New here, follicular NHL for a while now

Don · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject: As You Consider R-CVP vs R-CHOP

Kermica,

Just got back from the oncologist after 3 rounds of R-CVP. While the nodes are going down, they are not going down as fast as he would have liked them to see. So...two more rounds and another reevaluation. If they are not the way he likes them...he may have to do R-CHOP anyway.
DonB
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

Kermica · Regular Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 20 Location: New York

Don, I am very sorry to hear your news but I hope that running the extra courses of CVP-R gets you where you need to be so that you can save the CHOP-R if it is needed later.

I have much better news...I got the report from the imaging center when I got back from NYC last night and it is negative...no sign of lymphoma activity. Needless to say, I am very happy about this news and will be staying on watch and wait until it rears its ugly head again. It is a nasty kind of disease, isn't it, Don? I am now in the space you were in following your initial diagnosis, except that I had to have the 40 rounds of radiation to get here. I am hopeful that I can go a solid couple of years before things change again. I know there is a chance that I will stay stable in this state for a long time but also know that that isn't the most likely scenario so will just say thanks for today and every day that follows without a change.

I really hope your news gets better. My brother in law was diagnosed with tongue cancer shortly after my diagnosis, had surgery and chemo and is back in treatment now after just 3 months. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you as you go along in treatment, Don. I will be hear to chat if nothing else. Good luck and God bless,

Kermica
_________________
Press on - Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent - C. Coolidge

Age 58
Follicular lymphoma diagnosed August 08
2 rounds (20 each) localized radiation to tumor sites
Remission confirmed July 09

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 286 Location: Japan

Hang in there Don...progress is still a good thing! Even if you need to move up to R-CHOP, it's still not too bad, as many of us here will attest to.

And congratulations Kermica! As ChemoMan often says, may you enjoy many more trips around the sun.
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

Don

I did a bit of calculating...and it does not seem so bad:

I did a bit of calculating and it does not appear too bad. The only one that increased was #1 and the only really big one is #4.

1. Left Axillary Node (3.4x3.3) from (2.4x3.4) – 34% Increase
2. Right Axillary Node (2.2x1.5) from (2.1x2.9) - 46% Decrease
3. Right Intramammary (1.9x1.9) from (4.9x2.7) – 72% Decrease
4. Right Retrocrural (6.9x5.2) from (7.9x4.2) – No % change
5. Peripancreatic - 0.8 from 1.2 – 33% Decrease
6. Pericural Nodes (1.2x0.4) from (0.7x1.7) – 60% Decrease
7. Retroperitoneal (1.4x1.2) from 1.7x1.6) – 38% Decrease
8. Left External Iliac (1.1x0.7) from (1.5x1.2) – 57% Decrease
9. Bilateral Groin (3x0.9) from (3x1.7) – 47% Decrease
10. Left Groin (1.3x1.6) from (1.7x2.3) – 47% Decrease
11. Aortic Bifurcation – Resolved from (2.8x1.4)
12. Right External Iliac – Resolved from (5.7x2.1)

I think my oncologist is "looking at the glass as half full".
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

Don · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject: Whoops...

Kermica,

I am glad that your scans are clean!!! Congratulations.

Also, I should have said that my oncologist is "seeing the glass as half-empty"...but you know what I mean...I've been on Prednisone all week.

Don
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 286 Location: Japan

Just don't smash the glass, regardless of whether it's half full or half empty!
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

Don

...especially if it's got any beer left in it!!!
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

Kermica · Regular Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 20 Location: New York

Thanks for the good wishes, Don. I see the oncologist on Tuesday but expect to get a 'see you in sic months, call me if anything changes in the meantime" message from him. As usual, I am impressed with the amount of detail you have regarding your current condition. Looking at your post above, it is clear that you have a channel of communication with your oncologist that I haven't achieved. I'll see what happens with this remission and table my thoughts of switching him out until a more pressing need presents itself (while hoping every day that it won't).

Timing couldn't be much better as the family and I are heading to Lake Anna, VA for a week this Friday. A friend has a house on the water so we thought we would give it a try. VA seems to be a favorite of mine for vacations - last year was Chincoteague (a must go fro anyone who wants a low key, relaxed spot to vacation on the ocean) and a few years back it was VA Beach.

...of course, I also agree with you guys that a glass half full of beer should never, ever be smashed before emptying!

Cheers, Kermica
_________________
Press on - Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent - C. Coolidge

Age 58
Follicular lymphoma diagnosed August 08
2 rounds (20 each) localized radiation to tumor sites
Remission confirmed July 09

Don · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:12 am Post subject: Enjoy Virginia

Enjoy Lake Anna...we live about 25 miles north...it is beautiful country. The weather has been really nice. June was a bit rainy, but July has been delightful (some would argue this point). August may turn out to be a humid month but, hey...August is supposed to be humid.

Best of Luck...DonB
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

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