The Journey Continues:Update

Richard's appointment yesterday went fairly smooth.  He even got several naps.  He napped before and during the pet scan, during chemo and the IGG infusion.  I did post on facebook yesterday about the blood work.  His labs were great!! They were better than they have been in a long, long time!

I thought that we were going to see the PA but the doctor was the one that gave the results of the pet scan.  He said that the spots are still there and that they are not smaller than last time.  He said that the spots could be scar tissue that might not ever go away.  He said that is common with lymphoma patients.  He also said that the glow(pet scan) that shows up the hot spots are not as much as before.  He seemed positive and upbeat during the appointment.  The doctor also is reducing the steroids and he is now down to 10 mg a day.  Hopefully his graft/vs/host will not flare up!

Richard will still be going back every three weeks for chemo and he will get the IGG infusion every six weeks.  He will be doing eight to ten more chemos.  I am sure that there will be more pet scans thrown in along the way.

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!!!

Philippians 4:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Romans 10:9-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

The Journey Continues:Update on Options

The weird thing about this Doctor's visit was that we thought we were going down to hear options and that we would than choose what was the best option.  Well the decision was already made for us which made it very easy.  The Doctor came in and said  okay this is the plan.  Richard will be started on a chemo called Bendamustine.  It is a chemo that is specifically used for lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myelomas and macroglbulinemia patients that have a failed transplant.  The doctor also mentioned that they would be in contact with the bone marrow donor to see about getting some more cells.  They will not do another transplant but will give the cells through IV, which is how he got them before, but they will not be killing his immune system.  The hope is that this time the cells will attack any cancer cells.

Richard will be doing chemo every three weeks and whatever day that is on he will also see the Doctor or  a PA on that day.  The Doctor was very optimistic and said that probably after two treatments another pet scan will be performed to see the progress if any and decided what to do from there.  He did mention that Richard could have chronic Hodgkin's Lymphoma and some have lived many years with it.

Thanks again for the prayers!!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.


I also thought that the verse of the day on Bible gateway was a great one!

Psalm 119:143

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴³ Trouble and distress have come upon me,
    but your commands give me delight.