With the reassuring validation of a clear chest x-ray, I progressed into the realm of round 3 of my treatment journey on April 13, 2023. Prior to each treatment round, the routine blood tests and a thorough physical examination by Dr. Rajguru or one of his adept Nurse Practitioners (NP) were customary. A noticeable change […]
Chapter 15: Round 3 of Treatment Read More »
March 16, 2023, marked the initiation of my second round of treatment—a familiar terrain, yet each step forward brought its nuances. The protocol mirrored Round 1, but with a notable adjustment: the Rituximab infusion on Day 1 was at a standard rate, a testament to successfully weathering the initial round. Pre-treatment rituals persisted, with the
Chapter 13: Round 2 of Treatment Read More »
Having completed my initial set of treatments, it was time to confront the aftermath—or more aptly put, the side effects. Armed with the expectation of chemo-induced nausea and vomiting, I took proactive measures, ordering disposable puke bags from Amazon. These oversized contraptions, resembling giant condoms, had caught my eye at various running races, where they
Chapter 11: Side Effects from Round 1 Read More »
Having completed the first two rounds of induction therapy, the landscape of my daily routine transformed into a meticulous dance of medications, each serving a distinct purpose in averting nausea, fortifying against infections, and mitigating toxicity. Let’s delve into the breakdown of my prescribed regimen. To set the stage, upon entering therapy, I bid adieu
Chapter 10: Daily Medications Read More »
February 16, 2023, marked the initiation of my treatment—a journey into the unknown realm of chemotherapy, a domain I had never ventured into before. With limited firsthand experiences to draw upon, the uncertainty was palpable. Fortunately, being a participant in an official clinical study meant having a Study Coordinator by my side. Jessica, a beacon
Chapter 9: Round 1 of Treatment Read More »
Navigating conversations about cancer, especially when it’s of the non-curative kind like MCL, is a delicate dance. My family and close friends were in the loop about my MCL diagnosis, yet the extended watch-and-wait period seemed to lull them into a state where the subject rarely surfaced. It’s an uncomfortable topic, and I understand; people
Chapter 8: Faith, Family, Friends Read More »
Following the eye-opening PET scan in January 2023 that revealed a substantial uptick in uptake in my left pelvic area, it was clear that a more decisive course of action was needed. A bone marrow biopsy and a biopsy of the left pelvic area were slated. The results from the bone marrow biopsy unveiled a
Chapter 7: Clinical Study Read More »
With my cancer management plan in place, life settled into a routine of quarterly blood tests and physical exams, punctuated by an annual PET scan to track the subtle nuances of my Mantel Cell Lymphoma (MCL). In the realm of watch and wait for MCL, the general trajectory tends to usher most into actual treatment
Chapter 6: Watch and Wait Read More »
Now armed with an official staging, it was time to formulate a plan. My Oncologist presented a decision matrix, considering factors such as my age (58), overall good health, and Mantel Cell staging at 3, coupled with a Ki-67 exceeding 20%. The suggestion on the table: an autologous stem cell transplant. Quite the WTF moment,
Chapter 5: A Second Opinion Read More »
With the initial diagnostic tests behind me, the focus shifted to unraveling the stage at which my cancer stood. The bone marrow biopsy yielded a reassuring outcome – no detectable cancer in the bone marrow. Simultaneously, the PET scan showcased a lack of active cancer in major organs, yet pinpointed areas of concern, particularly in
Chapter 4: Stage 3 MCL Read More »