The bad news first, I seem to have a sore throat today. I was fine yesterday but last night it started to bother me and this morning it is much worse. I had my usual GP appointment scheduled for today and went to see them about the throat and CT results. We did a throat swab and sent me in for a bit of blood work just to ere on the side of caution; I'll post those once I get them. So not really bad news but not good either, I am at home resting and drinking lots of fluids today.
The great news! The results from the CT scan shows that all of my impacted node groups are back to normal or very near normal size and my spleen is much less bulky but still slightly enlarged. There is a single node in my lower left lung that has actually gotten a bit larger, my GP did not know how to interpret this and said the oncologist would be the one to explain.
So everything has gotten MUCH better except for one rogue node, great news!
Thursday 28 February 2013
Monday 25 February 2013
Later in Cycle 4
The past few days have gone well with no issues. I did a short bike ride, went to support Lori as she met her goals at the Hatley 8K this weekend and did a bit more staining and painting around the house. Baseboards come this week so I should be able to have at least one room completely finished by the end of the weekend!
CT scan is tomorrow afternoon and I will hopefully have the results of that for the weekend as well, very much looking forward to some evidence based results of the treatments. The scan will let us know what if any impact the treatments have had on the lymphoma; we suspect that it will be very positive because all of the surface nodes have been reduced to normal, my spleen has also retreated to its normal size and my energy levels are back to my normal pre-cancer levels which means I am ready to swim, bike and run again. I'll wait to see the results of the scan and the end of the treatments before I start to push myself...
I'll share the results once I have them.
CT scan is tomorrow afternoon and I will hopefully have the results of that for the weekend as well, very much looking forward to some evidence based results of the treatments. The scan will let us know what if any impact the treatments have had on the lymphoma; we suspect that it will be very positive because all of the surface nodes have been reduced to normal, my spleen has also retreated to its normal size and my energy levels are back to my normal pre-cancer levels which means I am ready to swim, bike and run again. I'll wait to see the results of the scan and the end of the treatments before I start to push myself...
I'll share the results once I have them.
Thursday 21 February 2013
Cycle 4 Day 7
The past few days have been pretty good! I have felt well and actually have been able to focus mentally on things... so the down-side of the steroids was better this cycle than previous ones. The next week is my low immunity week so I will work pretty much from home every day and avoid crowds of people; sounds like a good weekend for stuff around the house.
I have not been on the bike for about a week or so, I'll give that a whirl tomorrow and see how it feels. I just have not felt like riding lately but do now.
This cycle seems to have treated me fairly well and I only have two left!
My CT scan is booked for next week and that will provide evidence of the effectiveness of the treatments; I will post the summary of the report once I get it.
Later.
I have not been on the bike for about a week or so, I'll give that a whirl tomorrow and see how it feels. I just have not felt like riding lately but do now.
This cycle seems to have treated me fairly well and I only have two left!
My CT scan is booked for next week and that will provide evidence of the effectiveness of the treatments; I will post the summary of the report once I get it.
Later.
Monday 18 February 2013
Cycle 4 Day 5
Last day of meds for this cycle! Thank goodness, the accumulation of the steroids seems to get worse each day with my edginess heightening yesterday and today. It will likely settle down over the next few days and I should be once again back to my normal self for the weekend.
Saturday's sleep was not so good but I slept very well last night and it feels like another good sleep coming tonight.
No nausea since Thursday afternoon and in fact side-effects have been minimal this cycle so I am very happy for that. I have not ridden the trainer in a little while so will give that a go when I feel up to it, perhaps later in the week.
Hope you are all well!
Saturday's sleep was not so good but I slept very well last night and it feels like another good sleep coming tonight.
No nausea since Thursday afternoon and in fact side-effects have been minimal this cycle so I am very happy for that. I have not ridden the trainer in a little while so will give that a go when I feel up to it, perhaps later in the week.
Hope you are all well!
Saturday 16 February 2013
Cycle 4 Day 3
All continues to go well, after a bit of minor inflammation in my hands, wrists and knees (likely fluid retention from the meds) I am back to my normal. Sleeping fairly well, good energy and a strong appetite.
I think I have found the secret to minimising the impact of the steroids; don't get hungry and drink lots of water. I have been eating lots of small meals and drinking water for the past few days and the edginess has dissipated.
Lori and I are both doing fine and enjoying the good weather we are having at the moment.
I think I have found the secret to minimising the impact of the steroids; don't get hungry and drink lots of water. I have been eating lots of small meals and drinking water for the past few days and the edginess has dissipated.
Lori and I are both doing fine and enjoying the good weather we are having at the moment.
Thursday 14 February 2013
Later that same day...
I am at home now, a little dopey, well fed and ready for a bit of relaxing perhaps even a nap today. The treatment went well with no issues, staff loved the cake.
Happy Valentine's Day; Cycle 4 Day 1
Today starts cycle 4 of 6, I had my blood-work done yesterday and have not seen the results yet but have been told all was as expected. I also found out that my CT scan will be in about 3 weeks from now.
The big drip day is here and I am heading out shortly, I thought I would bring the staff at the agency a little something to mark the day as it is Valentine's day so I made a cake for them. I have not made this particular type of cake in something like 28 years so was not sure how it would turn out. I made a second cake for Lori and I which we shared with a few friends (testers) and so far the feedback is all positive. Lori also made a fabulous lasagna from scratch last night which was delicious!
I will let you knw how the drip went once I return but suspect it to be like the others have been, pretty much a non-event. I will likely sit in the big comfy chair with a tube in my arm, drink lots of water, watch a couple of movies or at least a movie a couple of times if I forget that I just watched that one and then catch a lift home from James our driver...
Here is a picture of the cake, it is a lemon sponge cake with strawberry mousse and whipped cream finish.
The big drip day is here and I am heading out shortly, I thought I would bring the staff at the agency a little something to mark the day as it is Valentine's day so I made a cake for them. I have not made this particular type of cake in something like 28 years so was not sure how it would turn out. I made a second cake for Lori and I which we shared with a few friends (testers) and so far the feedback is all positive. Lori also made a fabulous lasagna from scratch last night which was delicious!
I will let you knw how the drip went once I return but suspect it to be like the others have been, pretty much a non-event. I will likely sit in the big comfy chair with a tube in my arm, drink lots of water, watch a couple of movies or at least a movie a couple of times if I forget that I just watched that one and then catch a lift home from James our driver...
Here is a picture of the cake, it is a lemon sponge cake with strawberry mousse and whipped cream finish.
Tuesday 12 February 2013
Testing for Cycle 4 starts tomorrow
Tomorrow is the day before the big drip, I go in for the usual blood-work plus a little extra blood-work to test for kidney function to get the go ahead for my post cycle 4 CT Scan for some concrete evidence that the treatments have been effective.
I am still recovering from my silly attempt of the 12KM race on Sunday, I woke up yesterday to have my legs remind me in no short terms that I had pushed them a bit on the run considering my last run was before Christmas and my last effort run was the McNeil Bay Half in early September; the legs reminded me again today. I am hoping that getting a couple of holes poked in me and some meds dripped in to me will make the legs realise they could have it worse. It does show me that the bike workouts do not 100% translate to run training; although my turn-over was very good!
Well a bit more work to do tonight then a good night's rest before my tests in the AM. Once I get the results I'll let you know how I did.
I am still recovering from my silly attempt of the 12KM race on Sunday, I woke up yesterday to have my legs remind me in no short terms that I had pushed them a bit on the run considering my last run was before Christmas and my last effort run was the McNeil Bay Half in early September; the legs reminded me again today. I am hoping that getting a couple of holes poked in me and some meds dripped in to me will make the legs realise they could have it worse. It does show me that the bike workouts do not 100% translate to run training; although my turn-over was very good!
Well a bit more work to do tonight then a good night's rest before my tests in the AM. Once I get the results I'll let you know how I did.
Sunday 10 February 2013
Less than a week to Cycle 4
Well past the half way now! The past few days have been going well and my energy has been very good. I have been able to continue full work days plus a bit of work around the house and continuing with my bike trainer; although I did miss today's scheduled trainer ride. Lori had her third in the Island Race Series and it was just outside of Nanaimo in Cedar, a challenging 12KM with a few nasty hills, since this involved me being away from the house for most of the day and I was not going to be able to do my ride I decided I would give the run a go. In the past I have been able to run this route in 50 minutes or so with last year in 52:45 I was going to take today as it came. Considering I have not run in a few months I was not expecting to come very close to my previous times, I was going to give it a solid effort though. I set out to run a 4:20/KM to start and see how long I could keep that going and then adjust as I needed to, the answer was about half way and then the KM's gradually took a bit longer as I went and as the hills were long so to were my KM times. I ended up with the tank emptied knowing that I had no more to give and feeling that I had done my best for the day I crossed the line in just over 56 minutes and am VERY happy!
Post run my legs feel like they have been pushed but I feel otherwise good, I have decided that I will not run anymore races without training for them and will stick to the bike for now.
Lori had a great race as well and was running so well at the end that I could not run her all the way in, we both come in 9th in our perspective age groups and are pleased as punch to have competed together once again.
This week I have the usual pre-treatment schedule of blood work Wednesday followed by the big drip on Thursday and a rest day on Friday. I will be posting more frequently in the next few days.
Cheers for now
Don
Post run my legs feel like they have been pushed but I feel otherwise good, I have decided that I will not run anymore races without training for them and will stick to the bike for now.
Lori had a great race as well and was running so well at the end that I could not run her all the way in, we both come in 9th in our perspective age groups and are pleased as punch to have competed together once again.
This week I have the usual pre-treatment schedule of blood work Wednesday followed by the big drip on Thursday and a rest day on Friday. I will be posting more frequently in the next few days.
Cheers for now
Don
Saturday 2 February 2013
mid-cycle 3 update
All is well, I am feeling my normal self for the past few days. I continue to work from home in an effort to avoid the cold and flu season at the office and have been able to get on the bike three times a week to do a pretty good hour or 90 minute workout. My energy has been good and I am sleeping better now as well.
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