Happy Birthday

YWABMLG

What a day

I was in the OR by 7:30. They placed a stent in the ureter between my left kidney and the bladder.  There was defenitly blockage. The stent will remain in for 3 months. I also got a foley. It will remain in for 48 hours. That should cut down on my nightly trips for a couple of days.

I also had a chest xray, an echo-cardiogram and yes, a bone marrow biopsy.

Treatment plans have changed. The team sees no evidence of this being aggressive, but agrees the treatment should be: R-CHOP (look it up) Stronger side effects, only 1 day treatment every 3 weeks for 6 cycles.

Tomorrow, back to the OR for a dual port, then hopefully a treatment.

More

The last time I was hospitalized was in the mid 1960's.  I'd like to wait another 50 years before the next.
They removed 2 liters of fluid from around my left lung. It's off to pathology. I feel like a new person. Maybe I WILL golf in the Hornet Open on Monday.
They also did a sonogram on my testicles (and found no problems) and took another chest xray. I'll be getting another CT scan soon.   An electro cardiogram is also in my near future. They will also scope my left kidney since it is being compromised by the tumor. For that reason they'll likely keep me through the end of next week so they can monitor my kidney output during the first chemo treatment since that is how the dead cancer cells will leave the body.

Long Day

I had the PET scan today. Showed two things. First, the amount of fluid around my left lung has increased. Because of this, I've been admitted. I had to go through the ER to get admitted. A Chicago ER is nothing like I've ever seen. The second thing found are some "hot spots" in several lymph nodes and in the bone. The lack of "brightness" in these spots suggests they are low grade NHL. Treatment plan not changed.

The short term plan is:
Have the fluid drained tomorrow.
Be observed Sunday.
Bone marrow biopsy Monday.
Hoping to start the first two day treatment on Monday or Tuesday.
Out of the hospital and home after that.

We're all a little scared but hope your prayers will lift us up.

NMH is confirming the diagnosis of a low grade Follicular NHL.  We've scheduled a couple more tests to rule out other surprises: a PET scan and a bone marrow biopsy.  Once the PET scan is done they can hopefully get me started on a steroid with the hopes of shrinking the tumor that is compromising my left lung.  I'm still impressed with the attention I'm getting from Dr. Ma and Andrea.

Happy 4th

Uncle Sam rides again.  20 years and counting.

Golf

I've been asked several times about my golf game. When I first met with my local oncologist a couple of weeks ago, he told me to stop playing. He said the torque would be risky. He said I could chip and putt, though. That was great news since I couldn't chip and putt before. I asked the oncologist yesterday. She said I could golf as long as it didn't hurt. Obviously she has never seen me golf.