I was first diagnosed in September 2005, and underwent chemo-therapy for 4 months, 6 sessions every 3 weeks. This reduced the lymphoma to baseline levels and I was declared in remission.
It also left me with little energy and strength, and it took me another 3 months or so after treatment was finished to regain enough strength and energy to get back on my bicycle and train for the annual ride with a friend (who does a mile for every year on his birthday). He's a young whipper-snapper, so we did his 57 miles in august, and I felt that I was well on the way to recovery.
In november the lymphoma came back from remission, more aggressive than before, and I am now in chemo-therapy again. I've had the second course in this session. The drugs are different and more aggressive as well -- these cancer cells survived the last session, so the same drugs will not help anymore - that's evolution for you.
I did not lose my hair last time, but I am losing it this time (but it's only temporary ned). Chemo-therapy tends to attack all the fast growing cells in the body, so in addition to the cancer cell growth it can affect hair growth and the growth of new brain connections ...
One of the other effects of chemo-therapy is called "chemo-brain" and it affects short term memory and the ability to operate at your full mental capacity. Going in the first time I was not aware of how much this affected me. I noticed the loss in memory from continually forgetting little things, like shopping lists, and the ability issue from doing sudoku puzzles, but I wasn't really aware of the depths of this loss until later coming back out and regaining most if not all (I think) of those abilities in the months following the end of treatment.
I expect this to happen again this time, so I expect my input here to dip in quantity and quality for a while. It is not intentional, and I don't believe it will be permanent.
I've talked to other survivors and they have similar stories. I expect there are a number of people here who also have similar experiences and may want or need to talk about them. I am interested in those stories.
Because lymphoma is diffuse throughout the body radiation cannot be used without risk of damage to several organs. Chemo-therapy cannot eliminate it either, so this means that this cancer as yet has no complete cure, just treatment to hold it at bay. Research is focusing on stem cell and bone marrow transplants coupled with extreme chemo-therapy designed to kill as much of the cancer as possible - along with all the white blood cells and bone stem cells that produce new white blood cells, then injecting the new stem cells to make new lymph, hopefully without the cancer. This is the best hope for cure of this kind of cancer.
Of course fetal stem cells would offer even more chance of cure without rejection problems, but we are now 6 years further from this research -- due to narrow-minded religious dogma derived policy based on ignorance that declares unused and unwanted fetal cells more important than existing human life. So while I may have had some frustration at fundamentalists before over this issue, it has become a little personal now. I don't want to discuss the issue of stem cell research here, I just note this so that those who do have an objection to stem cell research can understand that my anger may be invoked at it. Nor will I apologize for or excuse my opinion on this matter -- it is how I feel.
If you want to help, you can sign up to World Community Grid and let your computer work on solving cancer among other problems confronting human life on this planet.
quote:More info (if you need it) at:
../projects_showcase/viewResearch.do To join go to World Community Grid After you join as a member, join our team by selecting "join a team" and then go to {T section page 3} to pick "Team EvC" to join ("Team" is part of the team name, so we are the Team EvC Team). To download the BOINC agent go to World Community Grid
I recommend the BOINC agent over the standard UD agent, as that one can cause jerky mouse action unless throttled down, and the throttle mechanism is not that good.
This too has become personal for me, but it is for ALL cancer victims (as well as Muscular Dystrophy and AIDS\HIV victims), not just for me: it can be for someone you know personally.
In closing I would like to say
I would like to discuss other stories of survival.
I do NOT want to discuss the pros and cons of stem cell research here.
Some people will feel they need to pray for me - personally I don't believe in the "power" of prayer (being a Deist), but go ahead if that is what you feel you need to do - all I ask is that you also let your machine do some "buddhist prayer wheel" type work by signing up at worldcommunitygrid.org and running the program with the unused portion of your computer.
I expect to survive this round, and come out riding 59 miles in august this year ... and getting my hair back.
Is this you, RAZD? If so, I congratulate you on your attitude! You are an inspiration. (Phat used to ride bikes until recently...but is inspired by your story to ride again!)
I am part of a large family. I am the oldest and my brother John was born almost 4 years to the day after me. It seems that my parents experience coitus interruptus in the form of a World War.
John grew up and joined the Navy. He applied and was accepted for submarine duty and reported to training in Florida. On his first assent he busted an ear drum and so was washed out of submarines. He transfered to sub tenders wanting to still be involved with that service, and was assigned to a tender out of Charleston, SC. Unfortunately, or fortunately, it was spread out over several acres of the Charleston Naval Shipyard for refurb.
During his time in Charleston he went to college and graduated in nursing. He served the rest of his tour of duty as a nurse both here and in Guam.
After the service he went into pediatric nursing and very rapidly rose to become head nurse in pediatrics. He was one of those folk really pushing to change the way pediatrics was practiced, to change the environment to one that would lessen fear, increase encouragement and hasten recovery for the kids.
When John was only in his early thirties he began to experience problems. His fine motor skills decreased and he began having troubles standing for long periods. At first there were many diagnoses and it was several years before MD became the accepted one.
By that time John was walking with canes, spending more time in a wheel chair and limited in his mobility. He could no longer work as a charge nurse but his mind was still as useful as ever. He became a teacher, being sent from school to school, hospital to hospital, lecture and class. He helped teach a whole new approach to pediatric care to a growing body of Doctors and Nurses.
Eventually MD and the treatments began affecting both his short term memory and his speaking. He had to give up even the teaching and lecturing.
In the last year, new drug treatments have allowed John to regain both his short term memory as well as most of his speaking ability, but the muscular damage is real and it will progress.
My brother WILL die of MD.
There is hope for others though. The World Community Grid is helping to contribute to fighting Cancer, MD, and a whole host of the remaining diseases that plague mankind.
It is something that we can do. It costs nothing to contribute, and all of the work you contribute goes to expanding mankind's knowledge and towards fighting diseases such as HIV, Cancer, MD, diabetes.
Hey RAZD, pleasure to meet the face and name behind the avatar (though truth be told, I have a hard time telling avatar from photo )
I've been thinking about connecting my new powerhouse to the grid for a while, but I do run some rather power-hungry apps 24/7. However, enough excuses, count me in. Nothing like a bit of personal background to brush away the apathy... thanks.
Oh, and given your complete and utter stubbornness, unreasonableness and pig-headedness, I know where my money lies and its not with the cancer
Some people will feel they need to pray for me - personally I don't believe in the "power" of prayer (being a Deist), but go ahead if that is what you feel you need to do - all I ask is that you also let your machine do some "buddhist prayer wheel" type work by signing up at worldcommunitygrid.org and running the program with the unused portion of your computer.
Done deal.
As Phat said, I'm pleased that you are taking a positive attitude despite your unsavory circumstances. It may sound a bit mystical, but I do believe that a healthy mind and a joyful heart promotes healing more than someone with a defeatist attitude. I won't patronize you by pretending to know what you've gone through, go through, and will go through. I can't empathize with you, but I do sympathize with you. You have my prayers whether you want them or not.
Thanks for sharing.
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -C.S. Lewis
Can we have your computer's spare microseconds too?
Absolutely I recently saw a thread about the Grid and will be donwloading and becoming a member shortly.
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -C.S. Lewis
Hey Razd, I just want you to know that my prayers to the Father (Jehovah) in the mighty and worthy name of Jesus will be going up for your spiritual, mental and physical welfare.
So you understand why I'm not signing on I do not advocate or support conventional cancer medicine but do advocate, highly recommend and support wholistic healing whereby the cause rather than the symptom is focused on. I am fully convinced that the medical profession of this nation in particular finds it more profitable to look for cures than to find them. I remember way back in the 40s when the march of dimes was big and have seen the never ending peading for more money to search for cancer cure via the knife, the needle and the pill. I've also observed the success stories of folks who've gone the wholistic route as well as experienced myself how the regimented wholistic cleansing diet, herbs, vitamins, minerals et al cleanse the body of toxins, rejuvinate the cells, enhance the imune system and all so as to heal the body and allow it to do the wonders it is capable of when given the right stuff and eliminating the stuff that caused the sicknesses in the first place.
So my friend, this is not a crank post but a sincere from the heart message of what I am convinced to be the most help for prevention and cure to you and others who have any sickness regardless of what it is.
There's lots of websites on wholistic cancer regimes. One which I highly suggest to you which uses some limited sophisticated chemo therapy along with diet regime and naturopathy is cancercenters.com which you can google to check out and talk anytime around the clock with specialists there. You can also link into many testimonials of folks who've been cured or helped by this regime.
Cancer Centers Of America writes:
Cancer Treatment Centers of America offers patients the most sophisticated forms of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy in combination with complementary therapies, including nutrition, spiritual support, mind-body medicine and naturopathic medicine. If you or a loved one are exploring cancer treatment options, call 800-615-3055 or Click Here to chat with an Oncology Information Specialist. Our specialists are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
I don't have a link but just google the .com and go from there if interested. May God enlighten and bless you.
Sincerely, Buz
BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW ---- Jesus said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28
quote:Although each case is different, the best chance for success comes from learning about follicular lymphoma, including treatments...what they can and cannot do...and combining that with the best in scientifically-based natural strategies targeted specifically to follicular lymphoma to help hold the lymphoma in check. This is known as an *integrative* (not alternative) approach, meaning that it incorporates the best in conventional treatments with the best in evidence-based natural therapies at the appropiate time.
This involves a combined approach by the individual.
Think about it. Perhaps they need each other to reach the full potential eh?
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