" protocol for this cycle. Please pray that I would not have any reactions to this round and be able to tollerate the hospital stay.

Take care and I again appreciate all the prayers and encouragement!

Christmas Eve...going home.

2007-12-24T11:17:00.001-06:00

I am being "released" from the hospital (MD Anderson) today! Amazingly, my blood cultures did not show any Bacterial infection throughout the weekend. The doctor does not know why, but thinks that somehow the original blood draw on Tuesday may have pulled some bacteria from my skin and therefore was not in my blood. I think this is such an answer to prayer. Even though I had to stay here in the hospital for 3 days, I do not have an infection in my PICC line which would have delayed my chemo protocol because they would have had to replace it. I praise God for this! We are able to go home for Christmas and I will hopefully be able to start my cycle 3 chemo on Wed this week in Fort Worth.

In the Hospital again...

2007-12-21T12:45:00.000-06:00

Some blood cultures drawn on Tuesday identified a growing bacterial infection in my blood. It is not a serious infection at this point, but my doctor felt it important to get some IV antibiotics going quickly to stop the infection from getting serious. Since I was in Houston for some tests, I was checked into MD Anderson and will most likely be here through Sunday (Dec 23rd).

This all started on Tuesday when I started running a fever of 100.5 - 101. I went to my Dr. in Fort Worth Tuesday afternoon and he ordered some blood tests to be drawn. On Wed morning, we drove to Houston to begin several hours of tests for my restaging. These tests included a PET scan, CT scan, Chest X-Ray and Blood labs. I felt really bad most of the day, but was able to complete all tests succesfull. Then, on Thursday, the Dr. called and indicated my bacterial infection and instructed me to check-in at the MD Anderson Emergency Center. I was checked in and started IV antibiotics that evening.

The doctors do not know the source of the infection and are trying to determine the type and how to treat. They say it takes up to 2 weeks for these to heal and I don't know yet how this will impact my chemo schedule next week. I think they will be delayed.

I will keep everyone posted on any new news. Thanks again for all your prayers and encouragement. I am trying to stay positive. Sandra and Daniel are here with me. Daniel is staying with some good friends (Thurmans) and Sandra is spending most of her time with me in the hospital.

Low WBC

2007-12-15T15:03:00.000-06:00

It has been several days since my last post and several people have been asking me about my status. I must confess that I have not felt like doing anything lately. I have had a cold all week, which really is not that serious, but just makes me feel run-down. Then, on Friday, my white blood cell count dropped to 0.6 (normal is 8-12). This means I am very susceptible to any infection or virus. I am taking daily medicines which are designed to boost the production of WBCs, but it generally takes several days. I am projecting that by Monday I will be back up over 4 which is a safe range. So far, I have not had much of a fever. I DON'T want to have another Thanksgiving late-night emergency run.

Our current schedule is Wed - Fri (Dec. 19-21) this next week we will drive to Houston to run tests to do a "re-staging". This will determine how effective the chemo has been and what stage my cancer is in at this point in time. Based on these results, my chemo protocol might change. We are really praying that the chemo so far has been very effective and that the doctors will provide a positive report on Friday.

We will then return to Fort Worth on Friday (Dec. 21) to get ready for Christmas. I then will start cycle 3 chemo on Wed, Dec. 26th here in Houston. This round will be the same 7 day hospital protocol as cycle 1. This time, I will be doing it in Fort Worth, so it will be easier on the family.

Take care...

Back home after 6 days

2007-12-11T16:12:00.000-06:00

I finally made it home today from 6 days in the hospital. I went in thinking it would only be 3 days. They kept me for observation due to a few blood levels they needed to check. I had several people come to see me over the weekend. Pictured here is my father-in-law, Bob Goldstein (Candy, his wife is taking the picutre) and two of my nephews, Wesley and Sam Holt from Houston. I am relaxing in the wonderful hospital bed.

My big concern now over the next several days is monitoring my drop in White Blood Cells. It will most likely drop to 1.0 (normal range is 8-12). This will remove most of my infection defenses. I should peak (lowest) around Friday or Saturday and then hopefully recover rapidly by Tue or Wed. I will keep you posted.

We will be heading to Houston next Wed-Fri to run tests and meet with my MD Anderson team to restage. These tests will see how the chemo has performed against the cancer. We are praying that it is working very well and that it has also not spread to any other parts of my body.

Thanks again for all the emails and notes with regard to prayer support and encouragement. It truly means the world to me and gives me the strenght and courage to meet each day's challenges (of which there are many). I know that progress is being made and all of you are part of the success I am having. Please know that I appreciate it greatly.

Take care..more later.

A few more days in the Hostpital

2007-12-09T19:00:00.000-06:00

Looks like I have at least one more day here at the hospital. I have finished chemo for this cycle, but they are checking on one blood level (Methotrexate levels) to make sure it is normal before releasing me.

I have felt really, really tired today, so I have tried to rest and sleep most of the day. I am looking forward to going home soon.

I will be a risk of infection this week through Sat or Sun, so I pray I will make it through without any problems.

Cycle 2 - Day 2

2007-12-07T07:08:00.001-06:00

Well, I am back in the hospital again for cycle 2 chemo. I will be here till Sunday Dec. 9th having all kinds of fun with more drugs you can't pronounce, and eating food that I am not sure Duke (my 8 year old Golden) would eat. I am just now checking the internet to see if Rocco's Pizza delivers to Harris Methodist. But, hey on the bright side, you do get all the free cable TV you can handle and I do have some good movies from home I brought to watch.

I still feel good and have not had any side effects from the last 12 hours, so I am hopeful it will continue. The nursing staff is very attentive and are eager to help with any issues that may come up. I praise God for all they do and how they help make this process tolerable.

I wish Bob and Candy Goldstein & family all the best as they celebrate Christmas together here in Fort Worth this weekend. I wish I could be there with you all and plan on it next year!

Take care...

Cycle 2 chemo started today...

2007-12-05T19:54:00.000-06:00

I started Cycle 2 Chemo today in Fort Worth at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. It was an out-patient treatment, so after the 4 hour infusion, I was able to come home.

Tomorrow I will check into the Harris Methodist downtown hospital for the 3 day in-patient treatment. I feel pretty good today and seem to handle the Rituximab drug very well. The next 3 days will be two new drugs which hopefully I can handle well.

I have been able to gaim some weight this week and weighed in at about 140 lbs., which is great. I know I will loose about 3-5 lbs by this weekend because I don't eat well in the hospital. I am spoiled to homecooked meals.

We have been decorating our house this week for Christmas and enjoying being at home. I will say that typically this time of year in years gone by, I have always felt that time really flew by. For some reason this year, time seems to be a bit slower and I have been able to really soak in this time of the year. I have really enjoyed it dispite my health issues, I feel extremely blessed and thankful for all that is going on. I pray you are able to do the same.

Take care...

PS. I appreciate all who have supported Sandra so far in her "marathon project". She starts her official training this Sat (at 7am...that will be fun).

Sandra's Big Challenge

2007-12-02T18:44:00.000-06:00

Have any of you ever heard of "walking" a marathon? I did not know this was possible, but have come to realize it is a common event for many people and is a tremendous accomplishment. Last week, Sandra announced at dinner that she was going to "do a marathon" and raise money for Lymphoma research. I could not believe what she was saying....a marathon?

So, she has decided to take the challenge and train for walking in the Vancouver Marathon on May 4th, 2008. As part of this event, she will be specifically raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Team in Training) for the next 5 months. There is a sidebar link to their website for general information about this organization.

Sandra has never done anything like this before and I am honored to have her try this as a way to support me in my battle against Lymphoma during the same time period. She is very excited about doing this and I will hopefully be able to be finished with my chemo in-time to attend the event and cheer her to the finish line!

Her goal is to raise $4,400 in 5 months for the event. To find out more, you can visit her website which describes the event and also allows you to donate on-line. http://www.active.com/donate/tntntx/sandratanner

Go Sandra Go!...

End of first 17 day cycle

2007-12-01T08:09:00.001-06:00

Friday marked the end of my first 17 day chemo cycle (which started on Nov 14th in Houston). This first round included the initial 7 day hospital infusion, followed by a second 1 day infusion on Day 12, then in-home medications through Day 17 (11/30). I have felt good through out this process and am now preparing for the next cycle which begins Dec 6th in Fort Worth.

As you can see from this recent picture, my hair is starting to come out. I decided to get it cut to hasten the event. I am not sure if I like a hairless Jeff, but I don't have much choice! I will be looking for some good hat choices as my head is already cold from the weather!

In talking to some of you recently, there seems to have been some early confusion on the staging of my cancer. I wanted to make sure everyone understands where that stands. From the initial diagnosis at MD Anderson on Nov. 8th, I have been staged at 2E. This means it is only in my chest region and not below the diaphragm. It had also not spread yet to the bone marrow. None of the other lymphnodes in my body had shown signs of cancer. At the end of my 2nd round of chemo (Dec 19-21) I will get restaged. This restaging will allow the doctors to see the progress of the chemo treatments and if cancer has spread to other areas.

This week I will enjoy time with family and try and "fatten up" a bit. I have lost 10 lbs. the last 4 weeks due to the chemo and change in my eating habits. The holiday cooking should help that along! I continue to be encouraged by all the support and prayers from everyone. I continue to get daily emails from people who have read my blog and are following right along with me in this journey. I pray this process will encourage you wherever you are in your life. I know it has changed me for the better and as I look at life with renewed energy and focus. We all only have a short time on this earth, and we need to make the most of every day! It is a daily thing for me and I look forward to what each day brings.

Take care!

Immune System back up. (WBC 9.4)

2007-11-28T20:06:00.000-06:00

It feels great to be back home again after all the travels to Houston. I am feeling great and am now into Day 15 of my treatment plan. I had an initial lab test today to see where my WBC levels are and they came back in the "normal" range (9.4). This is great news because that means my immune system is up and working to prevent any infections. I have 7 days till my next round of Chemo here in Fort Worth (Dec 6-8), so I will be working towards staying healthy as possible in prep for the next round.

I am getting back to work at SAP for a few days between treatments and am starting to get back to all the fun chores around the house.

I can't tell you what a relief it is to have the ability to do my main treatments here at home. I will still get re-staging and main evaluations at MD Anderson every 6 weeks, but my weekly chemo and blood level evaluations and other prescriptions will all be handled by Dr. Jordan here in Fort Worth.

As many of you know, Sandra and I met in Houston and were married there 16 years ago. Daniel was born in Houston and we eventually moved back to the DFW area in 1999. We still love Houston and it is like a second home to us and every time we visited, it allowed us to connect with old friends and cruise around our old stomping grounds. We tried to get a Star or Barry's Pizza last time, but were unable....maybe next time!

Back home in Fort Worth

2007-11-26T18:12:00.000-06:00

I received my Day 12 chemo treatment in Houston on Sunday, Nov 25th at MD Anderson. This was a quick 30 minute infusion which I seem to not have any side effects from at the present. This drug, Vincristine, is a commonly used chemo drug and one which I took while in the hospital last week with no apparent effects. After my treatment, we crawled in the car for our drive back to Fort Worth. This drive normally takes 4 hours, but on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with all the traffic, it took 6 hrs. Sandra did a great job driving with no issues, but it made us realize how much we needed to get a local Oncologist to allow us to take chemo in Fort Worth.

To that end, we had an early appointment today (Mon 11/26) with a local Oncologist that came highly recommended. Our meeting with him (Dr. William Jordan, The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Fort Worth, TX) went great. He has treated many people with my type of Cancer and also was a fellow at MD Anderson for several years and knows my Dr. at MDA personally. This gives us the ability to take chemo and lab tests all locally, but continue to meet with Dr. Hagemeister at MDA for directing my staging, progress and any major changes in my treatment plan.

I do also have a follow-up MRI scheduled on Thursday to test for any additional inflammation in my brain which showed up on Thanksgiving at the hospital. This is still an outstanding issue that needs to be addressed, but may or may not be related. I should have the results by the end of the week.

My next chemo treatments will be Dec 6-9th in Fort Worth at Harris Methodist Downtown. I will be in the hospital during this time taking the chemo. Most chemos are given out-patient, but my chemos will all be in a hospital due to the fact that my body could have reactions and need to be closely monitored. We will then go to Houston for a re-staging and review with Dr. Hagemeister the week of Dec 17th.

I continue to gain more energy everyday and now that my schedule is now focused on treatments in Fort Worth, we will be less stressed about organizing our house and Daniel and pets while we are in Houston. This whole process continues to amaze me how things keep working out for us and I know that it is because of so many of you praying for us. Thanks for your support and encouragement on a daily basis.

Curve Balls on Turkey-day

2007-11-23T16:43:00.000-06:00

I trust everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Although we have had lots going on, we had a thankful day on Thursday with good thanksgiving food. I had a very good morning, feeling better than the day before and my overall energy is getting better everyday. Although I have been feeling good, I have been monitoring my temp as the dr. was very specific that if my temp reached 101, I should head the emergency room because my body cannot fight the infections. So, I was checking it pretty close and finally around 5:30pm, it reached 101. I could not believe it. We did not want to go to the emergency room, but felt that since this is our first round we should not take any chances.

So, here we were, 6pm Thanksgiving night, heading to the emergency room near our home in Fort Worth. When we arrived, the quickly accepted us and took my vitals. As "murphy's law" would have it, they recorded my temp at only 99.5 (more on that later). However, they still wanted to run some tests, one of which was a scan of my head as I had been complaining about sever headaches both Wed and Thur (although Thurs was much less sever). I had assumed all along that this was a result of chemo.

We sat in the exam room for several hours as they ran several tests and about 9pm the Dr. returned to tell us my head scan revealed some strange results. My frontal lobe had some inflammation which was not normal and they recommended I get an MRI to verify what the issue was. The rub on this suggestion was they wanted to admit me into the hospital overnight so they could get it done first thing in the morning (Friday). We protested this suggestion but felt we should go ahead and get it done just to make sure.

During this time I just could not believe this was happening as this was yet another thing we might potentially deal with. It was 10:45pm before they could get us into a room at Harris Southwest and 11pm before we were settled. We did not have any time to call people and let them know what was going on because it was so late and we really wanted the MRI results before we really moved forward.

The next day (Friday), I had my MRI and by 12pm the doctor was giving us the results. The MRI did not show any additional tumor or anything life threatening at this point. Praise God! He did say this inflammation could have been a result of my chemo the few days before, but to make sure, they will monitor and I should have a follow-up MRI in about 5 days. We were then allowed to exit the hospital and be on our way.

This has been an amazing 24 hours. We left the hospital around 2pm and proceeded to go home and pack our bags for Houston. We are currently in-route to Houston for my appts Sat & Sun and should be returning early afternoon on Sunday.

As a side note, we discovered our Thermometers at home are inaccurate. They were registering at least 1.5 degrees too high. As it turns out, I did not have a high fever (which is 101) on Thursday, and really did not have to go to the ER. I now have an accurate understanding of the temps on my thermometers, so we will be better prepared next time. I still believe all things happen for a reason and God had a reason for me to do this little test at the ER and the MRI (still figuring that one out). I am continuing to stay positive that I am going to recover from this and it is just the process that I have to take one day at a time.

Take care....

(go Aggies on Friday)...

Home

2007-11-21T13:58:00.000-06:00

We finally made it home last night around 9pm. Lots of holiday travellers but it worked out fine.

Today I am not feeling so well. All the chemo drugs are taking a toll on my body and making me feel really tired and run down. I actually felt way better in the hospital all week! I can't figure that out.

Talk to you later...

Day 6 & 7 - Going Home.

2007-11-20T07:25:00.000-06:00

Day 6 (Monday) was another good day of chemo (no real side effects noticed except headaches). I am still taking the last (slow) bag of chemo from yesterday. It should finish up today by 2pm and then Sandra and I will drive back to Fort Worth. This is still somewhat "up in the air" as I can't leave until this last bag is finished and it is on a very slow drip.

Although we get to go home today, we have to come back again this Friday (day after Thanksgiving) for 3 days. I have lab work on Friday, then on Sunday I have to take one bag of chemo. This will not be in the hospital, so I will do this in an out-patient infussion room. Once we are finished, we will drive back to Fort Worth on Sunday. The next cycle will begin Dec 6th back in Houston.

This first round of chemo has been a great learning experience and would hope future rounds to be the same. The next round on Dec 6th will be different drugs, so I still have that test ahead with regard to side-effects.

I will continue to keep this blog up-to-date with information regarding my progress and thoughts on my situation. I have enjoyed and continue to welcome all your comments and support and ideas for my recovery. Many of you have shared stories of friends you know who have beaten this and it has been a great encouragement to me. It continues to amazes me how much cancer has effected so many people and what effect it has had on their lives.

Take care!

Sunday - Chemo Day 5

2007-11-19T06:59:00.001-06:00

Sunday was the 5th day of straight chemo during this round. I have started a new drug called Adriamycin (Doxorubicin). It is givin in a 24 hour drip twice in a row. That means it will last Days 5 & 6. It has a distintive "orange" color, which is weird because all the other drugs are clear. I have not had any side effects from this so far. One of the main problems with this drug is that it can decrease your heart function, so they monitor my heart and blood pressure often. Before you can even do this chemo drug, they do a cardiac heart test to see how strong your heart is. I did this test last week and my heart checked out strong and able to handle this treatment.

The other big even on Sunday was Sandra passed the "CVC dressing change" test for my PICC line. Way to go Sandra! She had to take 2 classes to learn how to change the dressing weekly while we are home. It is a very detailed process which is designed to prevent any possible infection throughout the 6 months. I think Sandra may be deciding on a new nursing career! (what do you think?)

My only other physical issue right now is just that I am really tired. I don't think it is from the chemo, but rather from the lack of sleep in the hospital. Seems ironic...you are suppose to get rest in a hospital...but it does not happen! I don't think I have had more than about 5 hours per night of sleep since last Wed. The nurses all say this is pretty normal. Once I get home, I can get back to a normal sleep routine and catch up. We are still anticipating leaving for home on Tuesday late afternoon.

I am looking forward to getting home and seeing Daniel. My mom has been staying with Daniel (in Fort Worth) while we are away so he can stay in school which has been great. We have had such great support from here and also the Scott and Jana Clark family (lives next door) who also attend Daniel's school (Covenant Classical School) and have supported us so much the past several weeks. Thanks!

This Sunday was yet another Sunday away from my normal routine. We have not been to our church in Fort Worth now for over 4 weeks. We have had such great support from them through this so far and I miss worshiping with them and look forward to getting back. One of the verses that has been on my mind a lot during this process has been Philipians 4:4-7 .

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace about everything is what I tend to misplace in all this. There is so much out of my control in this process that I have a tendency to get anxious about everything. I want to organize and prioritize and schedule and plan out all the risks ("risk" is something I talk to customers all the time about in my job...), and sometimes, all that is not possible. You have to learn to take one day at a time and deal with what comes. The main thing I have been worrying about is the risk of infection that comes with this chemo. Usually on days 7-10 after chemo my immune system is very weak and I have basically no defenses to fight any infections. I am learning to take to heart Phil 4:4-7 in dealing with this anxiety.

I know this is a long blog entry...but I can't miss putting in a prop for the Cowboys game Sunday (Dallas 28, Washington 23). It was a wild game and one that Dallas could have lost as Washington was playing well in the end. I will enjoy watching the game on Thanksgiving from home!

Take care friends! Thanks for tuning in and spending a few mintues of your day with me.

Saturday evening

2007-11-17T19:29:00.000-06:00

I have had a "marginal" day today. Somewhat more tired and run down. They say this is normal as this is my 5th (out of 6) infussion of the same cytoxin. I will finish the final 6th one for this drug at 9:30pm tonight. Then I have two more new drugs over Sunday and Monday.

I continue to be amazed at how these drugs work. There seems to be something for every aspect of this process. Modern medicine has become so specialized and they can regulate everything about your body: blatter, kidneys, nausea, headaches, stomach aches, muscle aches, etc...I think I've had them all today. These nurses here have seen it all. They keep asking me questions about how I feel and there response is always...."ok, we have something for that". They come in 10 minutes later with a pill or an IV bag and hook me up. I always feel better soon after. I do worry about taking all these medicines, but they assure me that it will all work out and they do not hurt my body in situations like this. I am learning about "trust" and patience in these situations.

I also watched some college football today and am currently watching my Texas Tech Red Raiders play Oklahoma (current score OU 7, TTU 3). It will be a good game. Did anyone see the Texas Tech player introductions at the beginning of the game? Apparently, this very famous person is a good friend of Mike Leach (TTU head coach). ... Donald Trump! He gave the offense and defense starting line-ups...Leach and Trump...interesting mix!

Friday Morning

2007-11-16T11:40:00.000-06:00

This morning has been great. I got at least 6 hours of sleep last night which is good because they come in at 4pm to check your vitals and draw labs. I have already had my 3rd Cytoxin chemo started today and it is going well. I will have another at 9pm tonight. This process will last through tomorrow and then another round of another drug will start. I saw the doctor this morning and said all my labs look great and they are expecting me to be released on Tuesday.

I have talked with several nurses here who all treat Lymphoma patients and they all say how fortunate I am to have found this in Stage 2. Many people who develope Lymphoma don't see symptoms until the later stages. By the fact that I developed a cold and also had SVC Syndrom (which is swelling of the neck and head veins due to Lymphnodes welling) this caused me to go to the doctor to get checked. My Dr. ran some tests immediately and as a result felt I had a good chance of Lymphoma. In many other cases I have heard, people with swollen lymphnodes are often mis-diagnosed with just allergies or viruses and given antibiotics which only masks the problems which can delay the right diagnosis of Lymphoma. The CT Scan will show swollen nodes then a biopsy is the only way to tell if the Lymphnodes have cancer cells.

I encourage everyone to learn from this and to check for any swelling in their Lymphnodes and have them checked by the doctor. Your Lymph system is all over your body and it's primary function is to fight infection. Your nodes are where the infection is pulled into and destroyed. These nodes are primarily located in your neck, chest, arm pits, ankles, groin and stomach areas.

That all for now.

I added a cool Video update to at the bottom so check it out...

MD Anderson

2007-11-15T13:55:00.000-06:00

I know some of you have asked about where I am while in Houston. The MD Anderson Cancer Center has an entire hospital floor where all the Lymphoma patients stay for in-patient chemo treatments. Apparently, there are lots of people with this type of cancer to have their own floor (9th floor)!

Sandra is staying at the Residence Inn on Westpark & Kirby.

My first day of chemo was Wed (11/14). I took Rituximab from 8:30pm - 12:30am. I was able to complete this cycle without any side effects. Yea! I was able to sleep about 4 hours after that and was done with a long day.

Today, I am taking a chemo drug called Cytoxin. I will take 6 units of this over 3 days. We are watching this closely as it can also have side effects. However, my first round Thursday morning was again side-effect free! The nurses are encouraged with how my body is handling the treatements so far.

Sandra is taking a class to learn how to care for my "PICC" line which they setup in my arm to take the chemo. This PICC line is much easier to use than a normal IV. It was pretty easy to setup and can be taken out when my chemo treatments are over in 6 months. I can do normal activities with this as well, so it should not interfere with my golf swing.

Starting Chemo...

2007-11-15T07:27:00.000-06:00

Welcome!

I plan on using this forum for keeping friends and family updated with information regarding how my life is going during my cancer treatments.

I am a novice at blogging, so it may take me a while to get use to this, but I think it will work better than sending emails to everyone. You can "subscribe" to this blog and it will send you an email with any new entries. You can also post your own comments here when you want to respond to a blog entry.

I appreciate everyone's prayers and support over the last 3 weeks as I have certainly felt your support every step of the way.