Chemo

I start chemo this week. I am well advanced and my doctor wants to start ASAP. Will be CHOP-R and I will have a bone marrow biopsy to stage on top of the biopsy I had Thursday. Not happy about a BMB! It is what it is!

2/2

Busy day: started at 7 at PAMC Heart department for a medi-port. After that procedure was a biopsy to see if my CLL has mutated to a more aggressive but cureable form of leukemia. This is a possibility but not likely. The combo of chemo drugs is determined by the pathology report. Most likely my cocktail will be the same with the addition of adrimycin which means I'll loose hair this time. Oncologist appt Monday to decide on treatment and when. Are you bored yet? Never a boring life for me :)

Doctor stuff

I accidentally deleted yesterday's post. My MRI was clear. The PET Scan showed cancer in lymph nodes everywhere but my spleen. It is time for chemotherapy. So I have a port implanted tomorrow. The Ophtholmologist today said I have an artery blocked and I may gain vision around the eye but not in the center. It should have been treated in the first 5 days, duh! He suggests a powerful steroid given IV and a lumbar tap to see what's floating around in the spinal fluid. Thinks the clot in the eye is a clump of cancer cells. Worried about it doing the same to the right eye but chemo should preclude that. Later today is an appointment to schedule a biopsy.

The eyes have it.

Ophthalmologist at 8 this morning. The verdict is optic nerve damage either from a blood clot or a metastacise. Slim to no odds of regaining my sight. I'm not sure how I feel because I haven't dwelt on it. It is what it is. Being referred to a specialist. I doubt he will say much different. My right eye hurts so time for a nap. The my MRI and PET Scan at 4:15. Bah!

Hangin'

Just hanging with the dogs and CNBC is getting old! I didn't seem to have a problem doing it before my trip but now that I'm home it seems different. Just hanging in the Philippines was different. I hung outside in one of 3 places and there was always something to watch or someone to visit with. If nothing else, there was bird watching. Nearby was a thicket of bamboo which was at least 75 feet high and full of birds. It had the usual suspects of Eurasian Tree Sparrows and Pied Fantails but occasionally a visitor came by like the Philippine Tailorbird or Brown Shrike. Watching that tree could consume hours. One night we were visited by a Peregrine that also liked the birds in that tree. There were many birds that visited that were deep in the thicket and I couldn't get a good look at them. It was a pleasure to wake as sun came up and listen to the symphony of from that tree, although I never got up that early (5 am).
So maybe it's the snow and winter that are boring me. Very little new activity outside. An occasional moose or Boreal Chickadee come by but otherwise it's pretty dull around here. It's no wonder I miss the Philippines!

Philippines 2011/2012

Here I am on my last day in the Philippines. I have been having a perfect time with friends. But my reality has decided to rear its sphinx head. My reality is my cancer that has tried to spoil this time by blinding me in the left eye. Cancer, I spit on you, anathema! I have put reality in a deep recess; at least for the rest of today. Then doctors, MRI, PET scan and treatment of some kind. What I would give to stay in my dream world! In am the face of millions in the same reality.
Tomorrow will be a sad and long day. Only one of many to come.

Philippines 2011-2012

I haven't really felt like posting here. It's been kind of crazy. After another visit with the doctor I decided to get home as soon as possible for treatment. The earliest I can leave is Jan 23. Planes are full due to Chinese New Year. I have a series of appointments when I get back and hopefully treatment begins soon enough to recover the sight in my eye.
Today we celebrated the Feast of Santa Nino with friends in a nearby barangay. Great food and native dancers. The hospitality here is beyond compare!
It is hot and humid today and no wind. I pray for wind on days like today!
Please keep me in your prayers! And by the way, cancer sucks!