Saba Beats Cancer

Was in a bit of a funk for a week or so.  While it seems like I am in the home stretch, I was seriously dreading every single chemo. It got to the point of creating anxiety and stress.  (worrying - does it help?).  Really hit a low point this week as did Lee. It really wears on you. Probably why I didn't update the blog as well. And then I finally broke out. You all kept pushing me saying that I got this and I realized  - I do.  I can handle the chemo and handle it better than most. I have a plan and the plan is working and I have to stop worrying about things I can't control.  Just go with it and finish strong. It helped. I woke up Thursday feeling great for the blood work and and I hit the doors of MD Anderson yesterday ready for brain chemo #4 and not dreading it.  I have to focus on it not to let it creep back in - but so far so good. Getting this one done is a big deal in my mind.  So let's make it happen. Got the MTX running in right n...

Right before all this mess started, our company, Texas Teachers, sent a text blast to all our potential teachers we had in our data base urging them to get ready to teach, that schools needed them now.  We got the most random reply from someone in Texas -"Not today ISIS!!" It cracked me up on both levels - either the guy was serious or he wasn't. Either way, for a few weeks any time Lee asked if I wanted to do something, I replied, Not today ISIS. So getting attached to the fucker and all the drugs for Chemo #3 even though I am remission reminds me of that phrase. We can't let cancer get started again so as they turn on the annoying pumps and harsh drugs, I say - "Not today Cancer". So what's it like coming to the hospital Dave? Is it a model of efficiency that adheres to the tenets of getting lots of great nutrition, exercise and sleep. No - not at all. We got orders to the hospital at 4:00 and run down to try and get a room. We are told there w...

So the blood work was good today -really good. I am waiting to check in. Always takes a while to get a room here. While I was waiting for my doctor's appointment - they brought me back to ask if I wanted to participate in a clinical trial where they look for biological markers to determine if you have lymphoma after remission. So basically they are going to take extra blood each time I get blood drawn so they can test for these markers. Obviously they need something better then a full blown PET scan every time.  So - they really need to determine if there is a blood test for cancer. Would be pretty cool to help them do that so heck yes you can take more blood - I got plenty. So on to our normal Chemo #3 today - starting the halfway point!  5 days of chemo - R-EPOCH - starting with the Rituxan tonight. Feels a lot better hitting the chemo knowing we have made so much progress. We don't come back for an appointment with our normal doc until the 25th - then we will hear i...

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!!

Oh yeah - handling the high dose methotrexate pretty well so far. Finished up another rituxan and the HDMTX at about 4:00 this morning. Along with some wonderful steroids which make everything feel great again.  My head had started to hurt a lot in the front from the lesions -but the drug cocktail I had last night definitely makes everything feel great! So now it is a race to get the MTX out of my system - as soon as I am below 0.1 ppm in my blood I am out of here.  And how do we get it out - WE PEE!!  Old guys rule in the frequent urination world! Already went for walk number 1. Still have the little fucker with me to deliver more fluids and make sure my urine PH stays on track. MTX can trash the kidneys with crystals so they pump you full of stuff to make sure that doesn't happen. Got my coffee and waiting on breakfast.  But any day you feel good is a great day during treatment. So far it's a great day. I am sure the worse is coming around the corner - but I ...

Actually doing ok sleeping right now.  There is a lot less pain in my bones which actually makes it easier to sleep.  And the drugs are not doing anything to me that bad.  So we started with the Rituxan and the build up the dosage. One of the common side effects is you might get chilled.  Yeah - I got that.  It was like someone through me outside in Chicago with no clothes - I was shaking like crazy - they had to get hot blankets and warm me up. Didn't hurt or anything - just so weird.  Once the body got used to it - they jacked the amount more and we finished up last night. Then they strapped on the other chemicals to my cart.  I have nicknamed the cart Fucker because he really is. Such a pain in the ass. They leave it plugged in the whole 5 days to reduce infection chances which does make sense. So here are all the chems dripping in now. The four horsemen of LIFE!! I went down to coffee and another patient looked at me like I was nuts running ...