Saba Beats Cancer

The previous two MTX I was pretty nauseous day 2 and 3.  Had a little nausea yesterday but woke up starving this morning.  Rare in the hospital.  Had a waffle and some eggs. But they are doing it different this time with a diuretic. I don't think I had one the last time and believe me and old fart taking diuretic mean a lot of peeing.  So maybe the stuff is flowing better this time.  I did 3 miles yesterday along with the sumo band and spaced it out so I walked three different times. Still not planning on getting out til Tuesday but I will just take the fact that I feel really good today.  My blood work was a little down yesterday but finally creeping back up. So just killing time in the hospital today and tomorrow.  But will be really glad if that was the worst of MTX as I go through the final two times.

So the spine has been clear of cancer cells so why I am still doing brain chemo?  Because the lesion that was hurting my vision in back of the head is just not quite healed yet.  The MRI shows just a tiny blemish left. So in the eyes of the doc, there still could be a cancer cell hiding in there. We aren't gonna blast it with radiation or biopsy it because that is too risky - so we pound it with MTX. So why risk it getting brain cancer? We aren't.  We go forward. What I needed the most was a full plan which is what we can up with yesterday.  I hated the not knowing week to week what we are doing. Now I know what we are doing from now to the end. Nothing I like more than the plan So if you had brain cancer - you would do the MTX regimen that I am doing. And only that. And if you had lymphoma, you would do the R-EPOCH regimen that I am doing and only that.  Because of that slight chance of brain cancer - we are doing both. Luckily my body is handling it th...

I guess you do settle into a groove. It seemed that things were so much more hectic before that I had now  time to breathe and catch up. Now it seems like things are moving very slowly. A snails pace which is not overly bad. At least I get some time at home. And I am working at home. The blood cells are still down so I don't want to pick up an infection at work and have a set back. Not really worth it since I can do everything by phone and email. The nurse yesterday did dash my hopes for early release saying they just do the six chemos no matter what. Seems a little counter intuitive to MD Anderson's claim that every treatment is customized but since.  But when Cancer, like Apollo Creed says - "Ain't gonna be no rematch" - I will take the Rocky approach - "Don't want one". So we are half way there. Two months in and getting some of the other fun side affects like tinnuitis (everything sounds really harsh), a little neurpathy (tingling in the fi...

Well sort - of - my MTX level is 0.07 which is of course below the 0.1 level so I can get out of here. It's all down to the paperwork now.  Just have to wait for them to find a doctor to write a discharge note and then they have to give me my self-care directions. But I am packed and ready to go. Lee is here and we just play the waiting game - which is always kind of funny because they need the beds so bad you think they would have a team of pushers getting us out the door. Looking at the timeline - going sumo definitely helped.  We are out of here a little faster so I will take it. Never going to get the 48 hour turn around it seems but at least we did better on the drugs this time. So a few days off. The good thing is they can look at my blood work on this fine Monday which my docs like. And the blood is looking mighty fine right now. So this starts the big week: MRI is Wednesday - looking at the skull - is it healing?  PET scan -the biggy - Thursday morning...

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....

In the big chemical mixing pot that is my body right now - it's always something - this time it's the pH.  I got checked in after waiting the required 3 hours in the lobby and got settled in the room.  Started on the fluids IV but the orders for the mid-course chemo were for April 5th which means they can't start until midnight.  And by God they will start at midnight which means no sleep. Sure enough, take the prep drugs for the Rituxan at midnight and about 2:00 am the pharmacy gets the Rituxan ready and they plug me in.  Remember with Rituxan they have to do vitals every 15 minutes for the first hour and 30 minutes for the second hour and it is a 2 hour bag.  Party on!! It was one of those times when Navy sleep training really kicked in.  I was so tired I was able to get an OK sleep in between all the wake ups. Since they are pumping fluids in me, I also have to pee a lot and they are testing the pee because I have to be at a pH over 7 in order to ...

All is set -blood work is great. Even more important, the last spinal tap was clear of cancer.  Let's say that again -my spine is clear of cancer cells.  Yes! So back to the waiting area to wait for a room. Once again, the hospital is full but my doc gets me in.  Checked in right before shift change so it will be a while before the get the Rituxan and Methotrexate double combo. Then the race is on - as our readers recall, I get stuck for an extra day last time but this time we want to get out on Sunday. Would be awesome. Also know we can handle the ABH for nausea and since the nausea was so bad last time - we are going to be on it this time. So here I sit. Waiting for the chemo to begin -MTX #2 - let's get it done and get this cancer OUT! On a side note, Pete and Chris are heading home after helping out immensely. Lee said she got to Dallas and was able to relax - all the stress just melted away. Best anniversary present anyone could give us. She was refreshed and...

Only got down to 1.2 yesterday so I couldn't go home which stunk.  But - got a pretty good nights sleep (as best you can here) and got rid of the nausea and the blood work came back 0.08 this morning so we go home today! Will get one last shower and leave more hair here that we don't have to clean up at home -silver linings baby. And Katie comes today! So all is good - didn't get the spinal done yesterday (doc here thought that was a little much since I still had the other chems in my bod) and have to figure out if they can change the dressing before I leave.  Day off tomorrow - then check in with Dr. Fowler on Thursday to prep for second full chemo which should be this weekend.  Think we are starting Friday. More to come -

So I registered a 0.15 this morning when I need to be 0.10 MTX in my system to go home.  So they won't cut me loose quite yet. One last round of pumping stuff into me and a blood test after lunch to hopefully show that I am at or below 0.10 and I can go home. Really need to get out of here. A little nausea today so we got the shot for that. A little worn out. But we also need to get the spinal before we go since that is due today. So many drugs so little time.  So they are working that into the schedule. So I am not getting out of here early or anything but outta here is definitely a plus. That way we can stay on track for a return on Friday for Round #3 R-EPOCH.  I figure there are actually 11 total rounds - 6 R-EPOCH and 5 MTX - total 11 (keeps the Spinal Tap theme as well).  So we are 2 down 9 to go. Most of the rest of the hair on my head stayed on the pillow this morning. So the baldness is almost complete at least on my head.  Feels odd - not too c...

Feeling pretty good - got in the shower and the hair on the top of my head just started flowing down the drain. Knew it was going to happen but had kind of put it out of my mind.  But there it was going down the drain. Got to the hospital and the blood work is good and so the MTX is a go.  So hurry up and wait for a room to open up and finally just got settled.  MD Anderson has a beauty shop that specializes in rapidly balding people - so off we go to get a quick haircut so I can stop shedding everywhere. Was wearing a Navy shirt so she said, you probably look like you did on day 1 in the Navy - I said it was very close. And didn't look too bad!  Pics to come later. Still getting a dose of rituxin first followed by the MTX at around 3:00 AM.  Should be all done by 5AM - then it is time to flush it out.  Going to be a long night of high traffic in and out of the room. But then it is done for round 2.  Just takes time to flush. So back in the room ...

Don't you just hate it when your neutrophils are just a tad too low?   Well apparently I do.  Because now I can't be admitted to the hospital for my wondrous high dose methotrexate chemo today. Have to come home, give myself a shot in the stomach, get those neutrophils back up and go in tomorrow. Yay Felt great today when I got it so a little disappointing.  The first thought I had when I felt great is that it must be time to hang a drip bag with some serious cancer fighting poisons in it!! Let's rock. But, had some work to get done and did that. And researched the metho and it is interesting.  Methotrexate doesn't know when to stop working.  So the pump it in, it goes right after the brain cancer cells and then you have to get it out of your system. And this is where I will dominate.  Of the many skills I have -peeing is one of them. If there was Olympic urination I am pretty sure I would qualify.  I get to the leave the hospital after al...

Soon to be hooked up to large doses of toxic cancer fighting chemicals for the next 96 hours.  All done inpatient.  So a nice 5 day stay in the MD Anderson hospital with great staff.  Went through most of the results with my team today. The good - blood and organs are doing great, I look healthy, have lots of energy and a great attitude.  The bad - the biggest lesion on the skull is right on the area where your brain does vision which is center back of the head which accounts for the double vision and they have to get at that fast.  More chemicals are needed for brain issues. As we always say - not another problem but an opportunity for me to clearly demonstrate my cancer fighting abilities. Yay. So today is treatment Day 1 - an important day since all the other days of treatment key off of this.  I will be getting chemo treatment #1 (of a total of 6) over the next 5 days.  During the next week I come back once a week for a blood work and spinal ta...

Most people get a 10 spinal tap - I got an 11. Actually called a Lumbar Puncture but where's the fun in that.  And I have to admit that sounds bad - who wants their lumbar punctured. Anywho - sorry about the semi depressing post yesterday - got a little overwhelmed by the enormity of the task at hand for a few hours.  Plus the exhaustion -but a friend reminded me that thank God we live here with MD Anderson who can make all that happen in just two days. Felt really good this morning.  I know so many of you have put me in your prayers and thoughts -and I can/t help but believe when I wake up feeling good that it is those thoughts and prayers giving me that much needed boost -so thank you for that. Love you all. So we are set for tomorrow - LET THE CHEMO BEGIN! We check in with the amazing Dr. Fowler at 1:30 PM and get the full and final diagnosis -hopefully know what is going on in my skull - and then move forward with the treatment.  Should be a 5 day hospita...

Finally after all the waiting, and pain, the MD Anderson appointment is at 12:30 for check in and 1:30 with the oncology team. yay. Didn't post yesterday - nothing happened. Pain, waiting - ugh.  The one highlight was looking in the mirror and realizing I should get a haircut and I could go today.  Then laughing that I could save the $20 because I will losing it all in a couple of weeks anyway.  Yes! Actually felt OK today.  Not too much pain in my hip and a little less pain in the skull. Maybe the healthy stuff is working. We went for a longer walk with pups this morning, did some quick shopping and worked outside -gorgeous day. Slipping in to watch a little Astros baseball. Best part of the day - one of my classmates just successfully finished chemo December for lymphoma - his was more aggressive.  He completed the EPOCH regimen - one of the options facing me.  I cannot tell you how much it means to talk to people about this who have just been throu...