Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
bone marrow biopsy
A bone marrow biopsy is the most accurate way to measure progress and test the body for any possible lingering cancer cells. Your bone marrow is where all of your cells are made and blood is produced. On average bone marrow produces approximately five-hundred-billion blood cells per day. Bone marrow is also a key component of the lymphatic system. The lympatic system produces the lymphocytes that support the body's immune system.
The cancer I have is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). After reading everything above you've probably figured out that ALL is made in the bone marrow, hence why it's extremely important for me to have routine bone marrow biopsies. Bone marrow biopsies are a "simple" 20 minute standard procedure done in an operating room under anesthesia. Though anesthesia is not necessary, it's nice as the procedure is quite painful. The biopsy is obtained by breaking through the back of my hip bone with a needle/rod type thing. Once the marrow has been accessed a small liquid blood sample is taken followed by a marrow sample.
This morning, Thursday April 17, 2014, Dr. Greenwald came in and informed me that there were no operating rooms available for my routine biopsy. Yikes! Being said, Greenwald promised sedatives to qualm any nerves and pain meds for obvious reasons. So with a little thought and a lot of guts I let him go in without knocking me out. I'll be adding "bone marrow biopsy without anesthesia" to my list of reasons as to why I'm such a badass.
The beautiful nurse, Renata captured this video clip during the procedure. Unfortunately she started filming a bit late so it's a bit uneventful and doesn't show the gnarly part- the initial break through of my hip bone. Anyway, it's still kinda cool and gives you an idea of what a bone marrow biopsy is like. Enjoy! :)
The cancer I have is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). After reading everything above you've probably figured out that ALL is made in the bone marrow, hence why it's extremely important for me to have routine bone marrow biopsies. Bone marrow biopsies are a "simple" 20 minute standard procedure done in an operating room under anesthesia. Though anesthesia is not necessary, it's nice as the procedure is quite painful. The biopsy is obtained by breaking through the back of my hip bone with a needle/rod type thing. Once the marrow has been accessed a small liquid blood sample is taken followed by a marrow sample.
This morning, Thursday April 17, 2014, Dr. Greenwald came in and informed me that there were no operating rooms available for my routine biopsy. Yikes! Being said, Greenwald promised sedatives to qualm any nerves and pain meds for obvious reasons. So with a little thought and a lot of guts I let him go in without knocking me out. I'll be adding "bone marrow biopsy without anesthesia" to my list of reasons as to why I'm such a badass.
The beautiful nurse, Renata captured this video clip during the procedure. Unfortunately she started filming a bit late so it's a bit uneventful and doesn't show the gnarly part- the initial break through of my hip bone. Anyway, it's still kinda cool and gives you an idea of what a bone marrow biopsy is like. Enjoy! :)
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
treatment tuesday
I promise I haven't forgotten about "Treatment Tuesday", it just so happens all my doctor appointments have been falling on Wednesday's. Being said, I've been holding off the extra day to update everyone with the most recent information.
Today I saw Greenwald and he's having me check back in to Cottage Hospital tonight. :( For the first twelve hours I'll just be receiving fluids and undergo a bone marrow biopsy. Next another round of Methotrexate and vincristine will be administered. This is still part of that "final round" I've mentioned before and will hopefully go as smoothly as this past one. I expect to be out of the hospital in four to seven days this time.
Lasting several weeks and involving many check-ins and check-outs, I hate that they keep calling this the "final round" because there seems to be nothing final about it. I thought this "final round" was going to last six weeks with frequent inpatient visits, but apparently it's six-teen weeks. I swear, more often than not my ears hear what they want to hear...
Today I saw Greenwald and he's having me check back in to Cottage Hospital tonight. :( For the first twelve hours I'll just be receiving fluids and undergo a bone marrow biopsy. Next another round of Methotrexate and vincristine will be administered. This is still part of that "final round" I've mentioned before and will hopefully go as smoothly as this past one. I expect to be out of the hospital in four to seven days this time.
Lasting several weeks and involving many check-ins and check-outs, I hate that they keep calling this the "final round" because there seems to be nothing final about it. I thought this "final round" was going to last six weeks with frequent inpatient visits, but apparently it's six-teen weeks. I swear, more often than not my ears hear what they want to hear...
Monday, April 14, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
friday favorites
The Red Road Foundation
This Friday Favorite is a shout-out to my favorite non-profit, The Red Road Foundation. The Red Road Foundation is made up of a dedicated group of individuals seeking to bring necessary resources to children in desperate need around the world. Their goal is to establish self-sustaining, compassionate, healing and educationally focused communities where currently there are none. They seek to raise awareness,
"The Red Road" is a term used in Native American spiritual teachings to represent one who is “walking in balance”. It is behavior, attitude, a way of living, a way of “doing” with reverence – of walking strong yet softly, so as not to harm or disturb other life. The Red Road is a pathway to truth, peace and harmony.
As The Red Road Foundation's Administrative Director I couldn't be more proud. If you are interested in a life changing experience go check them out www.theredroadfoundation.com, right now they are calling all volunteers. If you are unable to volunteer you can always donate on their site (link above).
Stay tuned for upcoming fundraisers.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
treatment tuesday
Treatment Tuesday is coming at you a day late this week as Treatment Wednesday. I held off the extra day because I knew I was checking back into 5South today (wednesday) and wanted to give everyone as much of the most accurate information possible.
If all goes well this should be my last round of inpatient chemotherapy treatments. This round will last six-weeks and will include a rotation of three drugs. Vincristine, Methotrexate, and an intrathecal similar to Methotrexte. For those of you who aren't familiar, intrathecal implies an injection into my spine. This is done as a preventative measure to insure cancer cells do not spread to my brain. Though I have virtually no cancers cells left in my body, one in every five-hundred-thousand cells or something, the intrathecal is still done as Dr. Greenwald is very thorough.
My new room has a decent view of a parking lot, some trees and the ocean in the far distance. It also has a nice patio that apparently stays locked and patients aren't allowed on. I guess people with terminal illnesses are at high risk of suicide, who knew. I brought a few of my own blankets, pillows, and decorations to make it more homey. I'm up for texting so feel free. Oh and clam linguini sounds good too. :)
If all goes well this should be my last round of inpatient chemotherapy treatments. This round will last six-weeks and will include a rotation of three drugs. Vincristine, Methotrexate, and an intrathecal similar to Methotrexte. For those of you who aren't familiar, intrathecal implies an injection into my spine. This is done as a preventative measure to insure cancer cells do not spread to my brain. Though I have virtually no cancers cells left in my body, one in every five-hundred-thousand cells or something, the intrathecal is still done as Dr. Greenwald is very thorough.
My new room has a decent view of a parking lot, some trees and the ocean in the far distance. It also has a nice patio that apparently stays locked and patients aren't allowed on. I guess people with terminal illnesses are at high risk of suicide, who knew. I brought a few of my own blankets, pillows, and decorations to make it more homey. I'm up for texting so feel free. Oh and clam linguini sounds good too. :)
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