A difficult journal entry
This journal entry has been long overdue, but for a variety of reasons I had decided not to discuss it here until I was ready.
Back in late November / early December, my dad was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), which is a very serious type of cancer. In the following months he took a chemotherapy treatment and I am happy to report that since his final treatment he has achieved full remission. About a month ago he and Mom went to Houston, TX to visit M. D. Anderson, a world-class research hospital where some of the top MCL specialists conduct clinical trials of new treatments. He is currently working through a follow-up treatment called an autologous stem cell transplant in which they administer a powerful dosage of chemotherapy and then extract, clean up, and replace the stem cells in his blood. The goal of this treatment is to prolong his remission, because unfortunately MCL tends to come back unlike other types of cancer. So, for the remainder of this treatment, Dad will be in a somewhat fragile state due to the effect of the chemo on his immune system. We are very hopeful that the auto SCT will be a success and he will enjoy an extended period of remission as a result of this treatment.
So that is the Reader's Digest version of what has been going on for the past 6 months. It would mean a lot to me if you would keep my family in your thoughts and prayers, but the purpose of this journal entry is not fishing for sympathy or anything like that. It is something that we are dealing with and there are times when I want to post something about it, so let this be the first post.
Back in late November / early December, my dad was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), which is a very serious type of cancer. In the following months he took a chemotherapy treatment and I am happy to report that since his final treatment he has achieved full remission. About a month ago he and Mom went to Houston, TX to visit M. D. Anderson, a world-class research hospital where some of the top MCL specialists conduct clinical trials of new treatments. He is currently working through a follow-up treatment called an autologous stem cell transplant in which they administer a powerful dosage of chemotherapy and then extract, clean up, and replace the stem cells in his blood. The goal of this treatment is to prolong his remission, because unfortunately MCL tends to come back unlike other types of cancer. So, for the remainder of this treatment, Dad will be in a somewhat fragile state due to the effect of the chemo on his immune system. We are very hopeful that the auto SCT will be a success and he will enjoy an extended period of remission as a result of this treatment.
So that is the Reader's Digest version of what has been going on for the past 6 months. It would mean a lot to me if you would keep my family in your thoughts and prayers, but the purpose of this journal entry is not fishing for sympathy or anything like that. It is something that we are dealing with and there are times when I want to post something about it, so let this be the first post.