Oh where has the hair gone

Bob's hair has started to fall out. He asked Alec if he would like to get the same hair cut as him. Al's response "No Way". As you all know, Alec is very picky about his hair and likes it long. He is getting a buzz cut to reduce the amount of hair loss. Unfortunately, Bob was unable to spend Easter and Alec's birthday with Alec. We didn't want Bob to get sick because he was at the point of where the blood was to drop. Alec had the horrible flu that has hit everyone. He was out of school all week with vomiting and fever. He then got a terrible cold. It was hard on both Alec and Bob but we rather have him well.



He will have an appointment with Dr Barlet on Wen. before his next chemo treatment. He will also meet with Dr Kashen ( Doctor that is involved with the Stem Cell). This treatment should not be as bad as the first one. Since he didn't have to many problems this one should be a breeze.



I have notice a big change in his voice. We are able to understand him much better. I have also notice a difference in the size of neck. You can see where it has gone down quite a bit. He has said that it will harder for him to get the treatment when he is feeling much better.

Keep him in your prayers next week. Let's hope everything goes well. We will know moreabout the stem cell on April 2. We will keep you update as soon as we know more.

Are we finished yet?

I am sure this was a question to Bob's nurse all weekend. Bob finally was able to come home Sunday. He is feeling a little queasy still. Hopefully the nausea medicine will kick in to help that. Today Bob received his Neulasta shot. This is a shot is to boost his Marrow production. One of the side effects is his bones may ache a little. By easter, He may be feeling a little worse due to a drop in blood count. At this time, he will need to be awary of anyone feeling sick or has anything he can get. His immune system will be very low at this time. He may even feel weak. Our next time will be April 2. They say that this will not as bad as the first time. Due to fact, The first round will attack everything but the second will attack what is left over. Bob is noticing a difference in throat already. Soon the nodules should shrink even more.

A BIG thank you to all of your prayers and thoughts.

2nd Round

Last night Bob received his dose of methotrexate. We had to wait until his lab values were in normal range. Once it was in normal range the chemo took about 6 hours. He had no problems so far with this. Night before he did have some chills from the Rituximab. So far the only problems he has had is the chills. That only happened once. So we hope that this will be the only side effects. He is feeling great and still in great spirits. He should receive the rest of the chemo Cyclophohamide, doxorubicin, and Vincristine some time today. He will not be able to leave the hospital until his lab values show that the methotrexate has left his body. He is pushing the nurse to let him get out tomorrow. He is bound and determined to make Brianna's Confirmation on Sunday.

Here we go

Here we go. We are off and running with treatment. We took Bob down to Barnes yesterday. It took most of the day to get last minute test and in his bed. He started the chemo last night. He then will receive several different types over the next few days. Hopefully he will be out of the hospital Saturday. I am sure he will be ready. He is still very up beat. After the chemo, he will get a shot of Neulasta on Monday. We then wait until Apr. 2 to start all over. Doctor does say that within the week the nodules in his neck will decrease. This will help him swallow and breathe much easier.

Treatment is to begin

We went and saw Dr Barlett yesterday. Due to the fact that Bob is not going to be 70 until May, he falls into the cat. for the clinical trial.This will be a fast pace hard hitting treatment over a period of 4 mths. He has a very good outlook on this and is ready to do it. This will require mutliple hospital stays due to the harsh chemo.


Next Wen. 12th- Bob will go in and get another bone marrow asp., blood work and begin his first chemo treatment.He will be in the hospital for 3 days. The reason is one of the chemo drugs can harm the kidneys. He will be given large amount of fluids to flush the kidneys. His chemo will be Rituximab, methotrexate (kidney), Cyclophohamide, doxorubicin, and Vincristine.

3 weeks later, we will repeat the chemo with another 3 day stay. approximately April 2.

We then wait 6 wks appr. May 14. Bob will go into the hospital for autologus Stem Cell replacement. This means he will receive a high dose of chemo for 1 wks. This is to kill the bone marrow. They will the harvest the stem cells and freeze them. How they harvest is by taking his blood. Almost like a blood transfusion. During this period of time, he will be highly susceptible to infection due to a low immune system. They will then give back his stem cell after the chemo has been eliminated from his body. Same way, like a blood transfusion. He will then stay in the hospital until his blood count comes back up. During this period, he will be getting antibiotics, blood transfusions and nutrition. He will have to be on antibiotics for a short period after leaving the hospital.

After this several wks later, he will receive Velcade. This is the experimental drug. This is no cost to him. Two different ways-he will receive once a week an inj 1 a week every 3 wks for 12 weeks or once a month for 2 yrs. He will be randomly but in one of these trials.

During this period of treatment he will be getting blood work, bone marrow asp, a port during stems cell and scans.

This has given high results in putting mantle cell in remission without recurrence. Regular chemo he will have remission and recurrence for the rest of his life. So basically, A rough period for 4 mth compared the rest of his life in chemo.

He will be going in on Wednesday March 12 at 1:00 and hopefully out on Sat. March 15.

The research nurse should be calling today to let us know if everything is good for him to do this trial and what else needs to be done.

Everyone keep him in your prayers. Hopefully he will not have to bad of side effects from this. They say the only real bad side effect is the velcade giving neuropathy of the hands. Not to bad of side effects. He will lose his hair. I hate to be Donna picking up all that hair. Hopefully he doesn't develope any infections during his stem cell.

I will keep you update once we start the chemo on his health.