There were a couple other things i wanted to share before i start my 3rd round of chemo. Well actually before i forget and then mention them a ways down the road when they are all way out of context and i have you the readers saying what in the heck does that have to do with anything?
I would like to thank all the guys that went through with it and shaved their heads in support of me. Shout outs to Tyler Smith, Ryan Ottoway, Joe Bergkamp, Dad, Uncle Frank, Jake Quigley (in Cuba), Eric Knight, and Jaime Verbeckmoes. I am in the process of getting an album of myself and all these dudes beautiful bald or baldish heads together and will have it on facebook. After i get all the photos i might work on some sort of photo collage for this blog, because i have that much time. If you see one of these guys out and about tell them how awesome they are.
I reached out to a friend of mine from college named Kyle. His wife has Leukemia and has been battling it for over a year. Her name is Shea and she recently had a bone marrow transplant and has a really inspirational story. If you have the time please check out her Caring Bridge site and let her know how amazing and strong she is. I have requested a that they send me a Team Shea shirt, so i can wear it in support of them. Just by knowing what a great guy Kyle is and reading all about Shea's journey i am truly inspired to be more upbeat and try to have more fun with my life while i go through my remaining cycles. I am going to work on making some Team Paul shirts for all of you that are interested in taking my fight to the next level.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sheakohman
The Zoo is having their next fundraiser for Penguins on July 27. Here is a little info about the event from the event description on Facebook:
How can you help bring penguins to the Zoo? Join us for a fun-raiser at Flights for Flippers on Wednesday, July 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Africa. Sample wines, taste savory appetizers from Coal Vines Pizza and Wine Bar, take a boat ride on the lagoon, enter to win fabulous prizes plus, take a ride on the New African Sky Safari from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Jam with The Shanks from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Shanks play a wide variety of songs for every audience, and they have a great stage show!
Tickets are $20 for Friends of the Zoo (FOTZ) Members and $30 for Non-FOTZ Members. Become a Friends of the Zoo (FOTZ) Member Today to earn the $10 per person discount to Flights for Flippers! Tickets are available on www.kansascityzoo.org.
***Please note that this is a 21 and older event. No refunds will be given after registration closes; however, you may transfer your tickets to another name.
I am going to try to get some shirt made and delivered before the event so if you are interested in supporting me and the ZOO, you can go to the event in style!
Well i gotta go, time to get the old blood counts checked and see if i can start round three of chemo today or tomorrow. I'm going to work some pictures into my blog during the next week or so. Maybe including a few friendly faces from around the hospital so even if you can't make it to visit me, you can see the wonderful people that take care of me while im at my home away from home.
Paul
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Big News
A couple weeks ago i started doing some research. I started doing research on Burkitts and the Hyper CVAD treatment that i am undergoing. I decided it was time that i take charge and know what is really going on in my body. I also reached out to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society and talked to a few people that had gone through the same Burkitts diagnosis as me at or around my age. After hearing there stories a few things just weren't adding up. After doing some research on the Hyper CVAD treatment i found out that there is a maximum of 8 cycles. There is an A cycle and a B cycle or odd and even. Each cycle counts as one cycle instead of both rounds counting as one cycle. I got really excited after doing all this research because that meant that the number of treatments i had originally thought i had to do would be cut in half. Thinking i had 10 more treatments after the last one was mind boggling. I mean i was starting to really doubt that i could do that and it turns out that i don't have to. I spoke with my doctor last friday and he clarified everything for me. I have 6 total cycles, which means i will be done sometime in October, that is if i can ever start my third treatment. I thought i should share a little info about Burkitts with you all so you can get a better understanding of what this crap actually is. So here he go. by the way this is a copy and paste job, just so you know:
Burkitt's Lymphoma, a very rare form of cancer with about only 300 new cases a year in the United States. Burkitt's Lymphoma, rare in most of the world, is the most common childhood cancer in Central Africa, and is one of the most aggressive of all human cancers.
Burkitt's lymphoma is one type of a group of malignant diseases know as the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (NHL). These lymphomas are very similar to the leukemias. The type of malignant cell present is called a B-cell and Burkitt's is often referred to as a B-cell lymphoma or leukemia.
As with other cancers, the exact cause is not known. Burkitt's is the most common in children in Africa and there is some evidence linking its cause there to a virus known as the Epstein-Barr virus. Outside of Africa, chromosomal defects in some of the patient's cells may be the cause. Children still seem to be the most affected, but there are cases of adults with Burkitt's.
This malignancy grows very rapidly and a person who appeared in good health a month or 6 weeks ago may now be critically ill. (The tumor can replicate in 25 hrs)
The diagnosis of Burkitt's is usually made by a biopsy from a suspected disease site such as the bone marrow or a lymph node. The staging of the disease is done quickly to spare the patient any life threatening complications from the rapid tumor growth. Common tests done include a complete blood count (CBC), a platelet count, a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy and a lumbar puncture. Further tests may include radiographic exams such as CT scan to look for occult masses but usually extensive x-ray procedures are not required.
So that's a little bit of info on what Burkitt's is. I will have another post in the next couple of days.
Burkitt's Lymphoma, a very rare form of cancer with about only 300 new cases a year in the United States. Burkitt's Lymphoma, rare in most of the world, is the most common childhood cancer in Central Africa, and is one of the most aggressive of all human cancers.
Burkitt's lymphoma is one type of a group of malignant diseases know as the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (NHL). These lymphomas are very similar to the leukemias. The type of malignant cell present is called a B-cell and Burkitt's is often referred to as a B-cell lymphoma or leukemia.
As with other cancers, the exact cause is not known. Burkitt's is the most common in children in Africa and there is some evidence linking its cause there to a virus known as the Epstein-Barr virus. Outside of Africa, chromosomal defects in some of the patient's cells may be the cause. Children still seem to be the most affected, but there are cases of adults with Burkitt's.
This malignancy grows very rapidly and a person who appeared in good health a month or 6 weeks ago may now be critically ill. (The tumor can replicate in 25 hrs)
The diagnosis of Burkitt's is usually made by a biopsy from a suspected disease site such as the bone marrow or a lymph node. The staging of the disease is done quickly to spare the patient any life threatening complications from the rapid tumor growth. Common tests done include a complete blood count (CBC), a platelet count, a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy and a lumbar puncture. Further tests may include radiographic exams such as CT scan to look for occult masses but usually extensive x-ray procedures are not required.
So that's a little bit of info on what Burkitt's is. I will have another post in the next couple of days.
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