Day 114 - The Plan for Recovery

I'm not out of the woods yet, but I've finished my last scheduled chemotherapy and am coming out of my bad days nicely. Since I have tenatively committed to returning to work and graduate school full-time on February 16th, I'm fairly confident that going forward, I will only be treated with radiation. That being said, here's what my doctor has planned for me.

On February 10th, I will undergo a PET scan. The purpose of this scan is to see what cancer cells in my body are still active. This scan is different from the previous scans which measured only the size of the tumor. Regardless of size, if the tumor or cancer cells are not actively growing anywhere in my body, then the remaining tumor can be killed with radiation. My Oncologist informed me that at this point, I will beat the cancer, it's just a matter of how. If active cancer cells are still growing, I may need to undergo 1-2 more chemos.

That being said, here's what I do know about my tumor. After the first 2 chemos, it shrank 66%, and after the next 2, it only shrank about 5% more. So the active cells mostly died in the first 2 treatments. Another interesting tidbit about cancer is that it grows when your body is in an acidic state, or less than 6.0 pH. I tested mine this week and my body is in balance leaning toward an alkaline state at 7.0-7.25 pH. So cancer would have a difficult time being active in my body in it's current state. It's only speculation at this point, but I won't know the plan for sure until my Oncologist gets my report on February 12th.

Once I've completed treatment and have beaten the cancer, I hope to dedicate this blog to more uplifting adventures like camping, fishing, and snowboarding. Thank you again for your prayers and support.

Greg

Day 106 - Chemo #6

Today I had my last scheduled chemotherapy treatment. My Oncologist said from the beginning that she hoped to be able to complete my chemotherapy with six treatments, but that it could go to eight if necessary. Since I have already committed to returning to school and work on February 16th, I'm crossing my fingers that this will be the end of chemo. I do expect to go through some radiation once I complete chemo, but I'll take radiation over chemo any day.

I also learned some very good news about my chances of survival and life expectancy. I had met with a substitute doctor six weeks ago who informed me that the chance of reoccurance with my type of cancer was 98%. It was not a matter of if, but when. My regular Oncologist just put that prognosis to rest today. She explained that she didn't know why the substitute doctor said that, but that she expected me to beat this occurance, and that I would have a 70% chance of never seeing it reoccur. HOLY COW that changes my outlook! I'm looking forward to being "normal" again, and it's nice to be able to think that I can still live to be 100 if I take care of myself.

(Added 1/25)
Here's a couple of links to articles that support the increased cure rate for follicular lymphoma:
> http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Outlook_Brighter_for_Patients_With_Follicular_Lymphoma.asp
> http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/follicular-lymphoma-and-rituximab0505

Thank you again for your prayers and support!

Greg

Day 100 - Stent Freedom / Treatment End

Yesterday I had my first day since October 1st without a foreign object in my kidney. That's great news not only because I can move and lift without restriction, but the tumor has shrunk enough that it is no longer resting on the drain pipe for my kidney. To relate, it probably feels most like having a cast taken off a leg after walking on crutches for 3 months.

I have tenatively committed to returning to full-time work and grad school on February 16th (Day 130). Of course this is pending my doctors approval after my 3rd CT scan. I'm excited to have the tumor gone completely. I feel confident the dietary changes I have made over the past 3 months will have a significant impact on the chances of the cancer returning.

For those of you who are LDS, many key phrases in the Word of Wisdom have taken on a new understanding - vs. 14 "...grain is ... to be the staff of life," vs. 17 "wheat for man," and vs. 18-21 "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings ... shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones ... And I, the Lord, give unto thee a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them."

I have learned much about the negative effects of eating sugar and dairy produced using hormones, and eating too much enriched flour and meats. I have also learned much about the positive impacts whole foods have on the body, particularly the properties of wheat. Among other things, wheat grass juice, wheat sprouts, and home-made, whole wheat bread have become staples of my new diet.

Thank you for humoring me with a little of my preaching. And thank you again and again for your hope, faith, and prayers.

Greg

Day 89 - New CT Scan Results Positive

Yesterday I was ordered in for another CT Scan to check the progress of the tumor shrinkage. Although the amount wasn't as drastic as it was on after the first scan, the tumor still showed signs of progress. Due to Holiday eating, I've let some of my healthy herbal remedies drop out of my diet lately. I'm determined to stick through eating the natural herbal pills, carrot & wheat grass juices until my next scan to see what a difference is made. My next CT Scan will likely be in early February.

Last Friday, January 2nd I received my 5th of 6 Chemotherapy treatments. From everything I've been told, my 6th treatment (January 23rd) will be my last. Follow-up after #6 will likely be some minor radiation and may allow me to go back to work and normal life. Yeah!!!