RITUXAN AND ME.......A LOVE - HATE RELATIONSHIP

     Rituxan, my friend, why can't you just go after the bad guys and leave me alone?

     Rituxan is a miracle drug that has been prescribed for the treatment of Waldenstrom's patients for the past ten years. Before Rituxan, the life expectancy for WM patients was 3 - 7 years. Today, life expectancy is not measured in years, but in decades. I thank God for this medical miracle that will keep me alive.

    With that being said, Rituxan, my friend.........why must you be so cruel?

     Last October, I received my first round of four weekly Rituxan infusions.  That initial infusion back in October was rough, but the subsequent ones became easier. My second round of prescribed infusions began yesterday. What a day it was!  A Murphy's Law day for sure!  Misery from the inability to get the IV in, to the giant fireballs called hives that covered my body. Pre-meds of benadryl, steroids, Ativan, Tylenol did little to ward off the inevitable allergic reaction. Within the first 15 minutes, the Rituxan reaction began and it was war all day long. Starting the drip, stopping the drip when the hives returned usually within only a few minutes. At the end of eight hours, only half the bag of the miracle drug was in my body. The remainder hung on the IV pole.  My physical and emotional states were in shambles!

     While Rituxan was attacking my malignant cells, my body was fighting back. Guess who was the innocent bystander????  ME!  And that's just not fair!  Silly me, I know that life isn't fair, but I just needed a moment to let out my frustrations.  I will recuperate for the next few days and start the battle again next Thursday. Back to the love - hate relationship between Kathy and Rituxan.   can endure whatever reactions are required of me, but I sure do hope the infusion is easier next time.  Please join me in prayer to that end.

     "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:  28

     "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but The Lord delivers him out of them all."  Psalm 34: 19

     

     "And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and The Lord will raise him up. ". James 5: 15

    

THE RETURN OF RITUXAN

     I have been richly blessed with good health the past eight weeks.  I guess it's odd to say that when you have cancer, but it is true.  The treatment plan that my doctors have prescribed for me is working and I feel wonderful.  The first half of my treatment regimen is complete now.  I have received four Rituxan infusions and nine Velcade injections.  I had a wonderful week off for the holidays.  Tomorrow, we start the process all over again.
     I face tomorrow's infusion and injection without fear.  I have been through it before and I know what to expect.  I am very, very hopeful that the harsh side effects that I faced with the first infusion will not return tomorrow.  But, whatever happens, I know that I can face it with my Stevie on my left side and my God on my right. 
     I thank each of my readers for the prayers that you have blessed me with over the past months.  I am convinced that your prayers are being heard and answered.  And they are being felt in my heart.  So, I am packing my "chemo survival bag" to get ready for a long day tomorrow.  Please remember me with the following specific prayer requests:

          1.  Because my veins are developing scar tissue from countless needles,  pray that they will remain usable for future lab tests and infusions;
          2.  Pray that my body will accept tomorrow's drugs with minimal side effects;
          3.  Pray that the drugs will continue to do their jobs and rid my body of cancer. 

 

"...pray for one another, that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

James 5: 16

 

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer,

believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Mark 11: 24

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4: 6 - 7