Ongoing Battle with Cancers

 At the end of this month, I will complete my 16th year of being treated for non-Hodgkin's small B cell Lymphoma and 14th of being treated for Melanoma.

I have had 365 infusions averaging right at 2 each month, even though some month during those years, I had 3 infusions each month.

My body has handled all those toxins pretty well although, my WBC & RBC & Platelets have remained consistently at the lower level or below the recommended range for males.

I never lost my hair but for 6 months my infusions made me so sick that my wife took me to the ER in order to get my vomiting to stop.  The vomiting was not normal to me as my body would sweat so much it was like I had just gotten out of shower.

When I vomited my body would arch up like an angry cat and retch for a minute or more until the green toxins came out of my mouth.  I could feel my body pulling it up from my groined it seemed.

When I stopped, I was so exhausted, I just laid on the cold tile floor for several minutes shivering so violently my entire body shook.

Sixteen years later, my treatments are immunotherapy, which is not so hard on my body, but I am still left with constant fatigue daily, blurred vision, loss of hearing, night sweats, and intermittent nausea.  I think it has ruined my teeth but there is no evidence for that other than anecdotal.  

My Oncologist tells me that I will be getting treatments for both cancers for the rest of my life.

I am thankful for each day.