Month: December 2019

Poisoned, but OK

~ Bob Cook ~ 1 Comment

Poison: a substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism when introduced or absorbed. Yeah, that’s chemotherapy.

As a cancer survivor (I choose that label over patient or victim) I’d rather not talk about death but it’s necessary. I have cells in my body that are growing out of control. If I ignore them they will kill me. So, my choice is to kill them first. Following the advice of two medical professionals, we are chasing after these rogue cells with a variety of poisons.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer, similar to Leukemia, but located in my lymphatic system (not bones), so injecting these medicines into my blood system gets right after them directly. No creams, no pills, no surgery.

What is this toxic cocktail?

1. A vesicant; causes extensive tissue damage. It stops cancer cells ability to multiply and they die. It’s classified as an antitumor antibiotic and is made from natural products produced by a soil fungus Streptomyces! Unfortunately it is indiscriminate and other body cells get beat up too. Cells in the mouth, stomach, bowel and hair follicles result in infamous side effects.

2. A multiclonal antibody. Causes rapid destruction of cancer cells. This targeted antibody attaches to the cancer cells and marks them for destruction by the immune system.

3. An alkylating agent damages a cell’s ability to copy itself. When cells are unable to divide, they die.

4. A plant alkaloid. Now you’re talking my language. This class of chemotherapy drugs can come from Vinca (Periwinkle) and the Pacific Yew (Taxus) and the May Apple or the Asian Happy Tree (Camptotheca) They also stops cells from dividing.

Sure, each one of these components has it’s own side effects but they should only last as long as the treatment. In my case about three months. Looking forward to April.

Better

~ Bob Cook ~ 2 Comments

The doctor’s office visit yesterday was timely and very helpful. He adjusted my blood pressure medicine so that I no longer have chest pressure or heart palpitations. B.P. near normal now.

My appetite is spotty and energy level is down but I was able to do some gardening and housework today…just at a slower speed.

Oh, judging only by feel, the lump is gone, only seven days after chemotherapy. Doctor said the aggressive forms of NHL respond quickly to chemo.

Happy Day

Nitro for Christmas

~ Bob Cook ~ 1 Comment

Feeling drained, we are all laying low for Christmas. My blood pressure is still somewhat elevated and I feel it. Throbbing and pressure, eventually the discomfort returned to my chest. So, time for the prescribed nitroglycerin tablet. Dissolve one (tiny) tablet under tongue. If pains continue, repeat in 5 minutes. If pain continues, dial 9-1-1.

Thank God the one tablet worked. Amazing how it immediately opened my veins and gave relief. The pressure is off and I feel much better. Ice cream for desert.

This Christmas is getting better by the minute.

I’ll see my medical doctor tomorrow to be sure I have the right blood pressure meds.

A Bump in the Road

~ Bob Cook ~ 3 Comments

After church on Sunday my heart was beating harder and faster than usual. Not the normal flutters after too much caffeine or exhaustion. And a new sensation: Slight, fleeting tightness in the center of my chest.

We stopped at Walgreens for an accurate blood pressure measurement. It was high (161/110) but she suggested we call the doctor and/or go to the E.R. We did both.

When you walk into the emergency room with “chest pain” they have an immediate response of get you in the wheelchair, zoom to the exam room, attach sensors, get vitals, draw blood and conclusions. After the flurry of probes and pages of questions they ruled out stroke and heart attack but because my father had a heart attack in his ’60’s, they insisted I stay overnight and see the pulmonary team.

New to me: A nitroglycerine patch stuck to my chest. It slowly leaked nitro-paste into my system. It is a vasodilator that improved circulation and delivered a headache.

It was a typical, stressful, non-restful night in a shared hospital room. Neighbor’s TV, hall lights, slamming doors, helpful employees checking vitals, drawing blood three times looking for “markers” of heart attack. Hard to sleep with this battery pack/dial instrument like a walkie talkie in the front pocket of the gown, attached to five colorful wires glued to my chest that recorded my heartbeat during my stay. I slept from midnight until 4:00 AM when the alarm went off.

My unseen but clearly-heard neighbor across the hallway was an elderly lady who wanted to leave against the will of her caregivers. So they attached a device that alerted them when she escaped her bed. Loud, high-pitched beeps, four in a row, repeated until they went to her room and told her it’s still bedtime, several times.

Thank God for daylight, but no breakfast. I was under nothing-by-mouth orders in case they had to do surgery. I was the first one down to Pulmonary and four hours of heart exams; CAT scan, MRI, Echocardiogram and the stress test. I actually looked forward to all these analyses. Because of family history I wondered the same thing: How is my heart?

Summary: My heart is in excellent shape but the stress of chemotherapy has elevated my blood pressure. So, my love affair with coffee has ended and daily meds are added. And we’ve added new daily habits of checking temperature and blood pressure. And taking a walk.

The Next Day

~ Bob Cook ~ 1 Comment

I feel relatively good. A little tired, a little sore but clear headed and awake. I have an appetite and, um, normal digestion. For a few days I can’t lift anything more that 10 pounds because of the mediport stitches. And it hurts to turn my head too far because it seems to pull on the imbedded tube. The doctor was right about the Prednisone. I feel somewhat energetic but very cautious about what chores to tackle and what can wait.

We have a tree branch that has been rubbing on the side of the house giving that perfect haunted house scratch-screech when the wind blows at 3:00 AM. I instructed my wife Cheryl how to operate the Sawzall with tree blade and she tackled it.

We’ll be returning to the Cancer Center today to replace the vase of flowers I dropped off last week. Flowers make people smile.

How?

~ Bob Cook ~ 1 Comment

“If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and has used Round Up, you may be entitled to significant compensation!” says a perky non-attorney spokesperson. The barrage of commercials has successfully linked a disease with a product, in our minds.

So, full disclosure: I sell Roundup, I handle it, I use it, I have a jug in my shed. Can I blame the blue jug?

First, cancer has been around far longer than all pesticides. Roundup has only been in existence since the 1970’s. So, let’s ask medical professionals about the cause of this cancer.

“The exact cause of NHL is not known but there are risk factors that may increase a person likelihood of developing this disease.” Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This predominantly older, white men disease happens more often if you are: Obese, are genetically inclined, have autoimmune disease, AIDS, or organ transplant recipient. Exposure to certain viruses and bacteria are associated with NHL. And “A number of environmental and occupational factors have also been associated with NHL.” Like farming and exposure to certain pesticides. “The number of lymphoma cases caused by such exposures has not been determined.”

And, from the American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/causes-risks-prevention/what-causes.html

Click on the link below for an article I wrote last year about the long list of possible and probable carcinogens. Have you ever breathed gasoline fumes, diesel exhaust, paint fumes, cigarette smoke, or sawdust? Please don’t tell me you have ever eaten red meat or drunk alcohol…

https://cardboardpalm.org/category/round-up/

Cancer causes are muddy waters. But cancer cures are the clear waters I am wading through now.

Chemo Day

~ Bob Cook

Good news: I did not eat cookies, so I did not toss them.

I’ve heard and read stories of chemotherapy reactions; Nausea, vomiting, pain, seizures, fever and more. But none of them happened…yet.

Preparing for the treatment.

Today’s massive regimen of medicines were designed to avert those issues and still kill the cancer cells. It started by swallowing two pills that interfere with the vomiting signals for 5 days. Add two Tylenol. Then along came this massive hypodermic needle piercing my abdomen to stop nausea.

The first bag of liquid rinsed the IV port and line, then on with the meds: Five of them. The component package is called R-CHOP. Each letter of the acronym represents a different medicine. The first bag that took about four hours tested my ability to tolerate the others. Nurses said the first hour is when the patient would react negatively. It started off at a weak strength and increased by 50 cc’s every ½ hour. Mid way I started to develop a mild allergic reaction: Sore throat and itchy inner ears that felt exactly like hay fever. But they unplugged it, gave me something to counteract the reaction, pumped some saline, then continued at a lower strength, eventually draining the bag with no more issues.

Then came the “red devil”. This raspberry Jello-looking goop was too thick to drip through the lines so they “pushed” it with this wide plastic syringe into the IV lines. Finally, other pouches of clear liquids concluded the day.

I had a normal hunger and thirst all day although I felt groggy. Volunteers wandered through the treatment room offering snacks, drinks and warm blankets. The chair was a comfortable recliner and I was instructed to bring along any food, book, or entertainment device. I slept on and off.

The treatment took 9 hours. We opened and closed the joint.

On the way home we picked up a prescription to prevent nausea and Prednisone. Doctor says it will make me energetic, hungry, sleepless and in five days I will crash.

To play it safe I’m enjoying oatmeal for dinner.

Drip.

~ Bob Cook ~ 2 Comments

Six hours into a 9 hour treatment. Note to self: When you tell the nurse “I feel a little funny”, three of them will suddenly surround your chair, disconnect the chemo, hit you with a shot of Benadryl and a steroid. The itchy throat immediately vanished. Then some saline for a break and back to the bag.

My shadow. Emotional support IV rack.

A New Lump, Installed

~ Bob Cook ~ 4 Comments
Illustration of Medi Port After Install

You know when you get a splinter, your skin around it hurts/itches/burns? That’s how this port feels, for now. It will heal in another week. There are two incision points and this quarter-sized knob is just below the skin. The port has this soft space where they will use to inject chemotherapy. A tube goes from the port, under my skin, to a large vein in my neck. It’s better than stabbing my arm or hand every time. This port stays implanted as long as I need chemo. Maybe more than a year.

We will meet with the doctor this morning for his plan to see what med’s they’ll be using and for how long. Bracing for side effects.