Cancer sucks!

Shoopy

I wish I recieved better news today.  The doc read last week's PET scan this morning. While we've made progress there are still 3 lymph nodes showing active cancer. He believes these are R-DHAC resistant cancer cells. He is starting me on R-ICE today. I'll do two cycles 3 weeks apart and rescan. He is going to talk with the SCT team about when to harvest...said they may harvest during the chemo...not sure.

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

Sorry Shoop !

Dang !  I am sorry to hear this Shoopy .  There are other treatments down the road, and this site is full of people who got into remission only following salvage (second-line) therapies .

Bless your progress, and I hope the SCT goes as easily as possible, and does the job.

max

Rocquie

Those Stubborn Cells

Hi Karl, I wish you had gotten better news too. Good luck with the RICE; you may already be in the hospital for a few days? Interesting that they may harvest your stem cells during chemo. It sounds like you have a very thorough and proactive doctor and I'm sure that helps build your confidence while continuing to adjust your treatment plan. 

I'll be praying for you. And may I remind you that you plan to live forever?

(((Hugs)))

Rocquie

 

jimwins

Hi Karl

I'm sorry for the "not so good" news .  However there are options still available and your original therapy was at least partially successful.  Hopefully this second attack will do the job.  We often have bumps in the road during this journey.  For me it was sthe announcement they had found a second type of cancer during another biopsy and strongly recommended surgery which interrupted my treatment for a few weeks so I could heal.  A later thorough analysis of what they had removed showed no signs of the second cancer.  The surgeon said they were either wrong initially or they got it all during that biopsy!  Regardless, I was very fortunate and thankful.  

Good luck on the new plan and you know you have friends here with you, Karl.  Hang in their buddy and keep us posted.

Big hugs,

Jim

Shoopy

Road Bumps

Max:  You are absolutely right!  There are other treatments and plenty of people who have been through what I’m going through.  I just needed that one day to be pissed off and shed a few tears.

Rocquie: I am in the Area 51 (Roswell Park) right now as I type.  I received more detail about the SC collection.  Instead of giving me Neulasta the day after discharge; I’ll be given Neupogen to take home and self-administer.  When my counts rebound…they will double the dose of the Neupogen to make my body release the stem cells into the blood and begin harvest.  They will only do this 2 weeks post last chemo.  After the harvest, I’ll be given the second RICE.  So it’s not ‘during chemo’ technically.  The doc said that the more chemo they hit me with…the less viable the SC will be which is why they are taking this approach.  I have a very good doctor, yes!  And thanks for reminding me about my plan!

Jim:  You, too, are absolutely correct!  This adventure has its share of bumps and detours and construction zones!

I greatly appreciate the support and encouragement from everyone on this site!

Fair warning: they tell me the drug I’m receiving tomorrow can cause fogginess and even ‘a hallucination or two’…therefore I cannot be held responsible for any posts I may write tomorrow!  The pharmacist was not amused when I asked if I could get that drug ‘to-go’.

jimwins

Shoopy said:

Road Bumps

Max:  You are absolutely right!  There are other treatments and plenty of people who have been through what I’m going through.  I just needed that one day to be pissed off and shed a few tears.

Rocquie: I am in the Area 51 (Roswell Park) right now as I type.  I received more detail about the SC collection.  Instead of giving me Neulasta the day after discharge; I’ll be given Neupogen to take home and self-administer.  When my counts rebound…they will double the dose of the Neupogen to make my body release the stem cells into the blood and begin harvest.  They will only do this 2 weeks post last chemo.  After the harvest, I’ll be given the second RICE.  So it’s not ‘during chemo’ technically.  The doc said that the more chemo they hit me with…the less viable the SC will be which is why they are taking this approach.  I have a very good doctor, yes!  And thanks for reminding me about my plan!

Jim:  You, too, are absolutely correct!  This adventure has its share of bumps and detours and construction zones!

I greatly appreciate the support and encouragement from everyone on this site!

Fair warning: they tell me the drug I’m receiving tomorrow can cause fogginess and even ‘a hallucination or two’…therefore I cannot be held responsible for any posts I may write tomorrow!  The pharmacist was not amused when I asked if I could get that drug ‘to-go’.

Hi Karl

I hope your "hallucinations" are happy and fun!  As much as that stuff costs, you should be able to get it to go!  Thanks for the reply/update buddy.

Jim

allmost60

Shoopy said:

Road Bumps

Max:  You are absolutely right!  There are other treatments and plenty of people who have been through what I’m going through.  I just needed that one day to be pissed off and shed a few tears.

Rocquie: I am in the Area 51 (Roswell Park) right now as I type.  I received more detail about the SC collection.  Instead of giving me Neulasta the day after discharge; I’ll be given Neupogen to take home and self-administer.  When my counts rebound…they will double the dose of the Neupogen to make my body release the stem cells into the blood and begin harvest.  They will only do this 2 weeks post last chemo.  After the harvest, I’ll be given the second RICE.  So it’s not ‘during chemo’ technically.  The doc said that the more chemo they hit me with…the less viable the SC will be which is why they are taking this approach.  I have a very good doctor, yes!  And thanks for reminding me about my plan!

Jim:  You, too, are absolutely correct!  This adventure has its share of bumps and detours and construction zones!

I greatly appreciate the support and encouragement from everyone on this site!

Fair warning: they tell me the drug I’m receiving tomorrow can cause fogginess and even ‘a hallucination or two’…therefore I cannot be held responsible for any posts I may write tomorrow!  The pharmacist was not amused when I asked if I could get that drug ‘to-go’.

So sorry...

Hi Karl,

 Dang...I wish you didn't have to start a different chemo, but you have to do whatever you can to kick this stupid cancer down the road. You have such a good attitude, so don't let this change in treatment get you down. I will be keeping you in my prayers and thinking good positive thoughts.  If you start telling us about  seeing "little green men", I'm not sure what we should think...chemo, or the real thing???!!!  ha! Just kidding! Hang in there buddy! Best wishes...Sue

 

jimwins

allmost60 said:

So sorry...

Hi Karl,

 Dang...I wish you didn't have to start a different chemo, but you have to do whatever you can to kick this stupid cancer down the road. You have such a good attitude, so don't let this change in treatment get you down. I will be keeping you in my prayers and thinking good positive thoughts.  If you start telling us about  seeing "little green men", I'm not sure what we should think...chemo, or the real thing???!!!  ha! Just kidding! Hang in there buddy! Best wishes...Sue

 

Little Green Men

I've been looking for my green crayon.  John, did you take it?   LOL

Karl, we sometimes get crazy stupid on here but we can always blame it on chemo .

 

COBRA666

jimwins said:

Little Green Men

I've been looking for my green crayon.  John, did you take it?   LOL

Karl, we sometimes get crazy stupid on here but we can always blame it on chemo .

 

Green Crayon

Jim,

  No I did not take it. Now you know you have been told you shouldn,t eat those crayons. I bet that's what happened to it. Try to remember the Orange one is a just a color,not the fruit you eat when you get hungry.

Karl: Jim thinks it's chemo. So we just humor him. He thinks because he rode the short bus in school that he was special. Don't tell him any different, Ok....LOL,...John

Ailidh

Sorry to hear the not-so-good

Sorry to hear the not-so-good news. I so admire your attitude! You are a real fighter, and I hope the hallucinations are fun ones!!!

 

Hugs .

Shoopy

COBRA666 said:

Green Crayon

Jim,

  No I did not take it. Now you know you have been told you shouldn,t eat those crayons. I bet that's what happened to it. Try to remember the Orange one is a just a color,not the fruit you eat when you get hungry.

Karl: Jim thinks it's chemo. So we just humor him. He thinks because he rode the short bus in school that he was special. Don't tell him any different, Ok....LOL,...John

Oh...I know

Yes...I know exactly how you guys are!  I've been along here long enough and believe me...I greatly apprecaite the humor! 

As for the crayons...I think Jim's problem is that he's buying the scented ones...I mean, aside from the other possible "short bus issues".

Karl

Shoopy

Ailidh said:

Sorry to hear the not-so-good

Sorry to hear the not-so-good news. I so admire your attitude! You are a real fighter, and I hope the hallucinations are fun ones!!!

 

Hugs .

Fighter

Thanks for the compliment...although I guess I don't know what else to be other than a fighter!

jimwins

Shoopy said:

Oh...I know

Yes...I know exactly how you guys are!  I've been along here long enough and believe me...I greatly apprecaite the humor! 

As for the crayons...I think Jim's problem is that he's buying the scented ones...I mean, aside from the other possible "short bus issues".

Karl

LOL

I especially love the margarita scented ones .  Please note, I do try to recycle by melting the crayons and making candles but I am not allowed to use matches - hehe. .  Now surely this will "ignite" a response from John.

 

 

 

COBRA666

jimwins said:

LOL

I especially love the margarita scented ones .  Please note, I do try to recycle by melting the crayons and making candles but I am not allowed to use matches - hehe. .  Now surely this will "ignite" a response from John.

 

 

 

Oh HELL No !!!!

No Siree !!!... Giving Jim a pack of matches would be as "DEADLY" as checking your cars fuel tank level by looking down the filler neck with a butane lighter. He wasn't allowed to go near Hay barns when he was a kid. As a matter of fact that rule still stands today. John...

Shoopy

COBRA666 said:

Oh HELL No !!!!

No Siree !!!... Giving Jim a pack of matches would be as "DEADLY" as checking your cars fuel tank level by looking down the filler neck with a butane lighter. He wasn't allowed to go near Hay barns when he was a kid. As a matter of fact that rule still stands today. John...

Ba-boom

Now those are perhaps two of the funniest posts I've ever read on this board! 

illead

Shoopy said:

Fighter

Thanks for the compliment...although I guess I don't know what else to be other than a fighter!

You're not going to believe this

We are in Tahoe with my sis and br-in-law.  Today we had just had lunch at the marina and were looking at the boats and lake and I looked down at the grass and there it was............ a brand new green crayon.  That's the absolute truth.........Who knew!  Becky  

  PS  We wish the best for you Shoop

MChantal

Grrr!

Karl, I am sorry to hear this. However, from the looks of it you are no where near ready to give up. Good job!

I hope R-ICE completely annihilates the remaining "weenie" cancer cells!

 

Hahaha, thats my angry fighting face by the way.

Hugs,

Michelle

jimwins

illead said:

You're not going to believe this

We are in Tahoe with my sis and br-in-law.  Today we had just had lunch at the marina and were looking at the boats and lake and I looked down at the grass and there it was............ a brand new green crayon.  That's the absolute truth.........Who knew!  Becky  

  PS  We wish the best for you Shoop

Please save the crayon

Please save the crayon - I may need to color a Christmas tree or have a late night snack .

Maybe chemo has made me psychic or I have super powers like spider man.  Let me see ... thinking, thinking, "I see a smarta$$ reply from John in the near future....hmmmm"  Now if I can just get those lottery numbers...

It's always good to laugh.

Hugs

COBRA666

Save the Crayons !!!!

Oh heck Yes for Goodness sakes save those Big Fat crayons. Jim buys them, trades them, hoards them, sells them and at times, if he's not watched closely he will eat them. If the green crayon you found was a fat one, wrap it up and gaurd it with your life. Jim has been known to send out a patrol of Big Fat Crayon snatchers.They are easy to reconize too. They come riding 3 wheel tricycles wearing shirts with targets on their backs. The one with the beanie cap and propellar on top is Jim. They are seen in NC, but will travel to surrounding states if necessary. ....John 

Shoopy

COBRA666 said:

Save the Crayons !!!!

Oh heck Yes for Goodness sakes save those Big Fat crayons. Jim buys them, trades them, hoards them, sells them and at times, if he's not watched closely he will eat them. If the green crayon you found was a fat one, wrap it up and gaurd it with your life. Jim has been known to send out a patrol of Big Fat Crayon snatchers.They are easy to reconize too. They come riding 3 wheel tricycles wearing shirts with targets on their backs. The one with the beanie cap and propellar on top is Jim. They are seen in NC, but will travel to surrounding states if necessary. ....John 

Wax on

I think you can also tell if they are Big Fat Crayon hunters when you go to shake their hands and feel wax on their hands.  Remember to hide the crayons and the butane lighters!

COBRA666

Shoopy said:

Wax on

I think you can also tell if they are Big Fat Crayon hunters when you go to shake their hands and feel wax on their hands.  Remember to hide the crayons and the butane lighters!

That's Right

You are right. I forgot about the waxy hand shake. I don't get on the other threads like I used too do anymore, but from what I can remember we are the only ones that have a humorous side on all the threads. Not saying cancer is humorous, because it is not by any means. Some people do not feel like making jokes and that is understandable. I guess I feel if we lose the humor, then what's the use anymore. Without humor we will sink fast. Having Lymphoma is no joke, but it is not like the organ cancers that are usually very aggressive. We are fortunate that we have so many alternatives to turn to for treatment. Even then the treatments are not without side effects, but we just can not lose the humor. I think it has a lot to do with the healing process.We fight and laugh and we should be fine. Someone,I believe it was GKH or Max made a comment , but I can't find it now that Will Rogers said, "We are all dying, but some people just don't know it yet." I believe it was in the Up and Down thread. Along time ago someone said,"Remember,Nobody gets out of this world alive". We have now experienced that we are mortal. John