My Journey

 

For the last 16 years, I have been undergoing treatments for non-hodkin's small "B" cell lymphoma and melanoma.

The lymphoma is in my neck, chest, and abdomen areas and the melanoma started at the bottom of my left foot, moved to my groin area and then to my neck where cluster of dead melanoma cells were surgically removed.

During these sixteen years, I have experienced surgery, radiation, and chemo infusions along with infusions of IVIG to help boost my red blood cells.

At one point, my oncologist told me (after the fact) that he was not sure if he was going to able to slow it down, but his treatment finally worked.

I will be undergoing treatments for both lymphoma and melanoma for the rest of my life.  The lymphoma will never leave my body and could turn into very aggressive large cell lymphoma.  The treatments for melanoma must also continue otherwise it will definitely start to grow.

All of my treatments after all these years have left me constantly fatigued with intermittent nausea, no sense of taste, and a severely damaged immune system (hence the IVIG treatments)

i have never lost my hair or had a lot of adverse side effects except for six treatments I received in Kentucky when I was being infused with very wicked chemo.

My treatments then were on Thursday/Friday and on Saturday, I had constant and severe vomiting and by sunday ended up going to the er where they gave me a infusion of zofran.

Otherwise, my body has remarkably tolerated everything that the oncologists have tossed at it.  I have been blessed with a strong body.

I am the only one in my family to ever get cancer and I am glad this has happened because I would not want my sister or brother to have experienced what I have.

My 16-year journey so far has left me with a different outlook on life and helped me understand what is important and what is not.

In addition to a very supportive wife, I also have three cats that enjoy my company when they are not sleeping.  The Siamese always shows up when it is time for me to go to bed at night so he can sleep on my legs until I have to turn on my side.

I share my story and my journey in the hopes that others my benefit from what I have experienced.