Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma

FROM THE MAYO CLINIC...

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer that originates in your lymphatic system, the disease-fighting network spread throughout your body. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tumors develop from lymphocytes — a type of white blood cell.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common than the other general type of lymphoma — Hodgkin lymphoma. Many different subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma exist. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma are among the most common subtypes.

Advances in diagnosis and treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have helped improve the prognosis for people with this disease.

Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may include:

• Painless, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin
• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Chest pain, coughing or trouble breathing
• Persistent fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss

Labs and OPDIVO

Every 4 weeks, I have my OPDIVO infusion to regulate and control my Melanoma Cancer that I have had for about 6 years...  and, while no one will point-the-finger, the literature indicates that contracting Melanoma is entirely possible as a side effect of taking chemo drugs:  Cytoxin and Fludara.  I received both Cytoxin and Fludara for 6 months when being treated for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma which I am currently being treated for as well and currently just entered my 13th year of treatments, starting back in 2009.

For half those 6 years, my infusions were given to me by accessing my veins in either the right or left arm until one vein accessing hurt like hell, so I decided to have a port inserted on the right side of my chest.  It is a dual port so that the actual port will last longer or can still be used if one side goes bad.

So, every 4 weeks, I get my OPDIVO and every other month on the day that I get my OPDIVO, I see my Oncologist just to see how I am doing.  I take that opportunity to talk about any side effects that I think have been lingering an especially long time, or if I am experiencing something that I should not be experiencing...  like constant sinus infections.

Because of on-going sinus infections and continued anemia and a low immune system and low platelet count, my Oncologist decided to put me on monthly IVIG infusions.  But today, it is just an OPDIVO infusion and I can go.

I start about about 8:00-8:30 am and since the infusion only last 30 minutes, I am usually out by 9:00 am at the latest and back home by 10:00 am just in time for a late breakfast or brunch of perhaps an omelet and/or grits along with an English Muffin.

We get very used to our routines.

Staying Stable

My IVIG infusion will give me a boost for about 3 weeks before it starts to wear off...  so, what does that mean exactly?

For me,

• I sleep better
• My appetite is suppressed
• My energy level is high
• My fatigue lessens
• an end of sinus infections
• I am more active

My Oncologist wants me to receive IVIG infusions every month instead of every other month which would result in me feeling pretty darn good all the time.  And, if one feels good then one is also emotionally healthy as well which then leads to having good psychological health.   This is important, at least for me because having Lymphoma and Melanoma simultaneously means that at some point-in-time there is always the possibility that either one of these cancers or both could turn AGGRESSIVE at any time putting me in a critical health situation and threaten my life.

CAR T Cell Therapy

As reported by The University of Helsinki:

In cancer immunotherapy, cells in the patient's own immune system are activated to attack cancer cells. CAR T cell therapy has been one of the most significant recent advances in immunotherapies targeted at cancer.

In CAR T cell therapy, T cells are extracted from the patient for genetic modification: a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is transported into the cells using a viral vector, helping the T cells better identify and kill cancer cells. When the antigen receptor cells identify the desired surface structure in the patient's cells, they start multiplying and killing the target cells.

CAR T cell therapy was introduced to Finland in 2018, and the treatment form has been used in support of patients suffering from leukaemia and lymphomas.

So far, the application of CAR T cell therapy to solid tumours has been difficult: targeting the therapy at just the tumour is difficult when the cancer type is not associated with any specific surface structure. In many cancer types, there is an abundance of a specific protein on the tumour's surface, but as the protein also occurs in low numbers in normal tissue, CAR T cell therapy is not able to discriminate between target protein levels. This is why genetically modified cells are quick to attack also healthy cells and organs, which can result in fatal adverse effects associated with the treatment.

A study recently published in the Science journal has found a solution to applying CAR T cell therapy to solid tumours as well: through collaboration, American and Finnish researchers identified a new way of programming CAR T cells so that they only kill cancer cells, leaving alone healthy cells that have the same marker protein as cancer cells.

New technique based on ultrasensitive identification of HER2 cells, further investigation underway

HER2 is a protein characteristic of, among others, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and abdominal cancers. The protein can also occur in great numbers on the surface of tumour cells, since, as a result of gene amplification, HER2 expression can be multiplied in tumours.

A new CAR T cell engineering technique developed by the researchers is based on a two-step identification process of HER2 positive cells. Thanks to the engineering, the researchers were able to produce a response where CAR T cells kill only the cancer cells in the cancer tissue.

"Our solution requires the preliminary identification of the surface structures associated with the cancer. When the preliminary recognition ability that induces the CAR construct is adjusted to require a binding affinity that is different from the affinity used by CAR to direct the killing of these cells, an extremely accurate ability to differentiate between cells based on the amount of target protein on their surface can be programmed in this two-step 'circuit' which controls the function of killer T cells," says Professor of Virology Kalle Saksela from the University of Helsinki.

Further studies for the application of the technique are already ongoing. Postdoctoral Researcher Anna Mäkelä, who works at Professor Saksela's laboratory, is coordinating a project funded by the Academy of Finland investigating the use of CAR T cell therapy on various cancer types and their surface structures.

"We are very excited about these results, and we are currently developing the technique so that it could be used to treat ovarian cancer. As the work progresses, the aim is to apply the technique itself and the targeting molecules of CAR constructs even more broadly to malignant solid tumours. Our goal is to develop 'multi-warhead missiles', against which cancer cells will find it difficult to develop resistance," Mäkelä says.

Exercise: Will Not Help You Lose Weight

As presented by TODAY...

Of all the wonderful things exercise does for your body, more evidence suggests losing weight isn’t one of them.

Your daily activity level has almost no bearing on the number of calories you burn and burning more energy doesn’t protect against getting fat, Herman Pontzer writes in his new book, “Burn: New Research Blows the Lid Off How We Really Burn Calories, Lose Weight, and Stay Healthy.”


“Your brain is very, very, very good at matching how many calories you eat and how many calories you burn,” Pontzer, an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, told TODAY.

“The person who has a sedentary lifestyle and the person who has the active lifestyle will burn the same number of calories.”

What? We’ve all been taught the more you move, the more energy you burn, helping with weight loss. But that’s the wrong view of the human body’s flexible metabolic engine, Pontzer says.

A person starting that new Peloton program, for example, and exercising like crazy will burn more calories at first, but her body will adjust over the course of a couple months and begin to spend less energy on its many other tasks, like inflammation and stress reaction, until things are back to the way they were, he noted.  READ MORE

Tibetan Healing Music

 

Meditation Music

 

IVIG: Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of IVIG Infusions...

Advantages: Noninvasive. Pretreatment with NS 250 mL; Tylenol and Benadryl can mitigate complications.

Disadvantages: Risk of hypersensitivity with IgA deficiency (should check IgA levels before starting), aseptic meningitis, headache, chills, myalgias, transient hypertension, fluid overload, acute tubular necrosis, hyperviscosity syndrome (stroke, MI, cryoglobulinemia, monoclonal gammopathy, high lipoproteins, or preexisting vascular disease). Benefits last only a few weeks.


This last comment is what bothers me the most... benefits only last a few weeks. Currently, my Oncologist ordered the treatment every other month. So, 3 weeks after the treatment, all the adverse situations that the IVIG treatment eliminated are back in full force and I have to wait another 4-5 weeks before my next infusion takes place.

Today... I receive my every other month infusion and by Sunday, I should be experiencing the benefits of the two and a half hour treatment. the port that has been put inside my chest is accessed and within seconds the premeds are flowing through my body and as my legs begin to twitch nervously, my body feels drowsy and I close my eyes... I wake up two hours later... in 30 minutes another treatment is over and I am heading home.

My Second COVID Vaccine Shot

TODAY...  I had my second COVID Vaccine shot...  so, for the time being, I am protected against the Pandemic with the Moderna Vaccine...  that is to say unless there is a new variation that develops in the USA...  Regardless of what may or may not happen, it is my understanding that I will have to get a booster shot every year from here on out...   or, at least for a few years anyway.

What does this mean for me and others like me?

Well...  while I cannot speak for others, I will continue to wear my facemask when I am in public or in a doctor's office or in a hospital environment for a test like a CT scan.  I will continue to social distance and I will continue to wash my hands often especially after opening doors to enter or leave a building.  However and because of both shots, I will feel more comfortable venturing out of the house that I did before.

Do I trust the shots completely?

Not really...  but, not because of the WARP SPEED DEVELOPMENT PROCESS that was ordered by former President Trump...  but because, this vaccine has no proven track record like is the case for other shots like the FLU.

But...  until that happens...  Americans will just have to wait and see how this works out...

American Obesity

Yesterday, I decided to run a few errands with my wife and while out, we decided to put the care through a car wash and remove all the winter crud and slush that had built up over the last couple of months.  We were not the only ones who had decided to wash their vehicle but we only had to wait about 10 minutes before it was our turn to enter the tunnel.

While out, I waited in the car while my wife visited a variety of stores to look for this or that...  and I played solitaire on the phone while I waited except for looking around at the people that passed by the car.  What I was amazed at was the amount of extremely obese people that walked by me.  There were obese males and females...  obese adults and children...  obese males and female of a variety of ethnic groups.

After losing 30 pounds and according to the charts, I was still considered to be obese, but if I lost another 30 pounds, I would be at the high end of my ideal weight for my height...  however, I think there is some flexibility depending upon one's age.

I started gaining weight at age 40 and over a 20 year period of time, I had added 30 pounds to my weight at age 60.  My age 60 weight is also my current weight at age 73.  Due to over 10 years of monthly steroid use to offset chemo sickness, my weight gained another 30 pounds which I have now lost.  As mentioned before, my goal for 2021 is to lose another 30 pounds by counting calories and reducing my food intake.

Obese parents typically have obese adolescent children and teenagers...  and if you wondered around the grocery stores, you would see them selecting for purchase food that is not healthy.  Not only are they eating fat creating food, but there is no desire in their minds to spend time outside exercising.

At age 40, I had stopped smoking and started running 2 miles a day during my lunch hour.  Once I arrived home, my wife and I would fast walk around the neighborhood for 90 minutes.

What kind of society are we creating?

On Going Health

Just as my weight fluctuates fractions of a pound up and down so too does my overall health as I continue to take daily immunotherapy pills and month immunotherapy infusions to halt and contain my two types of cancers:  non Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Melanoma.  Up and down side effects include:  nausea, fatigue, night sweats, loss of appetite, anemia, sinus infections, and a low immune system.  At the end of this week, I will have an infusion of IVIG which will improve the way I feel, stop the infections, and boost my immune system...  that good feeling will last about 2-3 weeks and I will return to the way I was feeling before IVIG unless my Oncologist is approved for me receiving the infusion every month like before.

I also will be receiving my second COVID Vaccine later this week which will mentally improve my outlook on life especially since my overall health puts me into an extreme risk category for DEATH if I were to contract COVID.  It did not bother me that my health condition did not put me at the top of the vaccine list because I knew my age would put me high enough on the list that it would not make that much difference, especially since I rarely leave the house...  and when I do, I do not interact with people...

On March 31, 2021, I will be teaching (in the classroom) a class in PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING for college students in Knoxville.  The classes are small and everyone is required to wear a facemask, but the fact that I will have had my second COVID Vaccine shot before the class begins gives me a lot of reassurance.

This Week's Medical Responsibilities

Monday and Tuesday are the only two days where I do not have any medical obligations aside from the weekend.  On Wednesday, I get my teeth cleaned which is covered by my dental insurance program and usually only lasts about 30 minutes, and I do get seen by the dentist for 30 seconds or so to simply verify the findings of the dental assistant. 

Thursday is my long anticipated SEOND COVID VACCINE shot and while the actual shot takes 30 seconds, I have to wait in my car for about 30 minutes in line and there is another 15 minute wait to make sure there are no problems with the shot.

Friday...  brings me in contact with my second long awaited IVIG infusion where my body is loaded up with antibodies from about 30,000 to 50,000 other individuals.  I am receiving this infusion because of my low immune system which has in turn caused me to have constant sinus infections and nose bleeds.  A couple of years ago, I was receiving this infusion monthly, but due to a shortage, I was eliminated from the schedule since my need was not critical.

A year later, my Oncologist put me back on the schedule for IVIG but every other month...  and, the month of the infusion, everything inside my body was cleared up but in the off month, everything that it had corrected returned.  I shared this with my Oncologist and he was going to write orders for me to receive the infusion every month.

I will find out if those orders went through this Friday.

Walking Everyday

 

Deep Meditation

 

Emotional Intelligence

Recently published neuroimaging research provides evidence that the directional connectivity between several brain regions plays an important role in emotional processing abilities.

Although interest in emotional intelligence has been steadily growing since the 1990s, the underlying neural mechanisms behind it have yet to be clearly established. The new study, which appears in NeuroImage, is part of a process to begin to fill in this gap in scientific knowledge.

“Emotional intelligence is one of the least studied topics, especially in conjunction with cutting-edge computational neuroimaging techniques,” explained lead researcher Sahil Bajaj, the director of the Multimodal Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory at Boys Town National Research Hospital.

“For the last 11 years, I have been using some cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques, including directed functional (e.g., Granger causality) and effective (e.g., dynamic causal modeling) brain connectivity, which allow estimation of directional information flow among brain regions.”

“While most of the existing studies have focused on small-scale functional brain connectivity correlates of emotional intelligence, to my knowledge, no work (prior to this work) has ever been published that talked about the association between strength of directional information flow among brain regions and emotional intelligence,” Bajaj said. “I have always been fascinated by directionality of information flow among brain areas, which really raised my interest in exploring the complex causal neural interactions underlying emotional intelligence.”  TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE, Click Here...

Key To Longer Life

A recent study by researchers at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA, provides further evidence for current dietary guidelines and expands on them, finding that consuming at least 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings on a daily basis may lower the risk of both disease-related death and death from all causes.

The study appears in Circulation, a scientific journal of the American Heart Association (AHA).

“While groups like the American Heart Association recommend 4–5 servings each of fruits and vegetables daily, consumers likely get inconsistent messages about […] the recommended amount and which foods to include and avoid,” says Dr. Dong D. Wang, M.D., Sc.D., an epidemiologist and nutritionist at Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture published their recommendations in the form of the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

According to this set of guidelines, half of the plate for every meal should contain fruits and vegetables.

However, the guidelines also note that more than 80% of people in the United States do not meet this recommendation and should aim to increase their consumption of nutrient-dense foods.  TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE, Click Here...

One's Sense of Smell

 According to the BBC, it is possible that smell can predict one's overall health...

Several initiatives are now developing tests which could use smell to help diagnose neurodegenerative diseases.

Predict-PD is one such initiative. According to Alastair Noyce, a clinical senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, who leads the project, it has developed a smell test called Scratch and Sniff. This is a quick test that presents six smells to the patient that we commonly encounter throughout the day, based off a larger roster of 40 odours.

The hope is the data they collect could be used to predict who is going to develop Parkinson's, which might lead to new early treatments that could prevent the disease from progressing or slow it down. And with up to 0.45-3.4% of individuals (depending on the test) apparently unaware of their own smell loss, tools such as Predict-PD could help people to identify it.

The catch is that such tests are currently expensive. "The standard smell test costs on average £25 [$34.88] to undertake but only a few pence to produce," says Noyce. Whilst cost may not be a barrier for the many private clinics that are using smell tests as a tool for diagnosis, it would limit its usefulness for public healthcare systems with limited resources.

Of course, smell impairment does not only develop as a result of neurodegenerative diseases. Around 19% of the population have some sort of olfactory dysfunction, with 0.3% losing their sense of smell entirely (anosmia) and 19.1% suffering from reduced ability to detect odours (hyposomia). Recent studies have found that smell loss may be linked to mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia and dystonia, a movement disorder in which a person's muscles contract uncontrollably.  TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE, Click Here...

COVID Vaccine

In a couple of weeks, I will receive my 2nd COVID Vaccine at our local Health Department and will, at least theoretically, be 95% protected against the COVID Pandemic...  and, while that gives me a little comfort, I am still concerned about all the COVID Virus Varieties that could at some point in time, enter into the USA through unaware travelers.

Even though I will soon be protected, I will continue to wear my facemask in public and will continue to maintain a distance of 6 feet and will continue to wash my hands...  and, my reasoning for doing this is simple:::>  throughout this entire process, I have witness numerous individuals both male and female, foreigners, especially MEXICANS who have decided that they have no desire to protect other Americans and wear NO MASKS AT ALL...

However, with that said, I have also witnessed dozens of Americans who, for some reason, have decided that they are not going to wear the facemask properly...  and, I am not sure if they are arrogant and just plain stupid.

I understand that Americans don't like being told what to do but one would think that even if they don't agree they would be willing to protect other Americans.    

Our Family Doctor

My wife and I make appointments every 6 months to see our family doctor and have been doing this eve since we HOOKED UP about 30 years ago...  and while that practice is a good one to get into, it becomes redundant when for someone like myself, I am seeing medical specialists 2-3, sometimes 4 or 5 times a month...  and each time I see a specialist, blood work is taken and analyzed as well as my vital signs.  When I see my Cardiologist, an EKG is performed which is not performed when I see my family doctor.  Additionally, I undergo alternating CT and PET scans every 3 months which is not something that my family doctor can do either...

Right now, my family doctor is more or less a data collection center for all my medical activity because everything that I do medically or ever medical specialist I see sends notes and test results to my family doctor.  After 14 years, one would think that I would have my own filing cabinet drawer...  LOL

To date, I have regular and standing appointments with a/an:

• Oncologist
• Cardiologist
• Urologist
• Dermatologist

Detoxing

 

Trust the Reasons

 

It Never ENDS...

In 2007, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's "B" Cell Lymphoma which is also referred to as SLL (Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma) and quite interestingly is treated the same way and considered to the be companion of CLL or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.  Leukemia starts in the blood while Lymphoma starts in the lymph nodes...  it is also widely believed that SLL can turn into CLL at some point in time.

In 2012, I was diagnosed with braf negative acral lentiginous Melanoma in the foot which was surgically removed and later moved to the groin and then to the neck.  It is entirely possible that my Melanoma was contracted because of the drugs I was taking for my Lymphoma.

Over the past 13 years (2021 begins my 14th year) I have received:

1. 150+ chemo infusions
2. 60+ Hemoglobulin infusions
3. two surgeries
4. 6 radiation treatments
5. 20+ CT Scans
6. 20+ PET Scans
7. 2 MRI's
8. Immunotherapy 

In 2009/2010, I experienced a heart attack and underwent 3 heart surgeries to install stints rather than enduring a triple bypass.

For the rest of my life, I will have:

1. monthly chemo infusions
2. daily immunotherapy pills
3. 2 CT scans a year
4. 2 PET scans a year
5. 4 full body scans by a Dermatologist
6. quarterly visits to a Cardiologist
7. dealing with constant fatigue and nausea
8. dealing with intermittent night sweats
9. monthly hemoglobulin infusions
10. constant anemia
11. on-going anxiety attacks
12. a non-existent immune system
13. susceptibility to other diseases
14. the anxiety of my cancers turning aggressive

And...  while there may not be that much to report from one day to the day, the items listed above have a direct and cumulative effect/affect on one's state-of-mind which causes sporadic depression...  to mention this every day or even every week or monthly seems kind of REDUNDANT to say the least...  but, let me assure you that having cancer, especially the kind that cannot be cured, is NOT FUN AT ALL.

Xarelto Bleeding

My Cardiologist put me on Xarelto because when I was experiencing AFIB in the hospital, I did not feel anything in my chest...  He did not say if this was common for people or for males but he decided since AFIB could cause a stroke, then he thought it prudent that I be placed on blood thinners.  Well...  while that may be fine from a technical point-of-view, it is absolutely horrible for the patient because the least little cut or scratch could literally bleed for hours.  At least that is what is happening to me...   and, it is gotten so bad that I have stop taking Xarelto for 1 or 2 days, so that my blood will clot...  and, even though 1 or 2 days is not a big issue, the on-going bleeding problem is an issue...  and, might eventually impact how my cancers are treated.

Braun wet dry electric razor

So, when I discovered that I had been given a new Cardiologist, I asked him about Xarelto and he indicated that if I wear a heart monitor for a month, that there might be evidence to support a reduction or even stopping Xarelto.  I am in my second week of wearing this heart monitor and it has presented no problems, not even when showering, but I have to recharge the sensor/monitor every evening which takes about 60-90 minutes.

I wear a patch on my chest into which the sensor/monitor fits and I have to change out those patches every 5 days...   so, if I wanted to do this (which I have not done so far) I could get into the hot tub before I put on a new patch and while the sensor/monitor is charging.

Even though the little cuts and scratches bother me, the big issue is shaving with a safety razor as these cuts seem to take the longest to heal.  I have discovered that razors with two blades are not enough and five blades are too many, so three blades seem to be perfect as long as I change to a new blades after the second usage.  What pisses me off is that before Xarelto, I could use the razor for 2-3 weeks before cuts became a problem.  By shaving in the shower, the water sort of sealed any minor cuts which extended the days of usage.

I purchased 4-5 packs of razors a while back and I believe I have two packs left and when they are finished, I think I am going to invest in an electric razor and see if that helps the situation any.

CONNECTION: Heart and Cancer

After a cancer diagnosis, most patients and providers have one goal: treat the disease at hand.

But an unexpected and equally serious complication can arise when doing so.

“We are seeing more and more patients undergoing treatment for cancer who are experiencing cardiac complications of their therapy,” says Salim Hayek, M.D., a cardio-oncologist at Michigan Medicine’s Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

LISTEN UP: Add the new Michigan Medicine News Break to your Alexa-enabled device, or subscribe to our daily audio updates on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher.

Those complications affect patients with no known risk factors for heart disease — as well as individuals with other health issues unrelated to cancer.

In either case, the connection is gaining more attention from researchers and specialists.

Cardio-oncologists focus on preventing and minimizing heart damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation, an effect known as cardiotoxicity.

And they work as part of a larger cancer team.

“Our role is to advise our oncology colleagues on their patients’ risk of experiencing cardiovascular side effects of cancer treatment, recommend preventive measures, address cardiac complications, and monitor them closely throughout the course of their therapy,” Hayek says.  SOURCE:  healthblog.uofmhealth.org

Reversing Heart Disease

Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., author of “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” and a former president of staff for the Cleveland Clinic and for more than 20 years, Esselstyn has followed a plant-based diet, which he says is essential to protecting against heart disease.

“If you eat the American diet, you can guarantee obesity and heart disease,” Esselstyn said.

The approach Esselstyn takes differs from the traditional meat-and-potatoes kind of meals associated with this country. In his book, Esselstyn espouses a straight-forward one: Eat nothing with a mother or a face (so, no meat, poultry or fish); eat no oil; and eat no dairy products.

Ann Crile Esselstyn developed 150 recipes, which are contained in her husband’s book. Esselstyn said when his patients realize they are not sacrificing taste they embrace his plan.

“They become absolutely empowered as their weight and heart pain disappear,” Esselstyn said.

Antioxidants

PUT SIMPLY...

A diet high in antioxidants may reduce the risk of many diseases (including heart disease and certain cancers). Antioxidants scavenge free radicals from the body cells and prevent or reduce the damage caused by oxidation

Spices/Herbs

1. Cloves
2. Oregano
3. Thyme
4. Allspice
5. Garlic
6. Parsley
7. Chives
8. Cinnamon
9. Rosemary
10. Sage
11. Ginger
12. Mushrooms
13. Lemons
14. Cayenne

Foods

1. Dark Chocolate
2. Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries
3. Artichokes
4. Kale
5. Spinach
6. Pecans
7. Pinto Beans
8. Broccoli
9. Collard Greens
10. Cauliflower
11. Salmon
12. Tuna
13. Barley
14. Oatmeal
15. Lean Red Meat
16. Brown Rice
17. Whole Wheat Pasta
18. Lentils

Healthy Foods (not antioxidants)

1. Chicken
2. Veal
3. Beats
4. Avocado
5. Black Beans
6. Walnuts, Almonds
7. Apples, Bananas, Oranges
8. Eggs
9. Lamb
10. Bell Peppers
11. Carrots, Cucumber
12. Onions
13. Green Beans, Kidney Beans
14. Legumes (soybeans)
15. Cheese - not processed
16. Yogurt
17. Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes

OBVIOUSLY MISSING FROM THESE LISTS ARE:

1. Red Meat
2. Processed Meats
3. Fried or Grilled Foods
4. Sugars & Sweets
5. White Bread
6. Sugary Drinks
7. Sweetened Cereals
8. French Fries & Potato Chips
9. Most Pizzas
10. Junk Food & Ice Cream

The food that I eat is from the top 3 lists...  These foods are not only good at preventing cancer, but are good for heart health, as well as a diet for losing weight.  Bear in mind that losing weight is only achieved when one reduces one's intake of food.  If the intake is not reduced, one will not lose weight not matter how healthy the food is that you are eating.

No Mind

 

Med Diet

 

The Day After

Yesterday, I had my 42nd Opdivo infusion which means I have been receiving Opdivo for 3.5 years now and while my body seems to be tolerating it pretty well, I am still experiencing cumulative symptoms of night sweats, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

I also met with my Oncologist who was not that concerned about a lesion on my liver but since I was scheduled for a CT scan, he would pay close attention to what it showed for the liver.  He was also not that concerned with my 6 weeks of night sweats every night because there was so many issues that could be causing that to happen to my body...  again, he would be mindful of my sweating in the future.

He was a little concerned that the month after my IVIG infusion, my sinus problems were returning so he was going to write new orders for me to receive IVIG every month...  Not only would this help my sinuses but when I was receiving IVIG every month, I actually felt wonderful both mentally and physically.

Other than these comments he was pleased with all my test results and was going to continue with all my treatment like before with no changes.

OPDIVO: Immunotherapy

My morning starts early this morning...  6:30 actually...  where once up, I shower, grab a quick cup of coffee and then leave for UT Cancer Center to receive my monthly infusion of Opdivo...  I have had about 40 infusions so far and it has been the key factor that has kept my Melanoma from growing and spreading.  My Oncologist has informed me that I will be taking Opdivo for the rest of my life or until the cumulative side effects become too adverse for my body to handle.

Every other month, I visit with my Oncologist and I am looking forward to today's visit because the results of a HIDA scan showed there was a lesion on my liver and I am anxious to see how he reacts to this news...  especially since I am past due for a SCAN....

My day will begin by the nurses accessing my PORT and drawing blood, then I will visit with my Oncologist which could take me waiting another 30-60 minutes depending upon what is happening.  Once that takes place, I typically make appointments for my next visits, then back to another waiting room until there is space available for me to receive my infusion.

I arrive at UT Cancer Center at 7:30 am and usually finish around 10:30-11:00 am...arriving back home in time for lunch.

Cardiologist

Yesterday, I met with my Cardiologist with my 6 month follow-up just to see if everything was still running smoothly inside my chest.  Five stints were put inside 3 major heart arteries back in 2009/2010 in NYC at NY Presbyterian Hospital but a Dr. Moses who perfected the procedure of cleaning out arteries and inserting stints.  The Cardiologist at UT Medical Center in Knoxville was recommending a triple bypass instead...  mainly because they did not have the equipment or the skill to do what Dr. Moses did for me.  However, ever since that heart operation, I have been seeing a Cardiologist at UT Medical every 6 months to make sure my heart if functioning normal or as normal as possible for someone my age after having a heart attack.

The first task once I am in the office is to have an EKG performed which is an insurance/liability issue because and EKG does not measure what might have happened before and or what might happen in the future...  and, like always, it demonstrated that I had a normal heart rhythm.

During my visit, I asked if there was an alternative to taking XARELTO since with every small cut...  like from shaving, it would take at least 2 band aids to stop the bleeding.  The Cardiologist said he understood what I was going through and had heard that before from other patients...  and, before he could consider stopping XARELTO, I would have to wear a heart monitor for 30 days to make sure that there were no irregularities taking place that I was not noticing.

So, I am wearing a heart monitor and it is synced to a special phone also supplied that records my heart rhythms and transmits that data back to my doctor's office every 5 days.  I have to recharge the phone everyday as well as the heart monitor which according to the instructions takes about 90 minutes.

My device is an MCOT Patch - Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry...

Small price to pay to see if I can get off of XARELTO...

Heart Healthy

Every 6 months, I meet with my Cardiologist for a "checkup" so to speak to make sure that my heart is continuing to function appropriately for a male of my age...  the best approach that I can take to make sure that happens is to:

• get some sunlight
• eat healthy
• manage stress
• exercise
• maintain the proper weight

According to WEBMD, if my weight is between 189 to 219 for a height of 6 feet 1 inch, I am OVERWEIGHT...  

Currently, my weight is 219 and if it were 220, I would be obese...

The only way to lose weight is to eat less calories...  right now, I am eating between 1,500 to 2,000 calories each day, and I should eat between 1,200 to 1,800 calories focusing on 1,500 or less especially since I am not as active as I should be.

I am meeting with my Cardiologist today so I will be in a better position to see where I am once that visit takes place.

My Oncologist is Command & Control

My Gastrointestinal Doctor, after ordering a colonoscopy, an Upper GI, an Ultra Sound and a HIDA scan made the determination that everything was "A" OK; however, one of these procedures revealed that there was a lesion on my liver and suggested that I undergo an MRI to get a more detailed look at the lesion.  I contracted my Oncologist because I did not want more than one doctor recommending my direction to avoid confusion and since my Oncologist was basically in control of my health decided to defer everything to him.

Last Friday, I received a letter from my Gastrointestinal doctor that the lesion on my liver had not shown up in my last PET scan.  I found this to be curious as this doctor was inside inside the University System and had no access to those records and I did not authorize any records be sent to him that I recall.

In a couple of days, I will be meeting with my Oncologist and will take this letter from my Gastrointestinal doctor to share with my Oncologist so that I can get to the bottom of this uncertainty and decide which way that I should do.

This is the problem when a patient has more than one doctor recommending direction.

Exercises for Men

 

Healthy Foods

 

Cancer Remission

Remission means that the signs and symptoms of your cancer are reduced. Remission can be partial or complete. In a complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared.

If you remain in complete remission for 5 years or more, some doctors may say that you are cured. Still, some cancer cells can remain in your body for many years after treatment. These cells may cause the cancer to come back one day. For cancers that return, most do so within the first 5 years after treatment. But, there is a chance that cancer will come back later. For this reason, doctors cannot say for sure that you are cured. The most they can say is that there are no signs of cancer at this time.

However, in my particular case, my Oncologist has never mentioned that my cancer(s) are in remission even though the PET scans show NO METABOLIC activity which is typically an indication that malignant cancers are present.  Whereas, my wife who was also being treated for a type of Lymphoma is in remission as stated by her Oncologist who is also my Oncologist.

Imbruvica is keeping my Lymphoma from showing metabolic activity and Opdivo is keeping my Melanoma from showing metabolic activity...  but, in order for the latter to have actually worked, I needed to receive 6 good doses of radiation which supercharged the Opdivo.

As far as my Oncologist is concerned, I will be taking these two drugs for the rest of my life or until my body starts manifesting negative side effects...

Cancer Effects Long Term

From MD Anderson

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF CANCER

As a cancer survivor, you’re ready to move on with life after cancer. However, side effects from your disease or aggressive treatment methods may interfere with your quality of life. Some may be temporary, and others may last a lifetime. Learn more about the common side effects faced by cancer survivors like you, and how to manage them effectively.

Fatigue is the most common complaint of cancer survivors. Cancer-related fatigue can be mild or severe, temporary or long-lasting, but there are ways to feel less tired and more energetic.

Cancer Recurrence or Secondary Cancers
All cancer survivors live with the possibility that their cancer will come back or spread (metastasize). Some also may develop secondary cancers. Regular follow-up exams, cancer screenings, and reporting symptoms to your doctor can help detect new or spreading cancers as early as possible.

Dental and Oral Problems
Chemotherapy and radiation treatments, especially to the head and neck area, can increase the risk of long-term dental problems. These may include damage to the tooth enamel, gum disease, tooth decay or tooth loss. Mouth ulcers can be painful and make it difficult for you to eat, talk and swallow.

Xerostomia (dry mouth) is common in head and neck cancer survivors because salivary glands are susceptible to radiation damage.

Diabetes
Steroid drugs used to treat certain cancers may increase blood glucose levels in some patients who do not have diabetes. Although it's unclear if these patients will develop diabetes, they are at higher risk because their glucose levels may remain elevated after treatment ends.

Endocrine Changes
Some cancer treatments remove estrogen and testosterone from the body to keep a tumor from growing. These treatments, known as hormone ablation therapy, are most commonly used on prostate and breast cancer patients, who may experience the following side effects:

• Decreased sex drive
• Memory loss
• Anemia
• Decreased muscle mass
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Loss of body hair
• Hypothyroidism

Survivors of head and neck cancers who were treated with radiation therapy often suffer from hypothyroidism, which occurs when the damaged thyroid does not produce enough hormones. Symptoms include weight gain, constipation, dry skin and sensitivity to cold. Thyroid medication can manage these side effects.

Incontinence
Incontinence is the inability to control urination and bowel movements. Removal of the prostate or bladder increases the possibility of urinary incontinence. Treatment for colon, anal and rectal cancers may make it harder to control your bowels (fecal incontinence). Corrective surgery to repair or replace the anal sphincter may ease fecal incontinence. Simple exercises to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor can also help you regain control over bowel movements.

Infertility
Radiation to the abdominal area may cause infertility in both sexes. Certain chemotherapy drugs can permanently damage the ovaries in women or the testes in men. Abdominal surgery for several types of cancer (particularly prostate, bladder, ovarian and uterine cancers) increase risk of infertility in both men and women. If you’re worried about being able to have children after cancer treatment, MD Anderson can help you preserve your eggs or sperm before treatment.

Learning & Memory Problems
Many cancer patients have problems with learning and memory during and immediately after treatment with certain chemotherapy drugs, a condition known as "chemobrain."

Lymphedema
Lymphedema occurs when lymph nodes under the arm are damaged by radiation or surgically removed. Lymphatic fluid accumulates in the tissue, causing painful inflammation, swelling and limited movement.

Neuropathy
Neuropathy, a tingling or burning sensation in the hands and feet due to nerve damage, can be caused by radiation, surgery or chemotherapies that contain taxanes, platinum, vincristine and thalidomide.

Organ Damage
Certain types of cancer treatment, particularly chemotherapy drugs, can age or damage major organs, which can result in long-term health problems that appear as you age or have other health problems.

• Heart failure: Symptoms include shortness of breath, feeling weak and tired after regular activity or while at rest, chest discomfort or feeling the heart beat fast.
• Lung and airway damage: Some antibiotics, chemotherapy medicines or types of biotherapies can damage tissues in the lungs and bronchial tubes. Common symptoms of lung damage include problems breathing, coughing or pneumonia.
• Liver damage: Symptoms may include dark urine, pale stools, yellowing of the eyes or skin, abdominal swelling or pain, flu-like symptoms or severe fatigue. Some chemotherapy drugs require regular blood tests to check liver function.
• kidneys: Symptoms of kidney damage include decreased urine flow, bladder irritation, blood in the urine, or a burning feeling while urinating.

Osteoporosis
Bone loss is a common side effect for survivors of lymphoma, leukemia, breast and prostate cancers. Osteoporosis can be caused by the cancer itself, cortisone-type drugs, treatment-induced menopause, cancer cells in the bone marrow and treatments that affect testosterone levels.

Pain
Pain can linger for years after cancer treatment, severely affecting quality of life. Managing chronic pain in cancer survivors may require a combination of drugs, physical therapy, support groups and/or complementary therapies.

Sexual Dysfunction
Many cancer patients experience sexual side effects, particularly those with tumors in reproductive organs. Erectile dysfunction (ED) can occur in men, and women may suffer from sudden menopause or vaginal dryness.

Causing Cancer Items

Certain chemicals, including benzene, beryllium, asbestos, vinyl chloride, and arsenic are known human carcinogens, meaning they have been found to cause cancer in humans. A person's risk of developing cancer depends on how much, how long, how often, and when they are exposed to these chemicals.

Cancer Causing Foods

1. Processed meat
2. Red meat
3. Alcohol
4. Salted fish (Chinese style)
5. Sugary drinks or non-diet soda
6. Fast food or processed foods

Cancer Fighting Foods

1. Fruit and vegetables

2. Tomatoes
3. Garlic
4. Citrus fruits
5. Carrots
6. Wholegrains

Common Cancer Causes

• Smoking and Tobacco.
• Diet and Physical Activity.
• Sun and Other Types of Radiation.
• Viruses and Other Infections.

Double Checking

Back in January, I underwent a colonoscopy and because of some other symptoms my Oncologist suggested that I ask my doctor to do an Upper GI.  An Upper GI was also performed along with some biopsies, revealing nothing.  Well...  as a precautionary measure, I underwent an Ultra Sound and a HIDA scan of my abdomen and shortly after those two procedures, the doctor's nurse called and said he wanted do an MRI of my liver since some a lesion was discovered.   I told her that I don't do well with an MRI and would need to put out.  Her boss said he does not authorized that without being given permission from my family doctor.

Well...  after a weekend of considerations, I decided to contact my Oncologist especially since I have alternating CT and PET scans ever 3 months and if there was a lesion, then surely it would have shown up on one of those two scans.  Plus, I was wondering if my Oncologist would want another doctor performing those kinds of tests outside of the UT Medical Center system.

My Oncologist said to send the result of the HIDA/Ultra Sound tests to him and that he would decide how to proceed when he saw me in a couple of weeks...  well...  that sort of ended the matter in my mind until today when I received a letter from from gastro-intestinal doctor indicating that my HIDA/Ultra Sound showed NOTHING...  not even a lesion on the liver was mentioned in the letter.

If I had not been a little curious would I have had to undergo a NEEDLESS PROCEDURE???

Meditation for Beginners

HOW TO MEDITATE EFFECTIVELY
Meditation is an approach to training the mind, similar to the way that fitness is an approach to training the body. But many meditation techniques exist — so how do you learn how to meditate?

“In Buddhist tradition, the word ‘meditation’ is equivalent to a word like ‘sports’ in the U.S. It’s a family of activities, not a single thing,” University of Wisconsin neuroscience lab director Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D., told The New York Times. And different meditation practices require different mental skills.

It’s extremely difficult for a beginner to sit for hours and think of nothing or have an “empty mind.” We have some tools such as a beginner meditation DVD or a brain-sensing headband to help you through this process when you are just starting to learn how to best meditate. In general, the easiest way to begin meditating is by focusing on the breath. An example of one of the most common approaches to meditation is concentration.

CONCENTRATION MEDITATION
Concentration meditation involves focusing on a single point. This could entail following the breath, repeating a single word or mantra, staring at a candle flame, listening to a repetitive gong, or counting beads on a mala. Since focusing the mind is challenging, a beginner might meditate for only a few minutes and then work up to longer durations.

In this form of meditation, you simply refocus your awareness on the chosen object of attention each time you notice your mind wandering. Rather than pursuing random thoughts, you simply let them go. Through this process, your ability to concentrate improves.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
Mindfulness meditation encourages the practitioner to observe wandering thoughts as they drift through the mind. The intention is not to get involved with the thoughts or to judge them, but simply to be aware of each mental note as it arises.

When you meditate through mindfulness meditation, you can see how your thoughts and feelings tend to move in particular patterns. Over time, you can become more aware of the human tendency to quickly judge an experience as good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. With practice, an inner balance develops.

In some schools of meditation, students practice a combination of concentration and mindfulness. Many disciplines call for stillness — to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the teacher.

OTHER MEDITATION TECHNIQUES
There are various other meditation techniques. For example, a daily meditation practice among Buddhist monks focuses directly on the cultivation of compassion. This involves envisioning negative events and recasting them in a positive light by transforming them through compassion. There are also moving meditation techniques, such as tai chi, qigong, and walking meditation.

BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
If relaxation is not the goal of meditation, it is often a result. In the 1970s, Herbert Benson, MD, a researcher at Harvard University Medical School, coined the term “relaxation response" after conducting research on people who practiced transcendental meditation. The relaxation response, in Benson’s words, is “an opposite, involuntary response that causes a reduction in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.”

Since then, studies on the relaxation response have documented the following short-term benefits to the nervous system:

• Lower blood pressure
• Improved blood circulation
• Lower heart rate
• Less perspiration
• Slower respiratory rate
• Less anxiety
• Lower blood cortisol levels
• More feelings of well-being
• Less stress
• Deeper relaxation

Contemporary researchers are now exploring whether a consistent meditation practice yields long-term benefits, and noting positive effects on brain and immune function among meditators. Yet it’s worth repeating that the purpose of meditation is not to achieve benefits. To put it as an Eastern philosopher may say, the goal of meditation is no goal. It’s simply to be present.

In Buddhist philosophy, the ultimate benefit of meditation is liberation of the mind from attachment to things it cannot control, such as external circumstances or strong internal emotions. The liberated or “enlightened” practitioner no longer needlessly follows desires or clings to experiences, but instead maintains a calm mind and sense of inner harmony.

HOW TO MEDITATE: SIMPLE MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS
This meditation exercise is an excellent introduction to meditation techniques.
Sit or lie comfortably. You may even want to invest in a meditation chair or cushion.

Close your eyes. We recommend using one of our Cooling Eye Masks or Restorative Eye Pillows if lying down.

1.  Make no effort to control the breath; simply breathe naturally.

2.  Focus your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. Notice the movement of your body as you breathe. 

3.  Observe your chest, shoulders, rib cage, and belly. Simply focus your attention on your breath without controlling its pace or intensity. If your mind wanders, return your focus back to your breath.

4.  Maintain this meditation practice for two to three minutes to start, and then try it for longer periods.                                           Source:  Gaiam      Gaiam's Meditation Shop 

Coping With the Psychological Affects of Cancer

Emotional and social support can help patients learn to cope with psychological stress. Such support can reduce levels of depression, anxiety, and disease- and treatment-related symptoms among patients. Approaches can include the following:

• Training in relaxation, meditation, or stress management
• Counseling or talk therapy
• Cancer education sessions
• Social support in a group setting
• Medications for depression or anxiety
• Exercise

Some expert organizations recommend that all cancer patients be screened for distress early in the course of treatment. A number also recommend re-screening at critical points along the course of care. Health care providers can use a variety of screening tools, such as a distress scale or questionnaire, to gauge whether cancer patients need help managing their emotions or with other practical concerns. Patients who show moderate to severe distress are typically referred to appropriate resources, such as a clinical health psychologist, social worker, chaplain, or psychiatrist.  SOURCE:  National Cancer Institute

Do or Don't Do

 

Healthy Foods

 

Psychological Affects of Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute

People who have cancer may find the physical, emotional, and social effects of the disease to be stressful. Those who attempt to manage their stress with risky behaviors such as smoking or drinking alcohol or who become more sedentary may have a poorer quality of life after cancer treatment. In contrast, people who are able to use effective coping strategies to deal with stress, such as relaxation and stress management techniques, have been shown to have lower levels of depression, anxiety, and symptoms related to the cancer and its treatment. However, there is no evidence that successful management of psychological stress improves cancer survival.

Evidence from experimental studies does suggest that psychological stress can affect a tumor’s ability to grow and spread. For example, some studies have shown that when mice bearing human tumors were kept confined or isolated from other mice—conditions that increase stress—their tumors were more likely to grow and spread (metastasize). In one set of experiments, tumors transplanted into the mammary fat pads of mice had much higher rates of spread to the lungs and lymph nodes if the mice were chronically stressed than if the mice were not stressed. Studies in mice and in human cancer cells grown in the laboratory have found that the stress hormone norepinephrine, part of the body’s fight-or-flight response system, may promote angiogenesis and metastasis.

In another study, women with triple-negative breast cancer who had been treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were asked about their use of beta blockers, which are medications that interfere with certain stress hormones, before and during chemotherapy. Women who reported using beta blockers had a better chance of surviving their cancer treatment without a relapse than women who did not report beta blocker use. There was no difference between the groups, however, in terms of overall survival.

Although there is still no strong evidence that stress directly affects cancer outcomes, some data do suggest that patients can develop a sense of helplessness or hopelessness when stress becomes overwhelming. This response is associated with higher rates of death, although the mechanism for this outcome is unclear. It may be that people who feel helpless or hopeless do not seek treatment when they become ill, give up prematurely on or fail to adhere to potentially helpful therapy, engage in risky behaviors such as drug use, or do not maintain a healthy lifestyle, resulting in premature death.

My HIDA Scan

My HIDA scan lasted about two hours this morning and prior to my HIDA scan, I had an Ultra Sound of my belly to see if there was anything that the Upper GI missed.  My Ultra Sound lasted about 20 minutes and the only thing that was uncomfortable about it was the belly jelly they used...  it was slimy more than it was cold, but using a towel was easy to remove.

I have to wait around for another 40 minutes for my HIDA and fortunate for me there was nobody else waiting for Radiology.  When the technician came and got me, she explained that the test was broken up into 2 - 1 hours segments and that I would be given a bathroom break after the first hour.  I was injected with a radioactive dye and the machine would take a photograph every 15 minutes, but I was still not allowed to move unless it was absolutely necessary.

Since my scan was early, I slept about 50 minutes of the first hour so it did not seem long at all.  I had a triangle cushion under my knees and a couple of pillows for my head along with a rolled up towel under my neck.

Immediately following my bathroom break, I was given a chocolate chalky liquid to drink right away and returned to my lying down position on my back.  The scan was going to make an on-going video for the next hour so it was imperative that I not move or it would "mess up" the video.  I again slept for about 30 minutes and for the next 30 minutes I was in and out of consciousness...  like I was in some sort of twilight sleep.

When there was about 10 minutes left, the technician touched me on the shoulder to let me know and I jerked out of alarm...  which scared her as much as it did me.  I am sure that "messed up" the video but she did not say anything.

My two hours went my quickly and before I knew it, I was treated myself to a Cappuccino at Weigles Convenience Store which was a mile from the house.  Actually, the hospital where I had these 2 procedures was only 3 miles from the house...

If I ever have to do this again, I am going to request early morning to make sure that I fall asleep again.