Category: My lymphoma and related medical stuff

Shortly after the Brusstar’s left in the early evening yesterday (see post below) we called a family meeting. We had refrained from telling the boys that the end of chemotherapy for me would be a fairly long hospital stay. We didn’t see the point of burdening them, or giving them too much to think about…

My last chemotherapy ended four weeks ago today. Here’s my post from the day I went in, complete with picture. Tom Faranda’s Folly: In Sloan Kettering for RICE #2 Of course, I still have a lot more to go – the big session, commencing in early January. Tom Faranda’s Folly: All systems GO for high…

From the NY Times – Doctors’ Delicate Balance in Keeping Hope Alive – New York Times This article will only be avialable for free on the Times website until the end of the year. I have archived a copy and can email it to anyone who would like it.

It’s incredible, but very few state and local municipalities have ever done the actuarial studies needed to determine what their future liabilities are going to be to their retirees. Or put it another way, the future liability of the taxpayers of the state or local municipality. This New York Times article focuses on NY City,…

A bit more often then once a week, I have received either comments or email, or regular mail, from people who have been touched by mantle cell lymphoma. It’s been fmaily or friends who’ve mostly contacted me. I am not sure how folks have found me – possible through the link at the Lymphoma Information…

Darby is the short name for Darbepoetin, the red blood cell stimulating medication. My dosage was upped to 300 mg.’s (from 200) and the plan is to give me the shot every two weeks. This will probably pep me up. I am feeling a bit fitter the last several days. But my endurance is still…

I must admit, I really look like hell. Tim commented the other day "Dad how come around your eyes it’s all dark? And you know your eyelashes are all gone." I said "No they’re not." And he said "They’re all gone on the bottom." So I checked in the mirror and he was right. Still…

We met with Dr. Zelenetz (the lymphoma guru) this morning. The tests I’d taken in the prior eight days – PET and CT scans, echocardiogram, lung function, bone marrow – are all good. So it looks like start date for the high dose chemo and stem cell transplant will be the first week af January.…

Yup. Few things worse then low back pain, and the exercise machine I’ve been using to keep low back pain away for two years, let me down this AM. While using the machine, last repetition on the first set, I got that sudden rip all across my lower back. Stopped immediately, rested for a few…

I had my first stem cell collection today – an auspicious day to start given the weather. I drove down to Sloan Kettering this morning through the heart of the storm, arriving a few minutes to nine, almost an hour late. Now the good news, really good news, is that I don’t have to go…