Living With Cancer

If I remember correctly, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's "B" cell Lymphoma in 2007 but my treatments did not start until 2008 for some reason because they had to watch it for 6 months...  sounds crazy but that was the protocol then.  So, as 2020 began 3 months ago, I had just entered my 13th year of treatment.

And, about 5 years into my treatment and after receiving some high powered chemo toxins, it was discovered (quite by accident) that I had Melonoma on the bottom of my left foot after first thinking it was a wart and having it cut off twice.  The Melanoma tumor was surgically removed and because of the skill of the surgeon, I did not lose any toes in the process.   And, since there was no protocols in place for a tumor that small and in the early stages, I received no
follow-up chemo treatments or radiation.  FOUR and a half years later, the Melanoma can back very aggressively in my groin and because of its extensiveness, could not be surgically removed this time.

Treatment for Melanoma was instituted and even though there was some disagreements between my Oncologist and his colleagues, my non-Hodgkin's "B" cell Lymphoma treatment continued not knowing if the two treatments would cancel each other out or not.  Radiation in my groin was added about 9 months later.

Well...  and, much to everyone's surprise ALL THREE TREATMENTS WORKED IN HARMONY and my cancers with both substantially reduced as was the indication of a PET/CT scan three months later.

ALL-IN-ALL and over the course of 12 years, I have had regular chemo, wicked chemo, surgery, radiation, IVIG treatment, Immunotherapy treatments and pills....   and, one would think that my body would have been RAVAGED by all this medical abuse.  AND, while I have been extremely sick and had to go to the ER six times to stop vomiting every hour or so, my body has been magically or spiritually resilient.

I have had 3-4 squamous cell carcinomas surgically removed that were typical side effects of the chemo, but NO HAIR HAS FALLEN OUT on the top of my head except that which was supposed to fall out because of my family predispositions.  While not hair has fallen out, my body has gained 30 pounds as a result of over 150 infusions that are always and only given after receiving premeds that are loaded with STEROIDS to prevent/reduce nausea.  It is difficult to lose steroid induced weight gain.


My skin has lost some of its pink pigment making it look like my arms and neck were slightly burned in a fire but other than that, I have more-or-less felt pretty good for the last 12 years, except for daily then intermittent nausea that was EASILY eliminated with pills...   so, it represented only minor inconvenience that is to say...  looking back.

With that said, let me say that for the last THREE YEARS, I have had to deal with chronic fatigue which has been a BITCH to live with, but recently even that has begun to disappear as I believe my body is finally adjusting to the problem...  consequently, I have begun exercising again.

How long with this last?

I have no idea...

ONE DAY AT A TIME, is my new lifestyle...  as I begin to learn what this new pill for my THYROID issues is going to do to me.