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!!!

Stent Success

Yesterday I had a stent holding my right ureter open replaced. The stents typically last only 6-8 weeks before the kidney builds irritating stones around the tube. My new stent will easily last me through the end of my Chemo and will ensure that I keep both kidneys functioning. Based on the amount the tumor had been pinching off the ureter, my Urologist said that he's confident the tumor has shrunk significantly more since my last CT scan. My next progress update showing actual tumor size won't come until the first of February, so this kind of good news was very welcome.

My next Chemo is scheduled for this Friday. I intend to post updates more frequently over the next couple of months now that I'm done taking tests. Stay tuned. Again, thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Happy Holidays from the newest C.P.M.

Christmas has been particularly good this year. I have so much to be grateful for! It's so nice to be in my "good days" during Christmas and New Years, since the first half of my 21 day Chemotherapy cycles can be tough. My next treatment is scheduled on January 2nd, with a minor kidney stent removal surgery on December 29th. It's been nice spending time with family and eating good food. I've taken a few more breaks from the daily quart of carrot juice in my regimen, (please nobody tell my grandma) and I'm feeling great!

The other big news is I've studied for and passed tests for C.P.M. (Certified Purchasing Manager) Modules 2, 3, and 4 all in the month of December. I am now Certified! (http://www.ism.ws/certification/content.cfm?ItemNumber=4674&navItemNumber=5616) My current employer has been a big advocate for continuing education, and it's been nice to be able to keep working toward some of my professional goals in addition to beating cancer. After 3 month at home, I'm very anxious to get back to work. Happy Holidays!

Day 64 - Treatment #4 - 2/3 Done & Progress Continues

Leslie and I have received a lot of requests to post more updates on my progress. Since my last Chemo treatment, I haven't had a lot to report, good or bad, on the progress of the cancer. Another suggestion was more pictures. Well, you're getting both today! What you're not getting is evenly spaced paragraphs or a spellchecked document because this isn't MS Word.

Today I met with a substitute doctor who was a little more open about my progress and the condition of the tumor and type of cancer in general. First, the good news is that the estimate of tumor reduction after the 2nd Chemo of more than 50% actually read 66% on the radiologist's report. The doctor gave me a 95% chance of licking the tumor this time... which gets into the bad news. The chances of Follicular Lymphoma reoccurring after it has gone into remission is 98%. So it's not a matter of if the cancer returns, but when. The up-side is that it will likely come back in similar form and be slow-growing. He also said he estimated I would have a 90% chance of licking it the second time. I am hopeful that with the dietary changes I am making, the cancer will have a tougher time coming back so quickly. Remission could last just a few months, or it could last 5 years or more. I will be closely monitored and it will likely be caught much sooner when it does come back, so treatment should be easier and quicker. Other people doing similar follow-up treatments only do a mild Chemo on a 2 hour lunch break before returning to work the same day. Another up-side is that he told me there are some pretty cool cancer treatment advances in the pipeline. Drug companies have recently had some major breakthroughs that have shown potential to cure some types of cancer. I'm hoping Lymphoma is one of them.

As promised here are a few pictures:

I was having some fun with some of the pills I get to take on a daily basis. Name that movie "Pills are good." Me and my not-so-hairless brother Jeff at Thanksgiving at the Friel's. Kylan thinks he's pretty cool with Dad's beanie!

I received a customized beanie from a friend at work. To her and her friends I am known as "G-Money" Hence the "G$G$" pattern. I don't even want to know how many hours she put into this, but I have to say that other cancer patients were a little jealous. This was definitely blog-worthy.

Day 43 - Tumor shrank more than 50%

Tuesday I had a CT scan done on my abdomen to check what effect the prayers, chemotherapy, daily quart of carrot juice, nasty wheat grass juice, and herbal supplements have had on my tumor.

Good news! The tumor shrank more than 50% after just 2 treatments. Instead of holding a small football in my abdomen, I now have two IPods stacked on top of each other. My Dr. warned me not to expect that kind of progress on my next scan scheduled around 12/29, but because of some of the things she has said, I believe I am on the high end of tumor reduction progress for the first 2 treatments.

Again, I can't say enough how grateful I am for all of your thoughts and prayers. I am truly blessed to have so many thoughtful family members and friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Greg