Great news to report! This is really a wild ride!
The night is always darkest just before dawn. Last weekend things were looking bleak as a CT scan showed enlarging lymph nodes in the abdomen. We started the new chemo Wednesday and she has completed the cycle.
The oncologist needed to do a bone marrow to assess how it was responding to the 3 or 4 courses of the second chemo drugs. The beginning bone marrow had 80% of the cells were lymphoma. After the first chemo course of drugs (6 treatments), the bone marrow was down to 40% lymphoma cells.
A bone marrow was done Monday just showed necrotic (dead) cells. So he did 2 bone marrows on Wednesday - one from each hip. The reports from these today were that they were perfectly normal. No lymphoma was detectable in either! We need less than 5% in the bone marrow to qualify for the bone marrow transplant.
So why are the lymph nodes enlarging if the bone marrow is cleared? The oncologist thinks it is a second clone that has developed resistance to the second chemo series.
Linda is still in hospital as she has a little pain, but her right leg is weak and she cannot stand and get to a bedside commode. It appears that the tumor in the right thigh is compressing the nerves to the thigh and hip muscles as she cannot lift her right leg off the bed. She can move her right foot and toes normally. We are getting MRIs to assess this. A biopsy was done on this tumor and it also appears to be all necrotic as well.
Next week, the oncologist will contact Methodist Hospital about the bone marrow transplant as she is now ready! Hopefully, she will get a little more mobile and be home in a few days.
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel finally.
Thanks for all the prayers. THEY ARE WORKING!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-26-11
We have a Plan C - praise the lord! We have hope again.
The oncologist did his research overnight and found a chemo drug that had positive data in a limited Phase 2 trial. There were otherwise only Phase 1 trials which aren't helpful. He checked with the oncologists at the bone marrow transplant centre and they also suggested this drug.
The drug is bendamustine (trade name Treanda).
In a group of 26 patients who had failed previous chemo of 1 or more regimens, it had a 60% response rate and 20% complete remissions. There were elderly (75 years) and had failed 1-4 previous regimens and 4 patients had relapsed after bone marrow transplant.
The drug is currently used for less aggressive small cell lymphomas and has become the drug of choice, but this is the first trial in large-cell aggressive lymphomas.
She started the treatment tonight. It will be given over 2 days every 3-4 weeks for 6 months or more.
Keep up the prayers. This one will work!
The oncologist did his research overnight and found a chemo drug that had positive data in a limited Phase 2 trial. There were otherwise only Phase 1 trials which aren't helpful. He checked with the oncologists at the bone marrow transplant centre and they also suggested this drug.
The drug is bendamustine (trade name Treanda).
In a group of 26 patients who had failed previous chemo of 1 or more regimens, it had a 60% response rate and 20% complete remissions. There were elderly (75 years) and had failed 1-4 previous regimens and 4 patients had relapsed after bone marrow transplant.
The drug is currently used for less aggressive small cell lymphomas and has become the drug of choice, but this is the first trial in large-cell aggressive lymphomas.
She started the treatment tonight. It will be given over 2 days every 3-4 weeks for 6 months or more.
Keep up the prayers. This one will work!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-24-11
Devastating news...this chemo isn't working.
On Friday, Linda (still in hospital) was in horrible pain in her right leg. Then she noticed that it was so weak, she couldn't lift her leg off the bed. A neurologist was consulted and thought that she had some nerve compression causing both the pain and muscle weakness.
A CT scan of her lumbar spine late yesterday showed many new swollen lymph nodes in the pelvis and around the spine where the nerves exit.
This is really bad. She has a very aggressive tumor and it is resistant to the second chemo after only 3 treatments.
All tumors tend to develop resistance to the chemo drugs, and that is why they tend to use them several at a time to try and kill it before it can get resistant to all of them.
The first set of drugs - Plan A - cytoxan, adriamyin and vincristin gave a partial remission in 6 treatments.
Plan B drugs - ifex, vf-16 and cisplatin haven't done a thing after the 3 treatments.
Tomorrow, when the oncologist is back, we'll see what, or if there, is a Plan C.
We have to get rid of it all before she can have a chance of the bone marrow transplant.
Keep praying for her! She really needs it. Thanks.
On Friday, Linda (still in hospital) was in horrible pain in her right leg. Then she noticed that it was so weak, she couldn't lift her leg off the bed. A neurologist was consulted and thought that she had some nerve compression causing both the pain and muscle weakness.
A CT scan of her lumbar spine late yesterday showed many new swollen lymph nodes in the pelvis and around the spine where the nerves exit.
This is really bad. She has a very aggressive tumor and it is resistant to the second chemo after only 3 treatments.
All tumors tend to develop resistance to the chemo drugs, and that is why they tend to use them several at a time to try and kill it before it can get resistant to all of them.
The first set of drugs - Plan A - cytoxan, adriamyin and vincristin gave a partial remission in 6 treatments.
Plan B drugs - ifex, vf-16 and cisplatin haven't done a thing after the 3 treatments.
Tomorrow, when the oncologist is back, we'll see what, or if there, is a Plan C.
We have to get rid of it all before she can have a chance of the bone marrow transplant.
Keep praying for her! She really needs it. Thanks.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-20-11
Bummer....
The pain was almost the worst ever overnight and we had to have Linda readmitted this morning.
Fortunately the pain was relieved after some IV meds and she is comfortable now.
This is all from the Neupogen shots. The WBC is normal, so she may not need anymore this trip.
We'll have to wait and see when she can get off the IV analgesics, so that she can return home.
The pain was almost the worst ever overnight and we had to have Linda readmitted this morning.
Fortunately the pain was relieved after some IV meds and she is comfortable now.
This is all from the Neupogen shots. The WBC is normal, so she may not need anymore this trip.
We'll have to wait and see when she can get off the IV analgesics, so that she can return home.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-19-11
Short stay.. Yeah!
Linda got home at noon today..2 days only. There was no serious infection, but she did get blood and platelet transfusions.
She still has some pain, but the pills are controlling it. She has her final Neupogen shot for this series tomorrow and then hopefully the pain will subside.
She is still on schedule to go back for chemo next Monday. She will get another bone marrow to see how the chemo is working and if she is ready the the bone marrow transplant.
Thanks for all the prayers, cards, comments etc.
Linda got home at noon today..2 days only. There was no serious infection, but she did get blood and platelet transfusions.
She still has some pain, but the pills are controlling it. She has her final Neupogen shot for this series tomorrow and then hopefully the pain will subside.
She is still on schedule to go back for chemo next Monday. She will get another bone marrow to see how the chemo is working and if she is ready the the bone marrow transplant.
Thanks for all the prayers, cards, comments etc.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-17-11
No such luck! : (
Linda developed a fever this morning and with her low WBC, she had to be readmitted for possible sepsis.
As we got into the hospital, the pain came on with a vengeance, so we would have had to go to the hospital anyway.
She is terribly discouraged, but the pain relief available in the hospital is a godsend.
The rate at which the chemo decimated the bone marrow is amazing. The lab work this afternoon showed the WBC to be 400. Last Wednesday (13th) it was 2200. The platelets were 8,000 today vs 102,000 4 days ago. She was very weak this morning and the Hemoglobin was 6.6 vs 9.6 on the 13th.
She is on 3 antibiotics pending results of the blood cultures as well as getting platelets and blood transfusions.
We are praying for a short stay again this trip.
Linda developed a fever this morning and with her low WBC, she had to be readmitted for possible sepsis.
As we got into the hospital, the pain came on with a vengeance, so we would have had to go to the hospital anyway.
She is terribly discouraged, but the pain relief available in the hospital is a godsend.
The rate at which the chemo decimated the bone marrow is amazing. The lab work this afternoon showed the WBC to be 400. Last Wednesday (13th) it was 2200. The platelets were 8,000 today vs 102,000 4 days ago. She was very weak this morning and the Hemoglobin was 6.6 vs 9.6 on the 13th.
She is on 3 antibiotics pending results of the blood cultures as well as getting platelets and blood transfusions.
We are praying for a short stay again this trip.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-16-11
So far, so good.
Linda is doing well and tonight marks 1 week since discharge from hospital. This is the longest that she has been home for a long time.
She is eating well. She has no pain or nausea.
The Neupogen shots which normally cause her to have severe pain so far are OK after 7 shots.
She is scheduled to go back in for the next chemo on Monday July 25th. So I hope that she won't have a recurrence of the pain and will be able to stay home next week as well.
Thanks for all the prayers, cards, visits and help.
Linda is doing well and tonight marks 1 week since discharge from hospital. This is the longest that she has been home for a long time.
She is eating well. She has no pain or nausea.
The Neupogen shots which normally cause her to have severe pain so far are OK after 7 shots.
She is scheduled to go back in for the next chemo on Monday July 25th. So I hope that she won't have a recurrence of the pain and will be able to stay home next week as well.
Thanks for all the prayers, cards, visits and help.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-9-11
She's home and well!
Linda finished the chemo at 6:00pm this evening and I brought her home. She is doing great - no pain, no nausea, good appetite - pizza and Hagen-Daaz bar for supper!
Tomorrow she starts the Neupogen shots, but this time we decided to keep her on steroids throughout the course as this seems to prevent swelling in the bone marrow and thus the severe pain she gets after 8-10 shots.
I'm hoping she will be home right through, until it is time to do the next chemo (2 1/2 weeks)
Thanks to Helen and Liz and Rick for in hospital visits this past week.
Thanks to everyone for prayers, cards comments and help.
She really is better than she has been for the past 3 months. The prayers are working.
Linda finished the chemo at 6:00pm this evening and I brought her home. She is doing great - no pain, no nausea, good appetite - pizza and Hagen-Daaz bar for supper!
Tomorrow she starts the Neupogen shots, but this time we decided to keep her on steroids throughout the course as this seems to prevent swelling in the bone marrow and thus the severe pain she gets after 8-10 shots.
I'm hoping she will be home right through, until it is time to do the next chemo (2 1/2 weeks)
Thanks to Helen and Liz and Rick for in hospital visits this past week.
Thanks to everyone for prayers, cards comments and help.
She really is better than she has been for the past 3 months. The prayers are working.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-6-11
2 days down and 3 more to go.
So far, this has been the best chemo course of the 3 in hospital.
Probably it has to do with her being in better shape before starting the chemo.
Linda is eating well, has little pain, and is getting PT to keep up her strength for walking.
If all goes well...home Saturday. No more updates unless she has a setback or until she is home.
Thanks Helen for your visit to Linda yesterday. Thanks Jan for looking after Brion.
So far, this has been the best chemo course of the 3 in hospital.
Probably it has to do with her being in better shape before starting the chemo.
Linda is eating well, has little pain, and is getting PT to keep up her strength for walking.
If all goes well...home Saturday. No more updates unless she has a setback or until she is home.
Thanks Helen for your visit to Linda yesterday. Thanks Jan for looking after Brion.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Linda's Lymphoma update 7-3-11
A great weekend so far. Linda came home Friday July 1st.
The pain is under control nicely and she is able to enjoy reading, family, pets, food etc like a normal person.
She will be readmitted on Tuesday 5th for next 5 day chemo course.
Have a happy 4th everyone and thanks a million for everything you are doing for us.
The pain is under control nicely and she is able to enjoy reading, family, pets, food etc like a normal person.
She will be readmitted on Tuesday 5th for next 5 day chemo course.
Have a happy 4th everyone and thanks a million for everything you are doing for us.
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