4/11/2012
It’s time for
some information updating for those who are curious.
I spent last
Wednesday through Saturday back at the Uniklinik Freiburg for the second round
of chemotherapy aimed at preparing my system for the harvesting of stem cells
from my own blood supply. All things considered
I tolerated it well with no overt (actually losing lunch) nausea. Here’s a shot of the chemo cocktails hanging
on my IV pole.
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| Cocktail Time! |
This week I began
self-injections of meds to boost my white blood counts in preparation for a
“good harvest”. Blood tests are
scheduled to monitor levels and optimize the harvest schedule. Timing is fairly crucial on this – the aim is
to harvest when the stem cells are being “pushed” by the bone marrow into the
blood supply but before they actually do all their differentiation and become
what they will morph into. Harvesting (aka
apheresis) is done through running the blood out one arm through the device
that selects out the stem cells and then running what’s left back into the
other arm. The good stuff is further
treated to optimize it and then frozen for later transplantation.
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| Not actually me. |
April 25 is my
tentative entry date for the three-week stay at the Uniklinik. Here the high dose chemo will be applied and
I will hopefully say my last farewell to lymphoma lurking in my body. I hope that my success in tolerating chemo so
far bodes well for minimal side effects here but this stuff will be pretty
heavy duty. (BEAM is the protocol for
those in the chemo know). A few days later the stem cells are given back and we
wait out the aftereffects of chemo and look for the blood supply to recover
health as reds, whites and platelets morph from the stem cell boost. When levels are healthy I should be eligible
for release.
I have no sure
idea of how I’ll feel after release. The
likelihood is that I’ll be pretty weak and need to work on rebuilding energy,
mass and overall health. We’re trusting
that part of that time will be spent back in Rhode Island. We know so many family and folk from there
that have supported us through this and we want to see them albeit in a relaxed
way. We don’t anticipate the “usual”
Home Assignment of formal speaking engagements and frequent appointments – I really
don’t know what my strength level will be - but we’ve got kids, grandchildren,
Moms and other kith and kin to catch up with face to face.
Yesterday broke
fair and lovely and, despite hearty rains by evening, the morning was
beautiful. I was not up to extended
physical activity but morning errands gave us a chance to drive to the top of
the hill nearby and enjoy again the beauty of this region magnified by the
newness of spring. It was even clear
enough for an elusive Alpenblick (view of the distant – 2-3 hours by car - Swiss
Alps visible under certain clear atmospheric conditions).
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| Alps visible! |
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| Taking turns on the Alpenblick bench - Diane with cherry tress and France in the background, me suffering from post chemo bloat. |
2 comments:
Glad the cartoon sketch wasn't you else we'd wonder what the chemo was REALLY doing! thanks for the explanation as many have been asking me for information that I have litle knowledge of. RI awaits if God wills.
I agree with favorite sista regarding the cartoon!
.....love the view of the Swiss Alps.....
prayers continue....what a privilege to pray!
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