It's a Schitt(y) situation

In continuation of my articles for Blood Cancer month, I thought that Id share some valuable information on what 'blood cancer' actually is.

So here goes...

What do leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma have in common? They’re all blood cancers. It is a cancer of blood-forming tissues, that prevents the body's ability to fight infection.

All blood cancers are caused by mutations in the DNA within blood cells. This causes blood cells to start behaving abnormally. In almost all cases, these changes are linked to things we can't control. They happen during a person's lifetime, so they are not genetic faults you can pass down to children (Thank God for that t least).

According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, more than 1.5 million people today are living with or in remission from blood cancer. It’s not clear exactly what causes a person to develop a blood cancer. In general, the risk of getting cancer increases with age.

My diagnosis was that of Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This is a cancer of B cells, a type of lymphocyte that is responsible for producing antibodies. It is the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among adults. DLBCL is fatal if left untreated.

EPOCH is an intensive chemotherapy regimen intended for treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is often combined with rituximab. In this case it is called R-EPOCH. I had the latter, which was administered via a chemo port that was inserted into my chest where the chemo was administered. I received 6 cycles of this treatment, all administered over 5 days of 24-hour chemo administration in hospital. This is repeated every 21 days.

After 3 days out of hospital, I would then receive the bone marrow injection, Filgrastim. This is used to treat neutropenia (low white blood cells) that is caused by chemo. It is a synthetic form of a substance that is naturally produced in your body called a colony stimulating factor. Filgrastim helps the bone marrow to make new white blood cells. Chemo affects the white blood cells- ability to fight infection (hence minimal contact with the outside world during this time). Filgrastim is used to prevent or reduce the risk of infections while you are being treated with cancer medicines. This also happened to be the most excruciating pain I experienced during my treatment as there was no option but to take morphine type medication to relieve the pain post the injection. No amount of heated bean bags, body rubs or speckled eggs would make me feel better.

Chemo is hard, cancer is hard! This month we dedicate to educating and empowering people to support those fighting the brave fights, listening to the stories of those who have been blessed enough to live and tell the tale, and to make a meaningful impact wherever possible around us in the fight for a cure.

Fast facts about non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma will affect about 2.1% of people in their lifetime.
• You can get it at any age, but more than half of people are 65 or older.
• The overall risk is higher in men than women and higher in White people than African American or Asian American people.

I'm often asked but people whose family or friends are in hospital fighting the brave fight, what to take for them. Here's my list of "treats" and goodies to take for your loved one that may bring a little comfort and peace in the hospital:

• Cranberry Juice (helps to flush the kidneys - I developed an aversion to water)
• Speckled Eggs - ALWAYS speckled eggs
• Ginger ANYTHING... helps with nausea (in my case wine gums helped as well)
• Socks - please make sure they are cute, brown or grey simply won't do!
• A cooling towel (no, it's not menopause)
• Earplugs - self soothing listening to one's breathing brings a sense of peace (and blocks out other patients snoring).
• Aloe vera gel (for the head once the hair starts falling out. No one tells you how painful this is but the aloe vera gels helps soothe the scalp)
• If the patient has a chemo port, bring jaamies that can easily be removed over the port and all the chemo and IV lines.
• Closed slippers. Walking during the progressive chemo sessions becomes difficult and the last thing you want is the patient falling.
• Mouthwash (if the doctor doesn't prescribe one - chemo patients are highly susceptible to mouth sores. The oncologist should prescribe something but if not, send help!!!!
• A good book
• Coloring book and pens (helps keep the mind focused but also good for the fingertip nerve endings) because sometimes the chemo may have an impact of nerve endings.
• Download "Schitts Creek" for the patient to watch the scene where David sings Tina Turners "Simply the best" to Patrick, on repeat.... The rest of the series is funny and will certainly bring some much-needed laughs.
• Sorbet - mango. Lemon and Berry causes jaw clinching.
• Takeout now and again (hospital food gets monotonous). We eventually would buy my week supply of food from Woolies and have the hospital keep it for me.

I hope that this was a little insightful!

xxx