Who dun it

It's been just over a week since Dad's funeral.  At last count, there are 4 of us that are sick with cold/flu/infection.  Needless to say, there's a lot of finger pointing going on.

With all of the "anti" medication I'm on, the finger can't be pointed at me and hopefully I don't become a statistic.  Keep your germed  fingers to yourselves!

Update:
5 and counting.

Milestone

For the first time since May 29 I golfed 9 holes at Eureka.  It was just me and the geese.  There were no animals harmed during this endeavor.

Normal

All of my blood work came back normal today.

Date Night

Caroline went with me for my first maintenance treatment.  We took Amtrak, had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory , and supper at Giordano's.  We also did the Northwestern thing.

I had blood work done.  Everything looks good except I'm neutropenic, again.  I was given a Neulasta shot which will increase the the production of white blood cells.

We met with Dr. Ma and she brought pictures!  We looked at the images from my July PET scan and compared them to December's.  It really hit home the world of hurt I was in back in July and the progress made since then.  For the PET scan I'm injected with some radioactive glucose.  Then the scan.  The images gathered show where the "uptake" of the radioactive glucose is taking place.  The brain, heart, kidneys, and bladder glow naturally from the uptake.  Anything else that glows would be from the uptake of the cancer cells.  Needless to say there was a lot of glowing from my July images.  My upper sternum, left scapula, three left ribs, and parts of my pelvis were lit up.  Then there was my left kidney.  It was more than twice its size because of the tumor surrounding it.  The scan also showed the left lung at half its capacity/size because of the pleural effusion.  The December images were much, much different.  There was a dull glow from a very small area on my pelvis.  That was it!  Both kidneys were visible and equal in size.  Both lungs were the same size.  These results were the results that were hoped for from day one.

We also met with Andrea a couple of different times.  She reassured us that the December scan was the Christmas present we prayed for.  We also discussed a plan to have my port removed in a couple of months.

I had the first of my Rituxan treatment.  I will have this done every two months for two years.  This is suppose to keep me in remission longer.  I could have this done locally, but will likely continue to go to Northwestern.  They act like they know what they're doing.

I also had a dopplar done on both legs.  There were no clots in the right leg.  There were three in the left leg.  One above the knee, one behind it, and one below it.  All three were old and are consistent with the dopplar I had done in January.  It is likely these were a result of the tumor compressing a vein in my abdomen that was slowing down the venous return on my lower, left side.  I will continue to take Xeralto and repeat the dopplar in a couple of months.

Thank God for the answered prayers and ask for a long, healthy remission.

More details from PET Scan

Andrea was kind enough to call and explain in great detail the results of the PET Scan and future visits.  My original diagnosis in July was Stage 4, Grade 1, B Cell, Follicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Yesterday's scan showed that I'm in remission.  That's a HUGE, HUGE step!

The PET Scan showed the following:

• The once football sized tumor (in my retro-peritoneal space) is now smaller than a penny.  Just as important is the scan showed "no significant hyper-metabolic activity"; meaning no cancer activity.
• The pleural effusion is still there, but "markedly decreased" and, again, no significant hyper-metabolic activity.  The measuring stick I use was the ability to carry my golf clubs up the hill during last week's warm weather without any shortness of breath.
•  The report stated the "previously noted extensive hyper-metabolic skeletal lesions involving the proximal humeri, scapulae, sternum, ribs, thoracic spine, pelvis and proximal left femur have nearly completely resolved."

Beginning January 5, I will be getting immuno-therapy every two months at Northwestern.  The goal is the immuno-therapy will, at the very least, keep these "hot spots"  from increasing in size and numbers.  Ideally we'll see these "hot spots" disappear.

I will continue several of the medications to protect me from infections.  A result of the chemo was the break down of my T Cells.  Until this is resolved, I still need to protect myself from infection.

reMISSION ACCOMPLISHED

As I was boarding the train home,  Dr. Ma called to let me know the PET scan showed the "positive results we were hoping for". I am in remission. It was difficult to talk, so I will call back tomorrow and share more details once I know.
Praise God and pray for a long remission.

No Shave November finally coming to an end

Here's my report from No Shave November:

• I wasn't a handsome man to begin with, then I lost my hair from chemo and it got worse.  If I wasn't ugly enough, I decided to take part in No Shave November for the first (and last) time.  Ugly just keeps getting uglier.
• Caroline kind of liked the mustache and goatee.  She's being kind calling them a mustache and goatee.
• Melissa didn't care how I looked since she lives 120 miles away.
• Claire was embarrassed to be seen in public with me.  She called me her chia pet. 

The purpose of No Shave November is to raise awareness and money for cancer.  I'll make my donation, shave, and bring on December.

As far as the hair on top of my head, there's something there.  I'm not sure I can call what's on my face whiskers nor can I call what's on my head hair.  I'm guessing I won't reach my goal of sporting a Man-Bun by Christmas.