Aug 01 2011
Today, Day 0 of my stem cell transplant schedule, saw the return of my cells back to my bloodstream. They had been kept frozen since being harvested just a couple weeks ago. The process of warming the cells and returning them only took a bit longer than thirty minutes. There were two bags containing the …
Jul 31 2011
The time spent in the hospital for my stem cell transplant is measured on an interesting scale. The date on which my previously harvested stem cells will be returned to me is called Day 0. Days before then are measured as negative days, and after then as positive days. Depending on the chemotherapy protocol required, …
Jul 23 2011
In just two short days, I’ll be sitting in a hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri, getting my first dose of the chemotherapy which precedes my stem cell transplant. I intend to keep everyone up to date here and elsewhere. I know I’m not going through this alone. What is BEAM? As with many other chemotherapy …
Jul 03 2011
I had my first bone marrow biopsy over a year ago, just after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In preparation for my upcoming stem cell transplant, another biopsy was called for. This time I managed to get some photographs of the procedure, thanks to the assistance of my wife, Tammy. The biopsy procedure took place …
May 19 2011
You’ve probably heard that quote before. That’s a common English translation of a line from the “Maxims and Arrows” section of Friedrich Nietzsche’s Twilight of the Idols, or, How to Philosophize with a Hammer. The original, in German, is this: Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker. Götzen-Dämmerung, oder, Wie man mit dem Hammer philosophiert …
May 07 2011
While I was receiving chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday, 2011-05-04, a tweet from a friend of mine caught my interest. [Yes, I play on Twitter while the chemotherapy drugs drip into my veins.] Looking back in my timeline, I found that the tweet from @zeno001 followed this brief exchange: Wow! It appeared that Mr. Kirkland was …
Apr 17 2011
People following me on Twitter often see me comment about my daily trips to the cancer center or hospital during the ten days following my rounds of chemotherapy treatment. I may tweet that I’m going to go get my granulocyte colonies stimulated, or I’m getting my GCS-F, or heading off to get my Neupogen. These …
Apr 14 2011
I’m at the Infusion area of Carle Cancer Center for the third day of my second round of ICE chemotherapy. The IV drip of saline has started, and I’m ready for 5 or 6 hours of getting rid of the cancer cells. It’s nice to be first in line, but even better to see that …
Mar 24 2011
I’m sitting here getting chemotherapy for the second of three days in a row. I feel fine, and it all seems to be going smoothly. I’ll have two more 3-day sessions like this, at three week intervals. After that, it’s on to the stem cell transplant!
Mar 12 2011
In which I describe what’s going on with my cancer, and what will be happening over the next several months. My cancer continues. It has been a while since I wrote about the status of my health. [See Nothing’s Gonna Change My World and Cancer and Stages] I want to take this opportunity to fill …
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