Saba Beats Cancer

Let the brain chemo begin! Back in the hospital for the 4 day brain chemo.  We got in a little early which is good because they have to have fresh blood (nothing worse than stale blood right) so that we can get started with the rituxan followed by the methotrexate. But feeling good today. Had a great walk with Lee and the pups in the morning followed by breakfast at local place near the house.  Sat outside with the pups - it was a nice morning. Then got my routine done, grilled some wings for lunch, walked the pups again and got the call the room was ready. So - my second to last stay in the hospital begins. Of course I recognize my nurse at this point - already worked with her before so admission was a breeze.  Will chill now and await the chemicals. This is the first time I have checked into the hospital totally relaxed.  Only took 10 admissions to finally relax and be ready.  Not the way I want to spend a Saturday but it will feel so good to finish up...

As expected, these were the lowest blood counts I had. When I went walking today I asked and was advised to wear mask and gloves.  My white cells etc are way down so I could get an infection.  However the stubborn methotrexate remained at 0.17 (also as expected - almost exactly the same as last time).  So we should be discharged tomorrow on track.  The big news was I got one thing - after a clear spine for well over 6 weeks, I asked while they were still jamming chemicals up my spine. Turns out they don't need to and they cancelled the appointment today.  One less chemical in me! Kept busy, a little tired - but all in all just another day in paradise.

Last time we had the brain chemo, we were waiting for the MTX number to get under 0.1 and hit 0.15 and thought we would be out that afternoon and were devastated when the test came back and I was only 0.12 and had to stay the night. Even had the suitcase packed and sitting by the door ready to go home.  Not a happy camper at all. But this time with the sumo mantra by my side, my first number was 0.75 - consulting the log, my first number last time was a whopping 1.5. (so that's half for the math challenged). BUT I ain't packing no suitcase to jinx it today. I get another test at 2:00 PM and we will see if maybe the new routine shortens the visit. So I pushed the walk today - walked faster and longer, did another round with the sumo band and sit-ups which is a lot more of a work out then I did before.  This will be the test. The workout makes me drink more as well which of course makes for many trips to pee in my tiny receptacles so they can measure my input and output....

Maybe I did too much or maybe it's just some of the other stuff kicking in - but tired today so I listened to my body and stayed home and worked.  And then rested.  Want to be ready since I have blood work and probably will be in the hospital tomorrow for mid course MTX round. Read more on Rituxan - very interesting drug.  Since they give that to me at the regular chemo and the mid course I figured I should know more. So it basically attaches itself to the cancer cells and pre-cancer cells as a big sign to my immune system saying kill me. So it is really helping all those cells kill more cancer cells. Nice. It helps to know this crap is killing IT more than annoying me. So not a bad day - some good friends helping out with the house so that it doesn't fall down around us.  Always a plus. On to blood work, doctor visit and another mid course round tomorrow!!

Cancer Songs (to the tune of Yesterday) Suddenly, all my hair is falling off of me, With the weight loss I am half of me But I believe in my MD's Odd thing to hit me in the shower but it made me chuckle so what the heck.  So feeling good, had lunch went for my walk to get my 2 miles in drank some more water and feeling good.  Then the doc walked in.  Said that's all good but most the MTX side effects will hit in the next few days and it is a GI impacting drug which means "from you mouth to your anus".  I just don't like a symptom that uses mouth and anus in the same sentence.  But it is what it is.   Then facebook feeds me an ad for a military shirt that says - "Embrace the Suck".  How does facebook know this?  That at this moment in time I just need to embrace the suck.   Of course I bought the shirt on Amazon.  The hair loss has moved to my chest - and that is no small tuft of hair.  So that ...

How amazing was that.  Thirty seven phone calls, three forms, multiple people calling and in just a week and a half we were able to get all my medicals records delivered two blocks away!!!! (look it up on the map - literally two blocks) Wow. Huge relief. And - did I have to call and check? (I did) - not really.  I got a call confirming my appointment from MDA and she said that she just wanted to check and yes my records had arrived.  Thirty minutes later the guy on my team in records called to let me know everything had arrived and the MDA pathologist was looking at the slides and my Doc would be looking at the scans. Man - they are pretty awesome so far. Oddly my throat pain is gone but new neck pain is here.  Feeling a little better.  Pretty sure all the weird things I am doing will mean the cancer will be gone by Monday.  I mean I added essaic tonic today - should clear things right up. Right hip, where it all began, is killing me today. Our in...

Is really the hardest part right now - I just want to get started and maybe have some of these lumpkins shrink.  It seems like they are getting bigger and I am still in pain around my head that is tough to control. Not a good feeling. And now I have a sore throat that feels like lymph nodes there are swelling and starting to hurt.  Yay And still no sign of my records at MD Anderson.  Even though I was assured they were sent yesterday - so I am going down there first thing in the morning and hand carry them to MDA.  So annoying that a simple thing like this can't get done. On the plus side - got my teeth cleaned. The world wide web recommended getting teeth cleaned prior to chemo and it seemed like a good idea.  So that is done. And - did my first acupuncture session.  Webisphere also says that is a good way to relax, relieve nausea and help deal with the chemo.  I must admit - totally relaxing while there and did feel much better in the afternoon...

So the skull was in so much pain yesterday that I broke down and got the Tylenol 3 - started taking it last night. By this morning I was almost completely incapacitated - total body ache, weak, in pain nauseous - just horrible.  Obviously I cannot take Tylenol 3 at all.  Stopped taking it, found a website that said 400 MG of ibuprofen plus 1000 of regular tylenol did better than an opioid in a study - tried that. and I am like a new person. Feel OK for the first time in a few days. Actually took a rod and some shrimp down to the beach and caught a nice size cat that fought for a little while.  From a horrific start to the day to a not too shabby afternoon!!