Gonna launch right into it.
Bob has two kinds of lymphoma: Hodgkin's and Mantel Cell. Both are very treatable. The Hodgkin's they think they can cure, but the Mantel is more of a kick it into remission and maintain a six times per year maintenance program kind of a deal. They feel TAB will do well and have a regular lifespan.
Chemo starts Thursday and will go for six cycles every three weeks. It will be a mid road chemo in regards to side effects.
The spleen should rapidly shrink back to normal and the Hodgkin's cells should start dying off quickly.
They think the Mantel is the one giving him all the symptoms now so, as chemo kicks in, those symptoms should subside. TAB feels lousy now BUT it's likely he will actually feel better as chemo progresses. Chemo is not gonna be easy but there is a bright shiny light at the end if the tunnel.
TAB is wicked relieved that the news wasn't as bad as he'd anticipated. He loves his doctor and genuinely has a great attitude about beginning treatment.
Oni (AKA Oni the Saint) will bring them back to the hospital for one and three o'clock appointments: an echocardiogram and a meeting with the chemo nurse. After this he’s due back in at 8:30 am Thursday for chemo.
Damn, that light at the end of the tunnel looks dim but IT IS THERE!
Huzzah!
Good news, Donna, I'm relieved to hear it. Did they say how it happens that one can get two kinds of cancer at once? I assume they're somehow related and affect each other. My very best wishes for the coming treatments, with all kinds of positive visualizations (little chemo soldiers slaying the beasts). Take care.
ReplyDelete" chemo soldiers slaying the beasts"—that's fabulous. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThey didn't say how he came to have not one but TWO cancers. I'll ask though. Weird.
Maya actually had an explanation for that which I didn't understand...btw, in my haste to read I didn't realize the post above was written by Jen. Give my regards :)
ReplyDeleteI surely will and please ask Maya to chime in with her explanation.
Delete