Wrestling with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma by Bob Cook
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Lumpy Bob 