R-ICE is a a combination of Rituxan, Ifosfamide, Carboplatin, and Etoposide with a little Diphenhydram and Mensa thrown in for good measure. Strong side-effects were predicted but, so far, mine have been mild. I've had some indigestion/heartburn/hiccups/reflux but no nausea. The reflux weakens my voice some and causes me to sound a little hoarse, but you'll be happy to know (or not!)that I can still talk. As of yesterday my hair is falling out again so I'll answer to "Slick" again soon.
These treatments come in threes - 3 days in a row, 3 weeks apart, so I will be at the Chemo Country Club again today and tomorrow (about 3 to 4 hours each day). The first day (yesterday) they give me the Rituxan so they add Benedryl, which makes me loopy. The first day takes 7 to 8 hours - a long day.
The first day I miss a lot of calls because I sleep a lot (Benedryl), but days 2 and 3 I have my cell phone and use it and I'm back in the office in the afternoon. The first couple of weeks of stem cell transfer calls may be more challenging, but I will have a computer and email, and I will return calls as quickly as I can, and I will be checking with the office several times a day. Please send business email to the Retirement Counselors site as Norma will be checking that too. Or better yet, CC: Norma@RetirementCounselors.net
The game plan is to achieve as much remission as possible with R-ICE (administered in Austin at SWRCC - the Chemo Country Club). This stuff is working well so we are considering a couple of extra rounds before stem cell transplant. The decision will probably be made August 21st. That means transferring to San Antonio to start stem cell transplant will be anywhere between August 27th and October 1st. We will be in San Antonio for about 2 months, but most of that time is just to keep me close to their hospital (Methodist) in case I experience "Graft vs. Host Disease" or "GVHD" which is really my body rejecting my donor's cells. Very understandable considering that my sister is my donor. Man, is she going to be hard to live with after this!
Enough for now. I'll post again in a few days.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and good wishes. They sustain me and the prayers are being answered every day.
RICK
2 comments:
Rick,
Prayers and best wishes for your continuing capacity to withstand the R-ICE cocktails.
Hugs,
Carol
Father Kilmer,
The blog is great but could you do something about the pictures. Maybe some cheer leaders or something.
I have a sister, also. You are really going to owe her. And you should.
Keep swinging. When you finish we need to schedule a fishing/ golf outing here in Angel Fire.
I just got back from the AIG annual meeting in Couer D'Alane, Idaho. Beautiful place. Had a floating green on a par three. I swear they kept moving that thing after I hit. Caught a 4 1/2 pound Pike on a fishing trip. Talked to several AIG people about you (Jim Cannon and Andy Brody in particular) and they send their best. Of course, you must realize, for Andy Brody to actually say something positive is a really amazing but he did.
Give 'em hell, Rick. We are praying for you. Looking forward to golf when you are through.
Ross and I will come see you when you are in San Antonio. We will harass you and the nurses.
John Payne
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