Off and Running!

My reprieve from chemo, that I reported last time, got extended from 30 to 60 days. Life has almost returned to normal, including my body with all its chemo imperfections. Yesterday I got an intravenous top up of rituximab, the man-made antibody, that costs $3500 a dose and is made partly from mouse parts. I probably said this before but I'll say it again. Don't bad mouth mice, they're nice to have around! Rituximab, I'm pleased to report, doesn't cause any noticeable side effects. It's not a "chemical" like all the others. My next refill is three months down the road, which is plenty of time to allow my body to forget past horrors and focus on the fun of living. For two years I'll visit the clinic every three months for the rituximab booster. After that? Hmmm! I guess I'll be considered in full remission.

This condition of slow-growing Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma never really goes away. The drugs simply repress its vigour. It will be with me all the rest of my days just like bad knees and a diminished memory. Who can relate?

All the indicators in my blood were normal yesterday, except one. I have a low lymphocyte count, caused by the cure ie. the chemotherapy. It could be a year before normal levels return hence I'm open to infection. I'll be taking H1N1 and standard flu shots. I've made almost a whole year without a sniffle. Touch wood! With a little luck and a lot of hand washing maybe I can make another.

We've become very aware of all the cancer around us these past twelve months. A day never passes without a reference in the news. Countless dollars are thrown at the cause and yet the incidence increases. It's especially sad when children are affected. But there is hope. Many people are cured and I'm happy to count myself among them. Maybe one day soon we'll discover the root causes and prevention will be the key. In the meantime let's all support the science as best we can. I know I'll be forever grateful that a scientist somewhere put together rituximab.