I am fine today, continue my story at SJMC...
I have my second chemo on 9 April 2008, before starting the chemo, doctor need to check the blood counts, ensure I am fit to take the chemo. The blood counts confirm I meet minimum requirement with TWB 2.
Bloods Count on 9 April 2008:
Hb: 11 ( Normal 13 to 18), Platelet:111 ( Normal 150 -400 and TWB: 2 ( Normal 4 to 11). I discharged in the next day.
As the TWB expected to drop further, I was given growth factor Nuelastim, one dose of Nuelastim equal to about 8 dose of Neophogen, it help to boost up the TWB, which important to prevent nuetropenia to a certain extend and lessen the risk of infection. However they are expensive, Nuelastim cause RM3400+ per injection.
The bloods count on 14 April 2008
HB: 11
Platelet : 163
TWB : 0.9
So, I have to take the Nuelastim.
My hair starting to lose after the second chemo. Mum and I went to India Barber shop to get a clean cut. 见妈妈眼泪掉了，心底感到非常疼。
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Day +36 : First Chemotherapy
I am fine today. It is Sunday Morning, I have a donut and oat for my breakfast, follow by a bowl of mee after 1.5 hours later . Steroid drug keep me hunger most of time.
Continue the yesterday story, I have my first chemo treatment on 27 March 08, and discharged the next day. One of key drug used was Rituximab, it is Monoclonal antibody target on the cancer cell. Encouraging results are reported for treatment with NHL ( Non Hodgin Lymphoma) and in combination with chemotherapy has been shown to increase the Chance of respond rate and survival of diffuse large NHL in elderly patients. Doctor said the cured rate increase by 25%. This the most expensive drug which cost RM6000+ per treatment. I don't encountered much side effect for the first chemo. I will go through minimum 6 cycle of chemo at 2 weeks interval.
Continue the yesterday story, I have my first chemo treatment on 27 March 08, and discharged the next day. One of key drug used was Rituximab, it is Monoclonal antibody target on the cancer cell. Encouraging results are reported for treatment with NHL ( Non Hodgin Lymphoma) and in combination with chemotherapy has been shown to increase the Chance of respond rate and survival of diffuse large NHL in elderly patients. Doctor said the cured rate increase by 25%. This the most expensive drug which cost RM6000+ per treatment. I don't encountered much side effect for the first chemo. I will go through minimum 6 cycle of chemo at 2 weeks interval.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Day +35 - History
I am fine today, managed to jog for about 10 minutes follow 30 minutes walk. Feel more energetic. Like to share how I was detected for Lymphoma.
Beginning of March, I have fever failed to subside, and blood test show it was likely due to Dengi ( Low platelet), I admitted 3 days in Columbia Hospital ( from 13 March to 15 March), Bandar Puteri Puchong. However the Dengi test is negative. Physician refer me SJMC and suspect it may be Lymphoma or TB. As I still have fever, again, I admitted to SJMC from 18 March to 28 March 2008. The bone marrow test results was out on 24 March 2008.The doctor told me that I had Lymphoma, Non Hogkin's, Stage 4. The doctor also said that my type of Lymphoma is curable. He then explained to me how they were going to treat me and the risk involved in the treatment.When I got this results, I know my family and I were going to face another crisis. I had been through number of crises in life, mostly related to my family members, but this time it directly involved me and the bone marrow test result again confirmed this.The first reaction came to everyone mind was, “Why I get this disease?” The doctor said the exact cause of lymphoma remain unknown. we know very little about the cause of Lymphoma apart from exposure to certain chemical in insecticides and wood preserving materials. Lymphoma are not contagious and can not passed down through families.
No one was satisfied with this answer, so everyone started to speculate how this disease developed.
“It must be your diet…” to them all diseases are due to food.
“It must be the computer…” because I worked in front of computer many hours a day.
“It must be the hand pone…” they suspected electromagnetic field is the culprit.
“It must be you work stress …” because I worked to meet sales target
“It must be you lack of exercise…” those who believed the body would secrete toxin through sweating.
“It must be due to accumulation of toxin in your body” those who believed some form of detoxification can prevent or cure all diseases.
Suddenly I was surrounded by a group of experts who know the causes of the Lymphoma than anyone else. I started to wonder how they could be more expert than the doctors and specialist. The first reason is the establishment of a lot of Multilevel Marketing (MLM) companies that sell magic products that claimed to kill all birds with one stone. The best strategy to sell the products is to tell you that your body accumulated too much toxins, it is too dangerous if you don't detoxify your body with their products. Driven by the dream of becoming financial independence within a short period of time and the promise of enjoying continuous effortless income for the generations to come, the MLM agents will penetrate every level of societies with the concept of body toxification and the necessity of detoxification. The 2nd reason is due to some very good public speakers who advocate natural therapy or alternative medicine, who always find their way into mass media to propagate their ideas.
I believe many of the concepts are very helpful to maintain a healthy living. But we also cannot take everything that they advocate as absolutely true as most of them claimed. As a patient who is just diagnosed with illness and struggling to accept the reality, expert ideas like these do not in any mean help. It only brings more confusion. I believe I am not the only one who encountered this. Others also experience this.
Beginning of March, I have fever failed to subside, and blood test show it was likely due to Dengi ( Low platelet), I admitted 3 days in Columbia Hospital ( from 13 March to 15 March), Bandar Puteri Puchong. However the Dengi test is negative. Physician refer me SJMC and suspect it may be Lymphoma or TB. As I still have fever, again, I admitted to SJMC from 18 March to 28 March 2008. The bone marrow test results was out on 24 March 2008.The doctor told me that I had Lymphoma, Non Hogkin's, Stage 4. The doctor also said that my type of Lymphoma is curable. He then explained to me how they were going to treat me and the risk involved in the treatment.When I got this results, I know my family and I were going to face another crisis. I had been through number of crises in life, mostly related to my family members, but this time it directly involved me and the bone marrow test result again confirmed this.The first reaction came to everyone mind was, “Why I get this disease?” The doctor said the exact cause of lymphoma remain unknown. we know very little about the cause of Lymphoma apart from exposure to certain chemical in insecticides and wood preserving materials. Lymphoma are not contagious and can not passed down through families.
No one was satisfied with this answer, so everyone started to speculate how this disease developed.
“It must be your diet…” to them all diseases are due to food.
“It must be the computer…” because I worked in front of computer many hours a day.
“It must be the hand pone…” they suspected electromagnetic field is the culprit.
“It must be you work stress …” because I worked to meet sales target
“It must be you lack of exercise…” those who believed the body would secrete toxin through sweating.
“It must be due to accumulation of toxin in your body” those who believed some form of detoxification can prevent or cure all diseases.
Suddenly I was surrounded by a group of experts who know the causes of the Lymphoma than anyone else. I started to wonder how they could be more expert than the doctors and specialist. The first reason is the establishment of a lot of Multilevel Marketing (MLM) companies that sell magic products that claimed to kill all birds with one stone. The best strategy to sell the products is to tell you that your body accumulated too much toxins, it is too dangerous if you don't detoxify your body with their products. Driven by the dream of becoming financial independence within a short period of time and the promise of enjoying continuous effortless income for the generations to come, the MLM agents will penetrate every level of societies with the concept of body toxification and the necessity of detoxification. The 2nd reason is due to some very good public speakers who advocate natural therapy or alternative medicine, who always find their way into mass media to propagate their ideas.
I believe many of the concepts are very helpful to maintain a healthy living. But we also cannot take everything that they advocate as absolutely true as most of them claimed. As a patient who is just diagnosed with illness and struggling to accept the reality, expert ideas like these do not in any mean help. It only brings more confusion. I believe I am not the only one who encountered this. Others also experience this.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Day +33 : Age 81 ??
I am fine today. I missed my morning garden walk as it is raining.
I just subscribed E paper The Star, it cost RM12/mth, while previously I paid about RM40+ per month. The paper is ready by 5:30am, sound not bad.
At age 81, what we likely to do ? Lai Meng age 81 nominated for the best supporting actress in this coming Taiwan Golden Horse Award for the her pivotal role in self scarifying mother who been neglected by her three growth-up sons in Singaporean filmmaker Jaclk Neo's " Money not Enough 2". So, OLD IS GOOD
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Day +33 : Blood Count
I am fine today, Teck Ann had accompanied me to SJMC for today follow up. I must thanks to Teck Ann，he has been my driver for the last few months. (德安，谢谢您）
the blood count today show almost same results tested on Tuesday, except the white blood count drop to 3.9 from 6.8 ( normal range 4.0 to 11.0), and ALT ( liver) raise to 119 from 91 ( Normal range 30-65).
The magnesium level is 0.55 ( normal range 0.74 to 0.99), low magnesium level has cause my leg muscle cramp, I have magesium IV today. The low magnesium is probably due to Cylosporin drug.
Drop in TWC and raise in ALT (Liver), Doctor suspect suspect there may be due to mild GVH in liver. Despite the problems that GVH diseases creates, there is an invaluable bonus as the GVH reactions tends to destroy residual disease and the relapse rate of patients with GVH disease is lower. I am given Cylosporin and predinosole to control the GVH.
We met Lai (From Triang) today, his ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia) relapse after 2 years + Plus new disease -lymphoma. His spirit to fight the disease is extremely strong. Weekly, He or his wife will drive up to KL morning, and back to hometown evening, a journey probably take about 4 hours. I am sharing the transplant experiences with him. We both under the care of Dr Alan
the blood count today show almost same results tested on Tuesday, except the white blood count drop to 3.9 from 6.8 ( normal range 4.0 to 11.0), and ALT ( liver) raise to 119 from 91 ( Normal range 30-65).
The magnesium level is 0.55 ( normal range 0.74 to 0.99), low magnesium level has cause my leg muscle cramp, I have magesium IV today. The low magnesium is probably due to Cylosporin drug.
Drop in TWC and raise in ALT (Liver), Doctor suspect suspect there may be due to mild GVH in liver. Despite the problems that GVH diseases creates, there is an invaluable bonus as the GVH reactions tends to destroy residual disease and the relapse rate of patients with GVH disease is lower. I am given Cylosporin and predinosole to control the GVH.
We met Lai (From Triang) today, his ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia) relapse after 2 years + Plus new disease -lymphoma. His spirit to fight the disease is extremely strong. Weekly, He or his wife will drive up to KL morning, and back to hometown evening, a journey probably take about 4 hours. I am sharing the transplant experiences with him. We both under the care of Dr Alan
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Day +32 : Taste Bud
I am fine today. Besides losing the hair again, I also lose the taste bud. Doctor said it take about several weeks for the taste buds get back to normal. This is rather common complaint and patients feel that the food has no taste or no longer taste the same after received chemotherapy, and there is no ready cure for this complaint. Just have to wait.
My mum took care of my daily meal when When Ah Siew back to work. Yesterday's dinner is well done : steam bean curd with pork rib , fried bean, soup and brown rice.
My mum took care of my daily meal when When Ah Siew back to work. Yesterday's dinner is well done : steam bean curd with pork rib , fried bean, soup and brown rice.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
+Day31 Blood Count
I am fine today, I did the blood count and bone narrow biopsy yesterday
Blood Count on 1 Dec 2008 : - Readings in square bracket [] are result from previous test.
Red Blood Count (HB) = 11.9[11.1] (Normal 13-18)
Platelet = 117[110] (Normal 150-450)
White Blood Count (WBC) = 6.8[5.1] (Normal 4 - 11)
All HB, platelet and white blood count readings steady increase, it is a good signs. The biopsy will confirm if any disease still present. The next visit will be coming Thursday. My current visit is twice per week. Patients post allogenic transplant tend to closer follow up for fear of GVHD ( Graft host versus disease). Transplant related mortality pose the greatest risk in first year transplant year .
The Malaysia National Transplant Registry 2006 show the major death cause continued to be relapse/underlying disease (44%) with sepsis(32%) being the second commonest cause of death. Surprisingly veno-occlusive diseaseof the liver contributed to 12% of deaths while graft-versus-host disease became thefourth most common cause of death (8%) - Transplant Outcomes
At the time of the third report (2006), a cumulative total of 1174 transplants had beenconducted by transplant centres in the country. The number of transplants recorded in2006, 124, saw a slight decrease over the previous year’s total of 147. In 2006, AmpangPuteri Specialist Hospital began transplantation services to add to the number oftransplant centres. Meanwhile Hospital Kuala Lumpur (adult transplants) moved to anew premise in Hospital Ampang
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