My blood counts today were good. They were low, as expected, but high enough that once again I did NOT need a blood transfusion. This is great because it means my bone marrow continues to respond even though its been through three rounds of R-ICE. It also sets me up for a really good harvest next week, which is terrific.
Tomorrow's a big day because Mom, Dad and I are going down to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to confer with the blood bank, as required by law in fact, and then get my neupogen for this weekend's injections(Honi has to do those. She's very excited, its make up time for the years of infertility injections I had to perform on her. I'm kinda frightened.) and finally visit the facility where I will be staying next month. I'm a little nervous because going there and seeing it makes it all the more real.
Somehow, I've been able to keep things at an arms distance, in terms of actually having to go through the transplant, but tomorrow that all comes crashing to a halt. I'll be fine, but its still nerve wracking.
Big thunderstorms tonight missed us, but made for an interesting evening. Talk to ya tomorrow.
T
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday
Don't know why that struck me, but Sunday seemed to sum it up. It has been a tough weekend, this round of R-ICE was quite a bit harder on my system than the previous two. Probably because my system never fully recovered from either of the previous. They do that on purpose, so that each round takes my blood counts a little lower. It sucks spending all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning with such horrible nausea, even plain old water doesn't taste good. Ugh. At least I'm feeling better this afternoon, still a bit of a stomach ache, but not like it was.
Big week this week as things begin in earnest for the stem cell transplant. I have blood tests and doctors appointments tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday. They are making sure my blood cell counts are low without being so low that my major organs become oxygen deprived. They are also doing a bunch of tests to make sure my system is producing new stem cells, and beginning Friday, they will be giving me massive doses of Neupogen to jack my stem cell production as high as they can get it.
The more stem cells they can get my body to produce now, the less room there is for them inside my bone marrow, and so they detach and flow freely in my blood stream. With a high enough concentration of them in my blood stream, the doctors can use a centrifuge to harvest the cells for use in my transplant, without having to invade my bone marrow to get at them. Basically, this is why what used to be called a Bone Marrow Transplant, is now called a Stem Cell Transplant, because they no longer have to invade the marrow.
Also, Tuesday, we're going to visit the blood bank at Northwestern Hospital and tour the facility where I will be staying while in isolation. I'm not looking forward to going into the hospital, but have resigned myself to the fact that for the long term, this is simply the best solution at this time. I struggle to imagine being in a hospital room with limited visitors for a month, but I'll get through it ok. I've been working on putting some things together to give me stuff to do on my computer and hooking up a webcam so I can see my little pumpkin, Hope.
I found out I will be going into the transplant unit on Tuesday, August 26th. I spoke to my doctor Friday and I will be able to attend some of the Leukemia Cup Regatta the weekend before that, I'm so very excited about that. We work so hard each year to fundraise and put on a great party, it was going to be tough to miss this year's event. Now, at least I get to go for part of Friday night. I have been named the Honorary Sailor for the event, and have been asked to speak briefly to the audience, although I'm not sure what remarks I'm going to make yet.
For more about the Leukemia Cup Regatta, click the picture to the right or log on to www.sailtravis.com or http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/regatta/all_page?item_id=188790. Thank you for your support, its through the efforts of research organizations like the LLS, that I have any hope of beating this cancer once and for all. If you are interested in attending any of the Leukemia Cup Event, simply log on to www.columbiayachtclub.com and click on the Leukemia Cup link for more information or to contact the club and make reservations.
Big week this week as things begin in earnest for the stem cell transplant. I have blood tests and doctors appointments tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday. They are making sure my blood cell counts are low without being so low that my major organs become oxygen deprived. They are also doing a bunch of tests to make sure my system is producing new stem cells, and beginning Friday, they will be giving me massive doses of Neupogen to jack my stem cell production as high as they can get it.
The more stem cells they can get my body to produce now, the less room there is for them inside my bone marrow, and so they detach and flow freely in my blood stream. With a high enough concentration of them in my blood stream, the doctors can use a centrifuge to harvest the cells for use in my transplant, without having to invade my bone marrow to get at them. Basically, this is why what used to be called a Bone Marrow Transplant, is now called a Stem Cell Transplant, because they no longer have to invade the marrow.
Also, Tuesday, we're going to visit the blood bank at Northwestern Hospital and tour the facility where I will be staying while in isolation. I'm not looking forward to going into the hospital, but have resigned myself to the fact that for the long term, this is simply the best solution at this time. I struggle to imagine being in a hospital room with limited visitors for a month, but I'll get through it ok. I've been working on putting some things together to give me stuff to do on my computer and hooking up a webcam so I can see my little pumpkin, Hope.
I found out I will be going into the transplant unit on Tuesday, August 26th. I spoke to my doctor Friday and I will be able to attend some of the Leukemia Cup Regatta the weekend before that, I'm so very excited about that. We work so hard each year to fundraise and put on a great party, it was going to be tough to miss this year's event. Now, at least I get to go for part of Friday night. I have been named the Honorary Sailor for the event, and have been asked to speak briefly to the audience, although I'm not sure what remarks I'm going to make yet.
For more about the Leukemia Cup Regatta, click the picture to the right or log on to www.sailtravis.com or http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/regatta/all_page?item_id=188790. Thank you for your support, its through the efforts of research organizations like the LLS, that I have any hope of beating this cancer once and for all. If you are interested in attending any of the Leukemia Cup Event, simply log on to www.columbiayachtclub.com and click on the Leukemia Cup link for more information or to contact the club and make reservations.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Round 3 Chemo
THANK GOD that's over. What a long, greuling night of nausea, sweating, vomiting and pain. Just miserable, yuck. But, I made it, I'm home and round 3 of R-ICE chemotherapy is over, except for the Neulasta shot tomorrow morning, but that's no biggie.
This round is important because its the mobilization round. It stimulates my bone marrow to produce massive amounts of blood cells and stem cells, which they can then capture from my blood stream and use in my transfusion. By using my clean stem cell, called an autologus stem cell transfer, the fatality risk falls considerably. Autologus transplant carry a 2% mortality rate while donor, allogenic, transplants still carry a 25-30% mortality rate. So even though my brother's a perfect match, it not worth the risk at this point. Better to get 15 years out of a self-transfer and let technology/medicine decrease the donor risk profile before going that route.
This round of chemo was very tough. I think its because I am so run down from the previous two rounds. But I held up pretty well, and my doctor thinks things are going terrific.
Hope is doing GREAT!!! She can sit up, and she's practicing her different laughs. She's a very happy baby, from when she wakes up early in the morning until we put her gently to bed. Generally, she's only fussy when something's wrong, otherwise its laugh and play all day. Its wonderful. It is also great energy for me to be around, although I feel really guilty alot because the fatigue from the chemo limits how long I can keep up with her. I can play about 30-45 minutes on the floor, but I can only hold her about 15 before I tire out. However, I get in as much Daddy time as I can, and she loves it.
More later, I'm whipped and going back to bed.
Love,
Trav
This round is important because its the mobilization round. It stimulates my bone marrow to produce massive amounts of blood cells and stem cells, which they can then capture from my blood stream and use in my transfusion. By using my clean stem cell, called an autologus stem cell transfer, the fatality risk falls considerably. Autologus transplant carry a 2% mortality rate while donor, allogenic, transplants still carry a 25-30% mortality rate. So even though my brother's a perfect match, it not worth the risk at this point. Better to get 15 years out of a self-transfer and let technology/medicine decrease the donor risk profile before going that route.
This round of chemo was very tough. I think its because I am so run down from the previous two rounds. But I held up pretty well, and my doctor thinks things are going terrific.
Hope is doing GREAT!!! She can sit up, and she's practicing her different laughs. She's a very happy baby, from when she wakes up early in the morning until we put her gently to bed. Generally, she's only fussy when something's wrong, otherwise its laugh and play all day. Its wonderful. It is also great energy for me to be around, although I feel really guilty alot because the fatigue from the chemo limits how long I can keep up with her. I can play about 30-45 minutes on the floor, but I can only hold her about 15 before I tire out. However, I get in as much Daddy time as I can, and she loves it.
More later, I'm whipped and going back to bed.
Love,
Trav
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Chemotherapy
My friend Tracy asked what my chemotherapy treatment entailed and I wrote her back. I then thought it might be something worth posting so you could have a feel for what R-ICE chemotherapy is like....
My chemotherapy, right now at least, is given by peripheral IV(meaning IV in my arm). It’s a four day treatment. On the first day, I am given steroids, anti-nausea drugs, ativan(relaxant), benadryl and an anti-vomiting drug(these are all pills). Then I wait a little bit, then they give me a 1 hour IV of drug called Etopocide, which specifically targets and kills young cells in my bone marrow. After that hour, they give me a 4 hour IV of a monoclonal antibody called Rituxan. Rituxan attaches itself to cancerous white blood cells and has an affinity for the chemotherapy agents administred on the second and third day. It acts to target the cells for destruction. After all this, (it takes about 5-6 hours), I go home and rest.
On the second day, I am admitted to the hospital and given the same premedications as the first day. Then they give me another 1 hour round of Etopocide. Then, I’m given a 1 hour round of Carboplat, which is a platinum based chemotherapy drug that kills blood cells throughout my body. Finally, they hook me up to a giant bag of fluid and begin administering the Ifosfomide. This is the granddaddy of bad dudes. Its so caustic, they have to mix it to a very thin solution, and administer it over 24 hours. Also, while they administer it, I am given IV fluids and electrolytes. Additionally, they make me drink as much fluid as I can stand. Without all the extra fluid, my bladder and kidneys would be burned so badly I would go into renal failure, and that’s not good.
Needless to say, I pee A LOT. And they capture all of it and test it to see if there’s any damage occurring to my kidneys or bladder. After the 24 hour drip is done, for good measure, they give me another 1 hour round of Etopocide and send me home to whimper in my own bed. The next day, I return for a Neulasta shot. Neulasta is a drug that stimulates my bone marrow to produce more blood cells and platelets.
My blood counts fall to 1/3 of their normal levels shortly after I leave the hospital. This causes all kinds of issues, like being dizzy, having no strength or stamina, and potentially can cause severe oxygen depletion in my major organs should I do too much(which thankfully I haven’t had). I will return to the hospital Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week to have my blood tested. If my counts are too low, they will give me blood transfusions to help keep oxygen levels in my body high enough. Fortunately, through two rounds of this treatment, I have not had ANY transfusions. My doctor cannot believe it. Nor can he believe that my blood cell counts returned to normal after 8 days following the second round of treatment. I am the only patient he’s ever had who did that.
Pretty amazing really. I can’t believe how lucky I am. I also cannot imagine how tough this must be for people who don’t bounce back so well. My heart goes out to them. I feel like crap, and I handle it pretty well.
Anyway, sorry this is so long, hope it helps. I’ve got to run. I have a date with an Etopocide IV.
My chemotherapy, right now at least, is given by peripheral IV(meaning IV in my arm). It’s a four day treatment. On the first day, I am given steroids, anti-nausea drugs, ativan(relaxant), benadryl and an anti-vomiting drug(these are all pills). Then I wait a little bit, then they give me a 1 hour IV of drug called Etopocide, which specifically targets and kills young cells in my bone marrow. After that hour, they give me a 4 hour IV of a monoclonal antibody called Rituxan. Rituxan attaches itself to cancerous white blood cells and has an affinity for the chemotherapy agents administred on the second and third day. It acts to target the cells for destruction. After all this, (it takes about 5-6 hours), I go home and rest.
On the second day, I am admitted to the hospital and given the same premedications as the first day. Then they give me another 1 hour round of Etopocide. Then, I’m given a 1 hour round of Carboplat, which is a platinum based chemotherapy drug that kills blood cells throughout my body. Finally, they hook me up to a giant bag of fluid and begin administering the Ifosfomide. This is the granddaddy of bad dudes. Its so caustic, they have to mix it to a very thin solution, and administer it over 24 hours. Also, while they administer it, I am given IV fluids and electrolytes. Additionally, they make me drink as much fluid as I can stand. Without all the extra fluid, my bladder and kidneys would be burned so badly I would go into renal failure, and that’s not good.
Needless to say, I pee A LOT. And they capture all of it and test it to see if there’s any damage occurring to my kidneys or bladder. After the 24 hour drip is done, for good measure, they give me another 1 hour round of Etopocide and send me home to whimper in my own bed. The next day, I return for a Neulasta shot. Neulasta is a drug that stimulates my bone marrow to produce more blood cells and platelets.
My blood counts fall to 1/3 of their normal levels shortly after I leave the hospital. This causes all kinds of issues, like being dizzy, having no strength or stamina, and potentially can cause severe oxygen depletion in my major organs should I do too much(which thankfully I haven’t had). I will return to the hospital Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week to have my blood tested. If my counts are too low, they will give me blood transfusions to help keep oxygen levels in my body high enough. Fortunately, through two rounds of this treatment, I have not had ANY transfusions. My doctor cannot believe it. Nor can he believe that my blood cell counts returned to normal after 8 days following the second round of treatment. I am the only patient he’s ever had who did that.
Pretty amazing really. I can’t believe how lucky I am. I also cannot imagine how tough this must be for people who don’t bounce back so well. My heart goes out to them. I feel like crap, and I handle it pretty well.
Anyway, sorry this is so long, hope it helps. I’ve got to run. I have a date with an Etopocide IV.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Great News
I got my PET scan results back and the tumors are gone! There's no presence of the cancer they can see on the PET scan. WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a relief, it would have been very difficult to go through two rounds of that chemotherapy and have it not work.
My other tests all came back great also. My echocardiogram, EKG, chest x-ray and blood work show that my body is holding up extremely well. There's been very little damage to my internal organs. This is great because it means they can give me the full on dose of chemo to kill my bone marrow in the transplant. That's a good thing according to my doctor.
There's something about them killing all of my bone marrow that makes me a little uneasy. I don't want to think about how much that's gonna hurt. Woof, not fun.
This changes nothing in terms of another round of chemo nor the stem cell transplant. I begin my next round of R-ICE chemotherapy tomorrow morning bright and early. Four more days, then I'm done with R-ICE chemotherapy, at least for now. Rock on, almost done.
Then, the stem cell harvest process begins on August 9th with Neupogen shots. They overdose me on the drug because it stimulates cells production in my bone marrow, and that how they get enough stem cells into my blood to harvest it with apherisis. A week of that, then 10 days to recover and I go into isolation for a month beginning 8/26.
One day at a time, that's how I keep it going. Its hard, but its what I have to do to beat this shitty disease and have any hope of spending a wonderful life with Honore and Hope. I read the other day that Randy Pascal(sp?), the Last Lecture author died. Its real, this shit kills. Cancer is deadly and you do not want to fuck with it.
I hope research finally finds a cure. We'll see. It's a beautiful day here, and I"m going to go enjoy it while I still feel good.
Love,
T
My other tests all came back great also. My echocardiogram, EKG, chest x-ray and blood work show that my body is holding up extremely well. There's been very little damage to my internal organs. This is great because it means they can give me the full on dose of chemo to kill my bone marrow in the transplant. That's a good thing according to my doctor.
There's something about them killing all of my bone marrow that makes me a little uneasy. I don't want to think about how much that's gonna hurt. Woof, not fun.
This changes nothing in terms of another round of chemo nor the stem cell transplant. I begin my next round of R-ICE chemotherapy tomorrow morning bright and early. Four more days, then I'm done with R-ICE chemotherapy, at least for now. Rock on, almost done.
Then, the stem cell harvest process begins on August 9th with Neupogen shots. They overdose me on the drug because it stimulates cells production in my bone marrow, and that how they get enough stem cells into my blood to harvest it with apherisis. A week of that, then 10 days to recover and I go into isolation for a month beginning 8/26.
One day at a time, that's how I keep it going. Its hard, but its what I have to do to beat this shitty disease and have any hope of spending a wonderful life with Honore and Hope. I read the other day that Randy Pascal(sp?), the Last Lecture author died. Its real, this shit kills. Cancer is deadly and you do not want to fuck with it.
I hope research finally finds a cure. We'll see. It's a beautiful day here, and I"m going to go enjoy it while I still feel good.
Love,
T
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