So Blaine gets a fever, it lasts a day or two, and I call the oncologist. Since he starts stem-cell prep therapy Thursday and cannot have any nasty bacteria hanging around in his blood, the doc says to come in to the ER and get evaluated for pneumonia. WHAT?! Did I mention that it's Friday night? Late? No way, says Blaine. Doc says he'll call in an antibiotic to be sure. I drive to Keene where a 24 hour pharmacy is located, get the scrip, and head home. He takes it, goes back to sleep, and I go to work. Yep, work. Get home, don't get to sleep until it's almost dawn. Blaine improves, his lungs aren't as tight. (Whew!) Spikes fever again Saturday, and that night. Stays home Sunday (unheard of) and rests (me, too). This is good. Feels somewhat better. High powered antibiotics wipe him out, he sleeps a lot for a few days. Monday, still has a fever. Doc says come in, they draw blood to check his white counts, take a chest x-ray, talk. White counts fine, x-ray clear. Blaine says we're a bunch of worry-warts. He may be right.
Quote of the month: "Mom," says Kyle, "I love to feel your cheeks." (He had reached up and touched my face a few times, I was charmed.) "They're sorta roughish, like leather! :)
Smile! And have a nice day.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
REMISSION!!!
I am in Remission.... sounds good doesn't it? I learn something new with every appointment. Today I learned that there are different stages/phases of remission. My remission is VG-Remission, the VG meaning Very Good Remission (this is the actual, medical terminology). This means I no longer have M-protein spikes, they're still detectable in my blood- but the counts are very low. Complete remission comes hopefully after the Bone Marrow Transplant.
I think this is VG news (very good news).
Also, I am done with my 5th cycle of chemo, effective immediately. No more Revlimid, no more dexamethosone (steroids)-also VG news.
It also means that everything gets very serious with the Bone Marrow Transplant. The plan is for me to get my serious round of chemo (Cytoxin) on July 2. I'll get very sick (not VG), I'll lose my hair (not VG), and my immunity system will be down (not VG). From July 13-15, collection of my own Stem Cells takes place. They will have one IV in my right arm, and another in my left. They will draw blood out of one side, run it through a machine that will separate the Stem Cells from the blood-similar to dialysis. The blood goes back into my body through the other IV. The stem cells will be stored until transplant. August 3rd I enter the hospital, August 6th will be the actual transplant. Once I enter the hospital, I will remain there for a month. Not VG.
As has been stated in previous post's, this is exactly what we have been hoping and praying for.
Bottom line; today has been a VG day.
Blaine
I think this is VG news (very good news).
Also, I am done with my 5th cycle of chemo, effective immediately. No more Revlimid, no more dexamethosone (steroids)-also VG news.
It also means that everything gets very serious with the Bone Marrow Transplant. The plan is for me to get my serious round of chemo (Cytoxin) on July 2. I'll get very sick (not VG), I'll lose my hair (not VG), and my immunity system will be down (not VG). From July 13-15, collection of my own Stem Cells takes place. They will have one IV in my right arm, and another in my left. They will draw blood out of one side, run it through a machine that will separate the Stem Cells from the blood-similar to dialysis. The blood goes back into my body through the other IV. The stem cells will be stored until transplant. August 3rd I enter the hospital, August 6th will be the actual transplant. Once I enter the hospital, I will remain there for a month. Not VG.
As has been stated in previous post's, this is exactly what we have been hoping and praying for.
Bottom line; today has been a VG day.
Blaine
Monday, June 15, 2009
Blaine and Marleigh's favorite child...
Hey everyone, this is Dani. My dad asked me to do a post, and since I wasn't sure what to say this is what my dad said to tell you:
"Tell them that your dad is making you post this and he's a big meanie."
True story.
Haha, don't worry though, he's not a big meanie and I am in fact posting this of my own free will. Just to let you know, my dad is going in for another appointment tomorrow up at Dartmouth, and we'll be hearing what the new news is then. Cross your fingers...
Just some definitions....
Cancer: A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
Multiple Myeloma: A type of cancer that begins in plasma cells (white blood cells that produce antibodies).
Remission: A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer still may be in the body.
Bone Marrow Transplant: A procedure to replace bone marrow that has been destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or radiation. Transplantation may be autologous (an individuals own marrow saved before treatment), allogeneic (marrow donated by someone else), or syngeneic (marrow donated by an identical twin). (They're going to do an autologous transplant with my dad, and then if it doesn't work they'll do allogeneic. The doctors are pretty confident the autologous one is going to do the job :) ).
"Tell them that your dad is making you post this and he's a big meanie."
True story.
Haha, don't worry though, he's not a big meanie and I am in fact posting this of my own free will. Just to let you know, my dad is going in for another appointment tomorrow up at Dartmouth, and we'll be hearing what the new news is then. Cross your fingers...
Just some definitions....
Cancer: A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
Multiple Myeloma: A type of cancer that begins in plasma cells (white blood cells that produce antibodies).
Remission: A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer still may be in the body.
Bone Marrow Transplant: A procedure to replace bone marrow that has been destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or radiation. Transplantation may be autologous (an individuals own marrow saved before treatment), allogeneic (marrow donated by someone else), or syngeneic (marrow donated by an identical twin). (They're going to do an autologous transplant with my dad, and then if it doesn't work they'll do allogeneic. The doctors are pretty confident the autologous one is going to do the job :) ).
Cure: To heal or restore health; a treatment to restore health.
Sometime I need to do a serious blog about what's going on with my dad, but let me summarize what's going on right now. Two weeks ago my dad went in for restaging, which is like a re-evaluation of what stage the cancer's at, where it's spreading, etc. For him restaging means an MRI as well as they've got to get another sample of his bone marrow. All of the lab results from my dad's chemo treatments have been so good that we're hoping the doctors are going to say he's in remission. GREAT, right??!!? YES, yes yes yes YES yes YES it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If, tomorrow when my dad gets his bone-marrow-lab results back, the doctors declare he is in remission, THEN that means a couple of things.
1) My dad won't have to do his next rounds of chemo (wicked good news, trust me)
2) He has to start getting ready for a BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT.
Sweet, huh? Well, kinda. It's great because that means he's on his way to being cured. First, however, they have to give him a HUGE dose of chemotherapy that will completely kill his immune system and all of his bone marrow (healthy and sick). Then, they are going to regrow that bone marrow using healthy bone marrow they've harvested from his own body. Hopefully the bone marrow will grow more healthy bone marrow, replacing all of the cancerous bone marrow. I'm sure I don't have this down completely correct, but that's the basic gist of it.The way my dad is recovering is literally a miracle. Most multiple myeloma patients aren't given much of a chance, and, as of yet, there isn't a cure. However, we believe in a Heavenly Father who can do all things and will, as long as it is in accordance with His will.
Thank you so so much to everyone who has prayed, fasted, and just been there with us through everything. Prayer really does work, and what is happening with my dad is evidence of that. Thanks so much for all that you do! I don't like using cliches, but your friendship does mean everything, and you will always have a special place in our hearts and home.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Door #4 ????
I just spoke with Dr. Reddy (Hematology/Oncology Fellow) and the results are not all in. They are still waiting on the Bone Marrow results (which is the big one) and the X-rays. He said the MRI looked better than the last one I had in April. The Lab results continue to look good.
I'm taking 2 Chemo medications; Revlimid and Velcade. In addition to the Chemo medicine I'm also taking Dexamethasone, which is a Steroid (but not the kind that makes me look like a body builder). I also have pills for bone strength, bad stomach, nausea, sleeping, as well as vitamin supplements.
So here is the dilemma... we are not going to have all the results back by Monday. My next cycle (if we are to continue the cycles) is scheduled to begin Monday.
When I posted about my options, I thought there were 3. Apparently, Door #4 is a hybrid of Door #1 and Door #2. I am going to start my 5th cycle, but only take the Revlimid and the Steroids- not Velcade. This is good (I guess) because the Velcade requires an infusion at the hospital. The Revlimid, I take orally. Wake up in the morning, take all my pills, then get to work.
So that's where we are at right now... We'll see what happens when all the results come in.
Blaine
I'm taking 2 Chemo medications; Revlimid and Velcade. In addition to the Chemo medicine I'm also taking Dexamethasone, which is a Steroid (but not the kind that makes me look like a body builder). I also have pills for bone strength, bad stomach, nausea, sleeping, as well as vitamin supplements.
So here is the dilemma... we are not going to have all the results back by Monday. My next cycle (if we are to continue the cycles) is scheduled to begin Monday.
When I posted about my options, I thought there were 3. Apparently, Door #4 is a hybrid of Door #1 and Door #2. I am going to start my 5th cycle, but only take the Revlimid and the Steroids- not Velcade. This is good (I guess) because the Velcade requires an infusion at the hospital. The Revlimid, I take orally. Wake up in the morning, take all my pills, then get to work.
So that's where we are at right now... We'll see what happens when all the results come in.
Blaine
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday...
The testing on Wednesday was in some ways better than expected; the MRI was an 'open' tube so I could see light out of both sides of the tube-didn't feel nearly as confining. Xray's and Lab's were the easy part. The hard part was still the Bone Marrow Biopsy... Still very painful and uncomfortable. Thank goodness for drugs.
So now that Wednesday has come and gone, we get to wait a week or so for all the results to come back. I'm still optimistic about Door #2... Remission, then Bone Marrow Transplant.
We'll let you know as soon as we find out. Thank you for all the kind 'comments' on the blog as well as the emails.
Blaine
So now that Wednesday has come and gone, we get to wait a week or so for all the results to come back. I'm still optimistic about Door #2... Remission, then Bone Marrow Transplant.
We'll let you know as soon as we find out. Thank you for all the kind 'comments' on the blog as well as the emails.
Blaine
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Queue Sound Effects...
So tomorrow I go in for "Re-Staging" (queue dramatic sound effects). This means a very long day. It starts with an hour long presentation that I'm conducting for my employment (Omni Touch Contact Center- Premium Edition- very exciting stuff. I'll send you the Power Point if your interested : ).
Then we drive (very fast) to DHMC in Hanover for 10am Xrays, an 11am MRI (I hate MRI's- Big guy, small tube- not a good combination), 12 noon Labs, a 1:30 meeting with our oncology fellow (Dr. Reddy- very nice man), and finally 2:30 Bone Marrow biopsy (again, queue sound effects- the scary kind). Didn't do so well the last time I had the biopsy- took them several 'attempts' for them to get what they needed. I say attempts but it was more like several stabbings/diggings/scrapes/torture. Very uncomfortable/painful. Hopefully tomorrow goes better.
Now, I'm generally a very low key guy- not much gets me too worked up (OK- the news that I had cancer worked me up pretty good- but generally). So I'm not going to get too excited about tomorrow. As I see it tomorrow holds several possibilities.
Door #1- the Chemo could be working and I continue on through the 8 cycles that were originally scheduled.
Door #2- the Chemo is really working and they say no more cycles (I'm just finishing up my 4th cycle) and they use the big 'R' word... (queue good sound effect - Remission). At this point we start to talk seriously about the Bone Marrow transplant (queue ominous sound effect).
Door #3- the chemo is not working- back to the drawing board (queue sad sound effects).
I'm also a pretty optimistic guy- I think generally things will work out for the best. I honestly believe I get what is behind Door #2. I believe that the chemo is working and I believe that we are going to move to the next phase- Bone Marrow transplant. I know, be careful what you wish for... But obviously, this holds the best chance for me to survive. Marleigh has posted previously what the bone marrow transplant entails; 3 weeks in the hospital, a serious round of chemo that will kill my living bone marrow (good and bad), wipe out my immune system, certainly take my hair, as well as affect my digestion system in such a way that I may finally lose those 20 pounds I've needed to lose for years (told you I was an optimist). They will then give me my own, previously harvested stem cells, which will regrow a hopefully cancer free marrow (what a world we live in).
Now my optimism is based on a lot of faith/prayers/fasts/more prayers/a great medical team. Ultimately, my fate lies in God's hands, but I feel like we're doing all we can to beat this thing. I know that there is not yet a cure for what I have, but I honestly believe I have a lot of years ahead of me, that I'll get to experience all those husband and fatherly things; weddings, missions, graduations, 30th year wedding anniversaries to the Bahamas/Hawaii/wherever. I honestly believe that I'll be around when they do come up with the cure (queue Hallelujah sound effects). I know what your thinking; it's a fine line between optimism and 'this guys not thinking straight'. But all I can say is... the right things will happen.
Blaine
Then we drive (very fast) to DHMC in Hanover for 10am Xrays, an 11am MRI (I hate MRI's- Big guy, small tube- not a good combination), 12 noon Labs, a 1:30 meeting with our oncology fellow (Dr. Reddy- very nice man), and finally 2:30 Bone Marrow biopsy (again, queue sound effects- the scary kind). Didn't do so well the last time I had the biopsy- took them several 'attempts' for them to get what they needed. I say attempts but it was more like several stabbings/diggings/scrapes/torture. Very uncomfortable/painful. Hopefully tomorrow goes better.
Now, I'm generally a very low key guy- not much gets me too worked up (OK- the news that I had cancer worked me up pretty good- but generally). So I'm not going to get too excited about tomorrow. As I see it tomorrow holds several possibilities.
Door #1- the Chemo could be working and I continue on through the 8 cycles that were originally scheduled.
Door #2- the Chemo is really working and they say no more cycles (I'm just finishing up my 4th cycle) and they use the big 'R' word... (queue good sound effect - Remission). At this point we start to talk seriously about the Bone Marrow transplant (queue ominous sound effect).
Door #3- the chemo is not working- back to the drawing board (queue sad sound effects).
I'm also a pretty optimistic guy- I think generally things will work out for the best. I honestly believe I get what is behind Door #2. I believe that the chemo is working and I believe that we are going to move to the next phase- Bone Marrow transplant. I know, be careful what you wish for... But obviously, this holds the best chance for me to survive. Marleigh has posted previously what the bone marrow transplant entails; 3 weeks in the hospital, a serious round of chemo that will kill my living bone marrow (good and bad), wipe out my immune system, certainly take my hair, as well as affect my digestion system in such a way that I may finally lose those 20 pounds I've needed to lose for years (told you I was an optimist). They will then give me my own, previously harvested stem cells, which will regrow a hopefully cancer free marrow (what a world we live in).
Now my optimism is based on a lot of faith/prayers/fasts/more prayers/a great medical team. Ultimately, my fate lies in God's hands, but I feel like we're doing all we can to beat this thing. I know that there is not yet a cure for what I have, but I honestly believe I have a lot of years ahead of me, that I'll get to experience all those husband and fatherly things; weddings, missions, graduations, 30th year wedding anniversaries to the Bahamas/Hawaii/wherever. I honestly believe that I'll be around when they do come up with the cure (queue Hallelujah sound effects). I know what your thinking; it's a fine line between optimism and 'this guys not thinking straight'. But all I can say is... the right things will happen.
Blaine
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