© 2008 Truflow Ltd
Details of my treatment, from March 2008, for “High Grade Non-
Some things I did in
my spare time in hospital
Geoff Belfield
May
The results show that the lymphoma is still high grade (fast growing), however, the consultant is baffled by the fact that it does not appear to be growing, or shrinking with the chemotherapy, or that I should appear to be so well when most of her patients with my complaint are very sick.
The plan is to have a scan in June and the results will determine the next course of action. It seems inevitable that the stem cell transplant will still take place later in the year.
For the transplant I would be in an isolation ward for 4 weeks or so, commencing with 5 days of chemotherapy to kill all of my cells, especially the cancer cells. This would also mean that my bone marrow will be unable to produce new cells; that is where the stem cells that were harvested previously come into use. After a couple of days, to ensure all cells are zapped, I will receive my harvested cells then at least 2 weeks to recover enough to go home. The consultant told me that they need 2 million stem cells but actually collected 7 million so they may keep some for future use, should they ever need them.
I’ve seen the individual ward unit that I would be using and it had all modern conveniences, CD and DVD player, plasma screen TV, tea and coffee facilities etc...
June 17
The consultant informs me that he tumour has grown about 60% and, as a result, she
wants to put me on a further course or 3 chemo-
July 4
I have an infection problem with my Hickman Line. They want me to stop in and have
intravenous anti-
July 6
Doctor on call feels that the line will need to come out as it is “The worst infected line she has seen.” So out it came and tomorrow I can go home with tablets to continue. I have also just heard that funding has been approved for the new course or 3 cycles of treatment on 3 consecutive Tuesdays.