Another Medical Update from Mitch

Hello family.

Looks like another sleepless night for me.  A good nights rest seems
like such a long time ago.  In fact, it was a long time ago.  What I
wouldn’t give for a Kings Down mattress right now.  (only the most
comfortable mattress ever, right Linda Gail?)

Well, as ya’ll know, Robin and I returned to MD Anderson in Houston
last Tuesday.  We drove.  I left Savannah at 3 AM and we arrived in
Houston about 6:30 PM.  Surprisingly, I fared quite well and wasn’t too
tired.  However, the next day was a constant sprint from appointment to
appointment.  It was an all day affair and I was not allowed to eat or
drink anything from 7 AM until 6 PM because of all the medical tests in
which I participated.  Fortunately, I had all day Thursday to
recuperate and truly needed the rest.  Friday I met with the lead
doctor assigned my case, Dr. Hagemeister, who gave me some rather good
news.  He is taking the bone marrow transplant off the table.  It
appears that I am responding so well to the R-CHOP chemo, he now does
not see a need to expose me to the harsh and tedious issues surrounding
bone marrow transplantation, at least for right now anyway.  Dr.
Hagemeister was very frank, however.  He reminded me that he fully
suspects the cancer to return in “2,3,or 4 years” and will move
directly to bone marrow or stem cell transplant at that time.  His
reasoning is this ….. each time the lymphoma occurs and I receive
treatment, my options for combating the cancer dwindles.  For example,
I can only go through R-CHOP chemo once in my life.  I can never be
exposed to it again.  Therefore, I am limited to what can be done at
the next occurrence.  In Dr. Hagemeister’s opinion, if I can get four
more years of survivability before exhausting yet another treatment
option, then that’s the best approach.  Save the big guns for last.
 Does that make sense to ya’ll?  Hope so.  I am have been having a hard
time with words recently.

This past Monday I returned to Summit Cancer Care in Savannah for round
three of R-CHOP chemo.  It was intense from the beginning.  As soon as
I entered the chemo room I became rather ill.  The chemical smell, the
plastic tubing, the chemo chairs, the chemo-bald people staring at my
chemo-bald self, it all combined to make me almost instantly ill.
 Nurse Becky was really nice and gave me time to collect myself.  She
gave me an immediate injection of some potent anti-nausea medication,
which made me feel better.  The first three hours I slept from the IV
of benadryl.  The next two or three hours I suffered.  I then had to
wear the chemo pump home for two more days with an Adriamyacin drip
which feeds directly into my chest.  I felt ill for almost all of the
two days.  I was so glad when Wednesday afternoon arrived and I got the
portable pump removed.  Unfortunately, I still continue to battle the
sick feeling.  This morning about 4 AM I became very nauseous and had
to quickly put on my Relied Band (google “Relief Band” if you want
further explanation ….. I got mine from aeromedix.com).  Within five minutes I began feeling much better.  My relief band and I are becoming such good friends.

Today I felt about 75%, which is okay.  I just wish I could be normal
again and enjoy being outside and doing things, and cutting grass, and
running in the morning, and not having to take wierd medicine, and
being able to blow dry hair, and blah blah blah.  I tire so easily now.
 I look in the mirror and feel so disgusting.  I just want it to be all
over.  I want to go for one day without thinking of cancer and just
enjoy myself.  Alright, I see myself gettting repetitive.  Next topic.

I have two new kittens, Konnee and Goldilocks, but I think I told ya’ll
about them in a previous email.  Let’s see, there’s Big Head, Gray
Kitty, Black KItty, Little Girl, Miss Fuzzy, Missy, Marla, Pearle,
Konnee, and Goldilocks.  WOW ….. I know, I know …… that makes me
an official cat wierdo.  I accept the title.  Thank you very much.

I have been thinking about Wiggles today.  I don’t know what it is, but
there is something special about that dog.  I feel better when I’m
around her.  It’s like she has a spirit that projects into you.  It’s
like she can read so vividly your emotions.  It is no coincidence that
she appeared when she did.  She’s a special dog.

Well, I’m running out of things to say.  Maybe I should lay in bed and
stare at the ceiling some more.  My eyes are tired, but my brain is in
full gear.

By the way, our first cousin, Sandra Pierce (used to be Sandra Tuten,
Abe’s sister), has been communicating with me regularly and giving me
some great support.  She battled cancer not too long ago and can relate
so well to all that I am going through.  She has been very diligent
about keeping in contact and checking on me.  I am very appreciative of
her and somewhat ashamed that I have allowed all these years to pass
without trying to stay in better contact with our kin.  We really have
some dear dear precious family members.  Uncle Edwin has even twice now
sent me checks to help pay my travel expenses to and from Houston.  How
special is that!  I have a lot of catching-up and paying-back to do,
which gives me even more resolve to beat this thing.

Thanks for listening, ya’ll.  I’ll stay in contact.  I hope to see some of you soon.

Mitch