as day 10 comes to a close, i'm walking miles, not blocks anymore. feeling quite alert and energetic. i'm inspired to tell people that i feel as well as i did before i started the treatment. the doctor said it's nice that i figured out that you don't have to feel like crap for the treatment to work. i've got my bike set up inside and tomorrow i plan on spinning for a while. i've been eating like a horse and most of the strange cravings have subsided - have to save them for the beginning of cycle 2. i also wanted to say thanks to all my family and friends who are the reason i get out of bed in the morning. i'm beginning to realize that i'm doing this for you guys more than i'm doing this for myself - life's about the experiences we share, not the minutes that pass in between them.
it's the tough times when you realize why you share life with so many people - a wise man once told me "you've gotta play the hand you're dealt".
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
First Cycle Commentary from Bryan
Day 7 and feeling alright. Been eating pretty good, lots of chicken and potatoes. Had our first check-up today and the doctor was impressed with how i was doing. Red blood counts are doing fine and the white counts are low but that's to be expected. They had my mom give me this shot on day 2 that helps boost your counts. This way during this stretch when they are low, they aren't dangerously low. This shot wasn't even available 10 years ago - amazing what medicine is doing.
As far as treatment goes, we are looking at 6 cycles followed by radiation instead of the original 4. The reason for this is because i am handling the treatment so well, they can really shrink this sucker and then radiate any scar tissue left over. I never do the bare minimum (which in some instances points to 3-4 cycles) and it's nice to see the doctors tailoring the treatment to me. It's hard to believe 1 visit is already down but i definitely am thankful for the rest between cycles. This will be an exercise in patience for sure.
I was prepared for much worse physically but mentally it's been a challenge. I'm gonna do some work tomorrow which i know will feel good and even writing this is therapeutic. As far as the hair goes - it's still on the top my head. Should be gone in the next few weeks but the eyebrows and beard will still be there.
As far as treatment goes, we are looking at 6 cycles followed by radiation instead of the original 4. The reason for this is because i am handling the treatment so well, they can really shrink this sucker and then radiate any scar tissue left over. I never do the bare minimum (which in some instances points to 3-4 cycles) and it's nice to see the doctors tailoring the treatment to me. It's hard to believe 1 visit is already down but i definitely am thankful for the rest between cycles. This will be an exercise in patience for sure.
I was prepared for much worse physically but mentally it's been a challenge. I'm gonna do some work tomorrow which i know will feel good and even writing this is therapeutic. As far as the hair goes - it's still on the top my head. Should be gone in the next few weeks but the eyebrows and beard will still be there.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Resting
Bryan is feeling better today, not quite his bright-eyed and bushy-tailed self, but we're getting there.
With a lot of rest and a diet of almost exclusively tater tots, he is improving rapidly. The strangest response to his medication has been a heightened sense of smell, with coffee and potato chips being the worst offenders so far.
He is keeping himself amused by watching basketball and seinfeld - a pretty typical weekend for him anyway.
With a lot of rest and a diet of almost exclusively tater tots, he is improving rapidly. The strangest response to his medication has been a heightened sense of smell, with coffee and potato chips being the worst offenders so far.
He is keeping himself amused by watching basketball and seinfeld - a pretty typical weekend for him anyway.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
First Cycle
Bryan's first cycle of chemotherapy began on Thursday. It was a long day: the first medication, Rituxan, had to be administered slowly in order to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. This is a fairly new medication that has been very successful, a biological therapy that has no side effects and targets the bad cells for destruction.
Subsequent medications, the typical chemical therapy drugs, were quickly administered. These cause nausea and fatigue, as they destroy fast-growing cells, good or bad. So far he's been able to tolerate the medications quite well, with minimal nausea and fatigue. Today is supposed to be the worst day for these side effects, and he should feel better each day.
Subsequent medications, the typical chemical therapy drugs, were quickly administered. These cause nausea and fatigue, as they destroy fast-growing cells, good or bad. So far he's been able to tolerate the medications quite well, with minimal nausea and fatigue. Today is supposed to be the worst day for these side effects, and he should feel better each day.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Introduction
Hello to our friends and family - we want to thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragement as we go through this process.
For those of you who haven't heard the specifics, about 4 weeks ago, a shadow was seen on Bryan's chest x-ray. Through a variety of tests and a surgical biopsy, it was determined that Bryan has Stage IIA agressive diffuse B-cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. This form of lymphoma is not only treatable, but curable. Because it was found in an early stage and Bryan was asymptomatic, there is no lymphoma in his bone marrow or below the diaphragm - great news.
The proposed course of treatment entails 4 three-week cycles of chemotherapy followed by 4 weeks of daily radiation. With Bryan's great health and fitness, he should have no trouble tolerating the medications and radiation necessary for the cure. We will keep you all updated throughout his treatment.
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