Dec 31st Update - Treatment 4

Had treatment on 12/30 and will get Neulasta shot on 12/31 to help increase white blood cells. So it's the day after my chemo and I feel ALOT better than after the 3rd treatment.

Keys I believe to success so far less than 24 hours after 4th treatment:
-I drank a gallon of water the day before treatment
-exercised lightly for a hour the day before
-started taking nasua medicine the day before instead of day of
-started making smoothies a week after 3rd treatment that includes more than recomended daily allowances in fruits/veggies. Take 3 times a week
-Lastly, took neulasta shot for first time after 3rd treatment so white blood cells are way up.

On another note…..HAPPY NEW YEAR AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BEATING THIS DISEASE IN 2010!!!!!

Dec 25th Update

I am soooo thankful for everything going on in my life.

I'm surrounded by such a loving and positive family, incredible friends who have helped and supported my wife and I though this. Also, I really enjoy my friendly coworkers and working at my current place of employment, Lockheed Martin.

Life is too short to be surrounded by too much negativity and doing things you don't want to do. Why do some people put themselves though that???

HAPPINESS, HAPPINESS, AND HAPPINESS along with HEALTH and HUMOR is.........THE ULTIMATE MEANING OF LIFE I've found!!!!

Happy Holidays to all!!!!

Dec 22nd Update

So the third treatment was rougher than the 1st and 2nd combined. I had it on Dec 17th and felt nauseous, sick at stomach, headaches, tired etc. for 4 days. For the first two treatments that went away after 2 days, guess it's just getting more into my system now.

I took a shot of Neulasta the day after which is to help increase my white blood count and should last for 2 weeks instead of the Neupagen that I was taking which lasted a few days.

I'm much better today and actually played a little tennis last night for exercise so that was good. Also, I'm happy to be done with Christmas shopping. Since I'm supposed to stay away from large crowds I did most of my shopping over the internet, very easy. My next treatment is scheduled for the 30th of December.

Happy Holidays to all......

No Chemo This Week - 12/9

Supposed to have Chemo today but too low of white blood count. Will try again next week. Also, instead of Nupagen will be taking something called Neulasta. It's around $7,000 for one shot so it better work.

Catching Up

Dec 5 - High Level timeline....Catching everyone up to speed.

Total out-of-pocket costs incurred: $125 medicine/parking, $1025 doctor visits & 2 surgeries, $820 sperm bank holdings for 1 year.

11/25 - 2nd treatment. Felt fine for thanksgiving so I was able to eat everything in sight. Have to now start giving myself a shot (Nupagen) every day after treatment for 5 days since white blood counts have been low. I hate shots!!!

11/18 - supposed to have 2nd treatment but white blood cell count was too low.

11/3 - first chemo treatment/1st infusion

11/2 - surgery to install port so chemo could be injected easier.

10/19 - 10/23 - sperm bank visits before starting chemo,

10/19 - saw oncologist at Kaiser for first time. Told I have Stage IIAX Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

10/16 - went to radiology for PET scan for a more in depth look at lymph nodes.

10/2 - 10/15 - another CT scan with dye, more blood work, had surgery - lymph node removed for further diagnosis, talked alot with Judy's dad who is an oncologist.

10/2 - Found out through primary care that I might have something called Lymphoma.

All of Sept - Various testings: CT scan with dye, CT scan with Barium, stress test, pulmonary function test, EKG, and blood work. Findings - nothing wrong with chest but noticed enlarged lymph nodes.

Beginning of Sept - Saw doctor and recommended several test b/c of chest pain

End of August - Had chest pain & Judy made me go see a doctor

First Blog - Catching up....

This is my first blog. Just a test to see if this works.