2011 has been an interesting year. I have added to my suitcase of experience some interesting items, i.e, hospital visits, bone marrow draws, chemo, radiation, pet scans, ct scans, blood draws, biopsies, surgeries, drain tubes, …a whirlwind with a big Whoa, Nelly! attached, but alas, it is time to say good bye to Nelly.

I was determined to make sure I was able to run in Volkslauf, 2011. Last year when I ran it, I didn’t know I had some issues (well, I knew I had issues but not physical issues). This year I planned on staring Nelly in the face while running 6.2 miles through mud and obstacles, and I planned on maintaining the same level of performance…even if it killed me. I don’t know, something about not giving in or lying down, but rather smiling at disaster. It was pretty fun.

After finishing the mud run. I was told by my doctor half of my thyroid would need to be removed, as it appeared to be a form of thyroid cancer, but not associated with the lymphoma cancer for which I was treated. Ok, two types of cancer in a year is a bit much, but he assured me this type of thyroid cancer is no big deal-it just needs to come out. Sure, no problem.
Ok, I agreed to that only if he would remove the port-a-cath, as that thing severely limited my ability to do what I wanted. He agreed and I awoke with half of my thyroid and a missing panic button on the left side. Praise God!
So, I have no foreign objects in my body, treatment is over, the cancer has been eradicated…and well, I’m ready to get back to normalcy in 2012. A very special person gave me a stuffed Nelly, so I’m going to keep him, but the other Nelly…
…Well, he has to go

It has indeed been awhile. Doing ok, though. Finished the chemo part of the treatment March 7th, and entered into the radiation part. Finished radiation April 29. What was that like? Well, for the most part it was every day, 5 days of the week, for a 5 week period…and it didn’t feel like much (20 minutes each day of buzzzzzzzz, and done). I even joked with the doctor about whether or not he was really doing anything. ??! He just smiled. About the fourth week of radiation, there was a full on fire with blackened ashes and smoke flying around under my armpit and neck.

I didn’t joke about it anymore. As of Aug. 16, 2011, I still feel the trauma in both regions as if I have worked out just my right armpit and neck. Both regions feel tight and sore. Not only does your skin get fried, but your hair follicles decide to check out fast! They are still undecided as to whether or not they want to come back. Can’t blame them, either. Their escape was subtle. Chemo knocked out my hair.


But as it started to return, my wife noticed something awry in the back of my head. She wanted to know if I overreacted with my electric razor. Huh?
I didn’t really think too much about it. Maybe I did reach too far back there. However, when my kids started yakking about this big spot in the back of my head, I realized the radiation field stretched around the neck to the back of my head. Hence, the spot.

The Case of the Crazy Razor was solved. I am presently waiting on a scan in September, which will mark four months since the last radiation treatment. We are believing that all the bugs will have been stomped. I am very grateful for the prayers, cards, words of encouragement, texts, phone calls, food…wow, just a huge outpouring of support. Humbling. Last year at this time, before knowing I had lymphoma, I ran in Volkslauf.
This year, I plan on running it again, but this time I will have much on which to reflect as I make my way through 6.2 miles of course and obstacles. Thanks everyone.

…now if I can just stay away from that Crazy Razor in the future. Blessings

So many people have been overly kind to support while I’ve been going through four series of R-Chop Chemotherapy, and I really look up to those who have survived 6-8 series. I also have read of those who have had to face multiple 6-8 series of R-Chop…and well, man…that’s one of those “if it had not been for the Lord” moments. People often ask, “how are you doing”, which is pretty easy to answer, but the “what does it feel like” is a much tougher one to corral. So for the sake of trying to answer that question, I have listed the the common side effects of R-Chop with a following commentary as to the affirmative or not.

R-Chop causes a temporary drop in the number of blood cells made by the bone marrow, leading to the following side effects: (commentary will be italicized and in parentheses)

You may have headaches, aching muscles, a cough, sore throat, pain passing urine or feel cold and shivery. (no problem with the fifth, but yes to all of the others)

Tiredness and breathlessness due to a drop in red blood cells (yes, you feel like you’ve lost some lung capacity)

Bruising more easily due to a drop in platelets – you may have nosebleeds, bleeding gums after brushing your teeth, or lots of tiny red spots or bruises on your arms or legs. (no on all of these, although gums are tender with some soreness)

Fatigue – tiredness often carries on after treatment has ended; most people find their energy levels are back to normal after 6 months to a year. (Definitely, although I absolutely will not accept the need for six months to a year to recover. I’m still in the middle of the fourth cycle and I’ve started working out again. I can’t do as much, feel like a weakling…but it won’t take me that long)

A reaction to rituximab while the drug is being given – this causes flu-like symptoms such as a fever, chills and shivering (rigors), a headache and feeling sick. About 1 in 20 people (5%) have a more severe reaction, with wheezing, itchy rash and a drop in blood pressure. Your doctor will give you medicines beforehand to try to prevent a reaction. If you do have a reaction, your nurse will slow your drip down or stop it for a while. (Yes! I was one of the 5% the first time it was administered. The “rigor” is something very hard to describe. It’s like your dying white blood cells are talking to you in the process of being struck down by the toxic combination of chemicals. Very strange and you can’t shut them up! They yap at you 24 hours. “Hey! Stop killing me! Hahahaha! I may die but it will force you to avoid salads and fresh fruit because I can’t protect you from the bacteria…and no honey either!…and to think you willingly sit in a chair for 8 hours for this! And to think we come back in a few weeks only to have you declare war on us again. Unbelievable.)

Hair loss or thinning (yes. I haven’t lost all my hair, but it has thinned out to where if I let it grow out some, I end up with dandelion head)

Nerve problems causing abdominal cramps, constipation, numbness or tingling of fingers and toes, jaw pain or double vision. (cramps=yes, constipation=YES, numbness and tingling of finger not toes=yes, no jaw pain or double vision)

Loss of fertility (I don’t know, and my wife informs me we will not be trying to determine. 2 Kids she says is enough, and no…no dogs either)

Your urine may become pink or red for one or two days after treatment with doxorubicin (well, this is getting a little too personal)

Appetite changes – you may lose your appetite or the steroids may increase your appetite and make you put on weight. (Yes. Some foods, especially the first week after infusion, make you sick just thinking about them. This gets better in the three week cycle at about the two week mark, and then you overeat because you can taste the food and you know you have about 5-7 days before Yuck)

Skin changes – your skin may darken, you may have an itchy rash or become sensitive to sunlight. (No)

Indigestion, stomach pains or discomfort (R-Chop eats and thins the stomach lining. Indigestion will sit like a ball in your throat for 3-5 days and you WILL NOT sleep)

Change in blood sugar levels – tell your doctor if you get very thirsty or if you are passing urine more than usual. (No)

Puffy face and ankles from fluid buildup. (No)

Difficulty in sleeping and mood swings. (Yes. Can’t sleep. Can’t eat. Can’t taste anything. Fatigued. So much to do but don’t feel like doing anything. This is all very depressing.)

Allergic reactions to doxorubicin affects 3 people in 100 (3%). This causes a sudden rash of pink, itchy bumps on your skin and reddening of the skin along the vein. (No)

Temporary changes to your taste. (Yes. A weird film coats your tongue and covers your taste buds)

Your nails may darken or become ridged or white lines may appear on them. (Yes and no. No darkening, but ridged and sensitive)

Changes to the muscles of your heart may occur with high doses of cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin (not that I can tell)

Diarrhoea (Yo)

Well, what a ride, eh? This stuff is very nasty and it beats you down every time you go back for another infusion.

You know you’re going to get hammered. But hey, “Who am I?” The lady nurse that checked me into the hospital for surgery back in December told me she has had four bouts with cancer, they’ve all been different types of cancer, in different parts of her body, and spread over a period of 30 years. Huh, whaaa? She is big grasshopper…I am little grasshopper. I was feeling euphoric about what she said until she blurted, “But thank God it never spread to the lymph nodes!” Ooooooo…………..k.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Well, I was told specifically that you will lose your hair in 2-4 weeks, and a way to cope with the side effect of the treatment is to cut your hair close. So I did, and to my amazement so did many others. What a bunch of cool cats. The paper gave GBFPC some great publicity, I’ve received cards and notes from people around Bakersfield stating that it was refreshing to see on the front page of the paper some news that makes you feel good about others. The following pictures were in the paper.

Michael Fagans / The Californian
Members of the First Pentecostal Church who cut their hair or shaved their heads in support of Pastor Kevin Bradford gathered in the side chapel of the church before walking in to surprise him at the beginning of their Tuesday night prayer service in Bakersfield.

Michael Fagans / The Californian
Pastor Kevin Bradford leads members of the First Pentecostal Church who cut their hair or shaved their heads in support of his fight against cancer and the congregation in song at the start of their Tuesday night prayer service in Bakersfield.

Then, I received phone calls from people outside of Bakersfield stating that they were listening to KLove radio when they heard the following news bit. KLove pulled from the Bakersfield Californian and spread the article nationwide.

klove-podcast

Wow. Then, it dawned on me. What if my hair doesn’t fall out? No alopecia? I’ve always had a head full of hair, and maybe my hair would be like, “no way are my follicles giving in to this R-Chop stuff and we ain’t leaving this dermis. Period!” Oh, man. All those guys. All those WIVES! As you can see in the picture, I’ve always had too much hair…is that a mop head? I thought I was cool at 11.

But alas, my son asked me last night if I tried to cut my hair myself. Huh? Yeah, Dad, you have hair all over the sides of your head. I reached up, pinched a good clump of hair, and…I guess R-Chop wins.

Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
KJV

Hey, Lord. You keeping track?