On 1 October I sprawled my giant body out on a narrow table
too short for my length.
After several adjustments [cushion under knees, ankles
strapped together, head wedged into a foam form] I stretched my arms over my
head and was eased into the scanner. 26
minutes later I emerged with aching shoulders and apprehension. What was it going to show? My oncologist suggested very good news but I
kept seeing the first scam from several months ago. I would wait until the 9th to go
over it with the doctor.
Two days later he calls to say he could not wait until the 9th. He tells me it is everything he was hoping it
would be.
Now it is the 10th. The meeting with Dr. Mannis was a “joy fest;”
I couldn't tell who was happier. “The
first thing we must do,” he tells me “is to gather some ‘show & tell’ props
for your friends and family back home." He
lets me photograph the monitor and prints out B&W images of the before and
after. We then discussed prognosis and
further treatment. This is remission,
not cure. It is a remission
that he is so excited about that he showed many of his colleagues the
results. He says it is rare to see such remarkable results. He is excited and it
is contagious. I have this cycle [today
and tomorrow] and a cycle in November [6th and 7th] and
that’s it. Sort of. We needed to discuss maintenance. After my immunochemotherapy is done, Dr. Mannis was
recommending I follow up with Rituximab maintenance for at least 2 years. This involves an 800ml dose every 2
months. Studies have shown that the PFS
[Progression Free Survival] after 2 years of the maintenance in patients with
high tumor burden follicular lymphoma was 74.9% as opposed to 57.6% in those
not undergoing the maintenance treatment.
I know this increases my likelihood of living longer but don’t quite
have the specifics down yet.
I had my infusions today and was out of there by 2PM and am
sitting at Martin’s & Dana’s with Emma [their dog] by my side. I return tomorrow for another dose, a visit
from a long lost friend and then home.
OH, yes! Another bit of good news…
The Infusion Salon now has WiFi!!!
