Updates on everyone

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

Friend has Passed....

Several of you have heard me mention an older friend (he was 72) who has been fighting prostate cancer for 13 years for whom I have been (with a few others) providing transportation and some amature care.  This seems like as good a place as any to mention that he died this afternoon in Hospice.  I do not see the need to start a whole new thread, since most of what I write about him has been at the Prostate site. 

Gary was a trooper !  Thirteen years in the battle ! (Have we been in Afghanastan that long ?)  

He had mostly good years. He has been in late stage 4 for about the last two years, but only the last six months or so were what I would describe as "horrible."  He went thorugh a list of new, pallative drugs.  There is a lot of new stuff in the fight against Prostate, so anyone newly-diagnosed has much cause for hope .  He is a poster child for why a cancer patient can look with promise to the future.  I would take thirteen years verses zero years any day !

Bless his soul.  St Paul wrote:  "I make up in my own body what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ."   May Gary look down upon us all with love.

max

Max,

I am very sorry that Gary passed.  Gary, you, and the rest of his support network will be in my prayers.

Karl

MChantal said:

Update

Hello everyone,

I feel as though I have been extremely M.I.A as well. Jeez! Haha.

I will post a little update and would love to hear how everyone else is doing.

We are currently in Denver, CO Blood Cancer Institute. As we speak or rather, type, Kyle's stem cells are being collected! Woo-hoo!

(Apheresis machine aka Big Bertha!)

(Early morning has us being silly!)

I last mentioned in a post that Kyle has no evidence of cancer within his body! Which is the best possible thing we could wish and want for the SCT.

He gets admitted next Monday (Sept 30th, 2013) for his 6 days of high dose chemo (BEAM). His transplant day and new birthday is October 7th (one day after my birthday) how awesome is that! So we get to celebrate our birthday's together!

 

Hope everyone is doing beyond amazing. I want nothing but the best for you ALL!

Love,

Michelle

 

Kyle and Michelle,

Great news!  Keep going and plugging away.  I'm about a month behind you as they plan to collect my stem cells around the 22nd of Oct.  First week of November is when I go in for the high dose chemo!

Keeping you in my prayers!

Karl

Rocquie said:

Rocquie's Update

Hi Carrie, great idea, this sort of roll call to get updates from everyone. And you are just the person to drum up enthusiasm for it.

I just completed my 3rd Rituxan maintenance, which I go for every 2 months for 2 years. In between, I go for a port flush. Like you, I would just as soon not have the reminders but if it keeps the lymphoma at bay, then worth it.

It is exactly one year since I first became sick and began my discovery of what was wrong with me. A year ago, I was waking up at night with drenching night sweats, running almost constant fevers, having a terrible cough and difficulty breathing. I was getting weaker and weaker. I would take my temp at 5 AM, record 102 degrees, then shower and go to work. I kept going to my family doctor and taking more and more antibiotics. Finally, she ordered a chest xray, and that started the ball rolling fast. I can barely believe what happened to me in one year's time.

I recently went to a kidney specialist due to continuing low electrolyes. Tests show that my kidneys are working just fine. I have "reset osmostat" meaning I now have a "new normal" (that term again) level of sodium in my blood that is of no clinical significance.

I also recently went to a Naturopathic Physician I hadn't seen in several years. He recommended various supplementation to help in my quest to bring my health back to my baseline. He approached my goal in several ways, addressing energy, mood, detoxing my body from medications and radiation from scans.

Last but not least, I have hair!  It seems to be taking forever to grow back but I no longer worry about head coverings. I think I have less gray than before, but honestly, I had colored my hair for so many years, I don't really know. It is becoming very, very thick. And it is starting to get wavy. I look like I have a hip short haircut. I call it Chemo Chic. I have bought a few new items of clothing because this time last year I weighed 40 pounds more than I do now.

I look forward to hearing from some of our other members. And as always, it is wonderful to hear from you, Carie

Hugs to all,

Rocquie

 

 

Rocquie, I adore your "Chemo Chic" term! I can guarantee your are rockin' that new short hip haircut. You go!

It is quite strange to think about, from the start of your symptoms to present day. Did all of that really happen within 1 year? I know I think about that constantly, just 9 months ago from the first onset of symptoms did we realize something what wrong... Looking back now, I could keep myself in the butt! Because those drenching night sweats that Kyle exhibited were horrific and yet, we were so nieve. However, no one expects to hear that cancer is in your body or that it is even possible.

Interesting journey, God sets out for all.

You sound like you are doing well though and I am so happy for you. You deserve the best and so much more!

Love,

Michelle

Shoopy said:

Thanks

I'm having it done at Roswell Park Cancer Institute...or Area 51 (as someone here referred to it).  Luckily its only 20 minutes from my house.

That is so nice that you are only 20 mins away. Unfortunately, Kyle is 5 hours away. It's okay tho, I am not going to complain because it is only a 50 min flight. So I have been flying back and forth every weekend. Not too shabby!