Jul 11

Needle Biopsy #3

Amusing quote of the day: Doctors “practice” medicine.

Note: Andrew is feeling slightly fed up with healthcare right now.

Monday, July 11, noon – We’re at the hospital, again. In Radiology, again. To see the radiologist, again. So I can get another needle biopsy, again.

This is the third needle biopsy this year, after the ones in January and March. And we’re not counting the Chamberlain procedure in April where they took out a section of rib to get a lot of tissue. So we’re back at option 1 again. More tissue.

Why? Why need more tissue? These needle biopsies get 5-6 pieces of tissue the size of a grain of rice, and they’ve done 2 of them so far. The Chamberlain procedure yielded tissue sample as big as 3cm in diameter! Yet we still need more tissue. Why?

Because. Because the doctor said so, that’s why. And because my latest CT scan shows that the hot node in my chest seems to be growing outward towards the scar from the Chamberlain procedure. The doctor is hoping we can get a “better” sample this time.

What defines “better“?

“Better” in this context is being able to get out of this “waiting game” we’ve been in since the end of December.
“Better” means getting a tissue sample that has Reed Sternberg cells, which are the characteristic cancer cells of Hodgkins Lymphoma.
“Better” means having a diagnosis that makes sense in Western Medicine.
“Better” means being proving I still have cancer, which means “treatment” can continue.

What defines “treatment“?

“Treatment” means a stem cell transplant, consisting of several steps. First, ICE chemo to make sure it’s actually cancer. Second, harvest my stem cells. Third, High Dose chemo to wipe out all my white blood cells (since Reed Sternberg cells are actually morphed white blood cells). And fourth, put my stem cells back in me in hopes to regrow them and rebuild my immune system. This whole process would take about 4 months. It would be harder than the 6 months of chemo I went through last year, yet the doctors argue that it will be easier because it happens over a shorter period of time. Maybe there is some truth to that, but it’s still going to be rough.

So that is WHY I get to go get stuck again today, and have more tissue taken.

We’ll find out the results of the biopsy on Thursday, July 14, and we appreciate all your prayers and support.

In addition to the option 1 of more tissue, I have also been pursuing the Option 5 of seeking out alternative forms of treatment in addition to the current regimen. I have started to see someone who does energy work on the body, and is working with the chakras and energy meridians in my body to help the healing process. I think it is a good thing, and look forward to continuing that.

It is a long slow road to recovery, and I am plodding along, marching towards good health, and tremendously encouraged by all your support. Thank you so much.

P.S. It is going to be a long day at the hospital. Hopefully we will be out by 6pm tonight. If anyone wants to make Jacqui and I dinner, we would love you forever.

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Jun 15

One year… the first of many happy ones!

June 15, 2011 – One year ago today, I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. It was an interesting day. It started with a CT scan, then a phone call from the doctor. After that I remember about 20 minutes of peace and quiet sitting a park swing by the lake, and then went went to see an oncologist. After seeing the oncologist we went to get a needle biopsy, and the doctor who did the biopsy let us look at the slides with my cells on them. We saw the Reed Sternberg cells through the microcope, and knew I had cancer.

Jacqui and I had no idea what to do, but we learned quickly about treatment options, the “curability” of Hodgkins, how to deal with lots of doctors’ appts and even more chemo, and most of all, how to deal with insurance companies.

It’s been a wild ride, and though it has had its hard times, we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves. We want to thank all of you again for your support this past year, which has helped us both tremendously.

When we found out I was going to have chemo, there was an option to use the veins in my arms, or to use a chemo port, which would go straight into my heart. Using my veins carried the risk of burning them out, so Jacqui and I chose for me to get a chemo port, so that my veins would still be healthy when I got old. Because, that is our goal, to grow old together and be happy. That is still our goal, and we’re not going to let cancer, or anything else, get in the way.

We’ve got a CT scan to go to next Monday (June 21), and we’ll find out the results of the CT from the doctor next Thursday (June 24), so we’ll have more news about what my body is doing at that point.

In the meantime, we’re looking forward to many more happy, healthy years with all of you!

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May 13

Meatloaf Recipe

Meatloaf half gone

leftovers are just better somehow

3 oz bread crumbs
1 c finely chopped onions
1 c parmesan
1/2 c thinly sliced fresh basil
1/3 c sun-dried tomato
1/4 c chopped parsley
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 lb ground turkey breast
2 lg. eggs

Preheat oven to 400 F. Coat 2 loaf pans with cooking spray. Combine loaf ingredients. Divide mixture in half. Press each portion into prepared pans. Bake 55 min. Enjoy!

Ingredient Notes:

  • How much is 3 oz bread crumbs? I have no idea! Maybe 1/3 cup? Just throw some in the bowl and don’t worry about it.
  • 1 c onions? it can be chopped finely or coarsely, using 1 or 2 medium onions. You pick whether they’re white, yellow, or red.
  • I like grated parmesan, but I’m sure any kind of parmesan will work.
  • If you don’t have fresh basil, just substitute 1/3 c dried basil. And throw some oregano in too, just for fun.
  • Sun dried tomato is the trickiest part. I use fresh sun dried tomato, not the pickled kind. This means I have to soak them in boiling water for 8-10 minutes before slicing them and adding them to the mixture.
  • I’m certain that dried parsley is just as good as fresh parsley.
  • It seems easier to scoop 1/4 to 1/2 cup of already minced garlic out of a jar than to cut up 4 garlic cloves. Why make cooking harder than it has to be?
  • Ground turkey comes in 1 or 3 lb packages at Kroger. Generally the meatloaf ends of with 3 lbs of ground turkey than just 2 1/2. Once again, why make cooking any harder?
  • An egg is an egg. If you like eggs, use bigger eggs. If you don’t like eggs, use smaller eggs.

 

In addition to tasting wonderful, the meatloaf also smells REALLY GOOD when it’s cooking. Enjoy!

When it’s done cooking, and I’ve eaten my fill, I like to cover the loaf pans with aluminum foil and enjoy the rest of the meatloaf for a few days.

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