In my third round of treatment, the familiar landscape of side effects unfolded, marked by increased fatigue in the afternoons and mild nausea from days 3 through 8. Ondansetron efficiently alleviated the nausea, while strategic naps became my allies against the growing tiredness. However, an unexpected challenge emerged on day 12, as a seemingly routine […]
Chapter 16: Side Effects from Round 3 Read More »
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 »
It struck me as intriguing that I felt surprisingly great on days 3 and 4 following each of the initial three rounds. One might assume that after two days of intensive infusions, one would not be in the best shape. Keep this observation in mind as we delve into the experiences of rounds 4, 5,
Chapter 14: Side Effects from Round 2 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 »
As we delve into the intricacies of lab work, a pivotal aspect unfolding across the stages of diagnosis, Watch and Wait, and the intricate steps of treatment, we’ll eschew the labyrinth of technical terms and focus on the key players. CBC with Differential: Consider this a comprehensive backstage pass to my blood’s vital statistics –
Chapter 12: Lab Work 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 »