mr. clean...

Today, in a preemptive maneuver, I had my head shaved/clipped down tight. My doctor had said that between my first and second treatment my hair would thin/start to fall out, and that within a few days of my second treatment the rest would fall out. I figured this way --1) I chose to have it gone. --2) I get a little time to get used to ALMOST no hair before I am truly hairless. --3) I would be less traumatic/disturbing than my hair coming out in handfuls. So, for now, just call me Mr. Clean.

so far so good...

Made it through the weekend with relatively little side effects -- a little tired, minimal nausea, but no vomiting/diarrhea/constipation. Hooray!!!! I'll take it. If it goes like this the whole time, it will be very tolerable. I will try to post from time to time to everyone up to speed. Bye for now.

starting chemotherapy...

My first chemo treatment is today, I am very nervous about how it will go and what side effects I may have to endure. The appointment starts with a consult with Dr. Hei - that is pretty quick. Next I schedule out my two next appointments - which I will post in a minute. Finally, I go back to the treatment area - my nurse for the day Diana, is very helpful, explains EVERYTHING, and checks on me constantly (so does the rest of the staff in the clinic, including my doctor and the pharmacist). It starts with putting in an IV line, and then giving me three pre-chemo drugs to help with nausea (aloxi, last 5 days), inflammation and healing (decadron, a type of steroid), and finllay a little more help for nausea and anxiety (lorazepam or ativan). After a 30 minute wait, my chemo begins - ABVD (adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine). Three of the drugs (ABV) are pushed right into the IV on after another. The fourth (D) is "infused" over an hour (small continuous dose given using a special machine). After and between treatments, I have been prescribed 2 drugs to help with nausea - zofran (taken every 8 hours) and lorazepam (taken at night typially , but can be repeqted every 6 hour if needed). So, far, I have only had minimal side-effects, a crummy feeling in my tummy, I feel a little warm/pale/clammy, and a slight bit of weak/shakey/muscle tiredness. HURRRAY, so far it is not too bad. -- more to follow.

one more test & the plan is laid out...

Oncology appointment & bone biopsy -- fairly quick consultation with my doctor to discuss the plan of 4 months chemotherapy (ABVD), maybe paired down to 3 if for sure doing radiation, and then possible following it up with short term (2-3 weeks) involved field radiation -- the bone biopsy hurt at times but was not too bad -- I guess 12 year s of martial arts training is a good way to develop focus, breathing, meditation, and resistance to pain after all...who knew-- more to follow.

considering treatment options...

Radiology appointment -- basically a quick consultation, the recommendation is 4 cycles chemotherapy (ABVD) followed by a PET scan to determine if 2½ weeks of invovled field radiation would be needed -- more to follow.

informing friends, students/parents, and fellow instructors...

Forwarded a message to my friends and told my TKD students (adults) or their parents during our regular classes. I put together a letter to explain all the details. A copy of this letter can be found here - MS Word Doc or PDF.

bringing it all together...

Zebbi and I went to the Meriter Cancer Center to meet with my Oncologist, Dr. David Hei on this day. The appointment went well, and Dr. Hei was extremely informative, caring, and listened to our concerns and thoughts. He explained that the type of cancer I have is very slow growing, non aggressive, and has a low chance of recurrence (all GREAT things to hear). He says my treatment may include either radiation, chemotherapy, or both. He said we had some time to investigate/research the best way to treat my cancer, and that he would be presenting my case to a multi-disciplinary committee which would be meeting in the next week. I then scheduled appointments to see a radiologist to discuss radiation therapy, and Dr. Hei again to go through my treatment plan and to have a bone marrow biopsy to rule out cancer having gotten into my marrow AND to establish a baseline reading to compare to later if needed.