Yesterday, we were at Duke for the final treatment in my 3rd Cycle. And this morning I went to my local Oncologist to get a Neulasta shot to help boost my white cell count. Thank God for medical insurance - that Neulasta shot costs somewhere between $ 8,000 and $ 9,000 each. Unbelievable.
Now I have a break for 2 weeks before starting Cycle 4, which hopefully is my last chemotherapy cycle. I will get tested and reassessed in the latter part of December, and assuming the tests show the one persistent lymph node in my abdomen has disappeared, I should be ready to start the bone marrow transplant sometime in January. As I was singing to Holly the other day, "All I want for Christmas is a clean PET scan, a clean PET scan, yes a clean PET scan."
We have been traveling to Duke for treatments for about the last 20 weeks. Add to that 2 or 3 more weeks waiting for the biopsy and the pathology results, and we have been living with this cancer thing for the last 5 1/2 or 6 months. In some respects the time seems to have gone by quickly. But in other ways we are ready to get this phase behind us. Even though I am extremely fortunate and blessed to not be reacting badly to the treatments, it is none the less beginning to wear thin. It is time to move on.
Yee Haw! I'm sure you are relieved to have that cycle in the rear view mirror. Hard to believe it has been that long. You look great and Holly D is holding up well. I always knew you were a 4th quarter kind of guy. Now that the cancer is worn out from 3 quarters of smash-mouth football, you are going to run it off the field in the 4th quarter! Too bad Carolina couldn't do the same to Duke. I guess we'll cut them some slack this year for you and Eliza and let them win one.
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