A Cancer/Health Update

 

SO...

In 2008, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's B Cell Lymphoma and almost five years later, 2012, I was diagnosed with Melanoma...  and have been under treatment for both ever since.  In January of 2026, I will begin my 18th year of chemo for lymphoma.

Over the years, I have had several different kinds of drugs, radiation, and surgeries to keep the cancers from growing.  Some have been wicked, some have not; some sent me to the ER, others did not.

About 7-8 years ago, I had a dual access port installed because the veins in my arms had become too damaged to use.  Also, about 7-8 years ago, I began infusions of IVIG because my blood work was showing signs of degradation.

Today, my WBC is below normal, my RBC is below normal making me anemic, my platelet count is below normal as are a few other markers of good health.

I have constant and above average fatigue daily, and my taste and smell have deteriorated; I have nausea from time-to-time, but it has recently declined.

The steroids that I had to take from the very outset of this treatment helped me gain 50 pounds which I subsequently lost due to simply eating less.  I went from 250 down to 210 and now have a goal of 195 which is close to what I should be for my height and age.

My Oncologist focuses now on maintaining both cancers, so they do not grow.  The Melanoma has come back twice, and it is quite remarkable that it has not killed me yet.  It is also quite startling that the Lymphoma has not become aggressive which it most certainly can do, changing from small B cell to large B cell.

Up to this point, we have managed to stay ahead of the game.

My lifestyle has changed substantially with my two cancers as well as my age.

In addition to my two cancers, in 2008, I had a serious heart attack where the surgeons wanted to do a triple bypass.  My ejection fraction was under 25 or 20, I just cannot remember.  I had my three arteries cleaned out and five stints inserted.

Also, about 3-4 years ago, I had 5 lower back disks fused, rods and screws inserted and that surgery has altered my mobility as well.  The disks fused were:  L2-L3-L4-L5-S1.

All in all, for my age of 78, my health is in pretty good shape.