NO MORE CHEMO

If you've been following my blog, you know that I finished my 6th cycle of chemo two weeks ago but there was a possibility I may need more. Basically, if the chemo is still shrinking the mass, we'll keep doing it; if not, we'll go on to radiation. Most people only get six cycles.

One of my oncologists called me today at work to let me know... NO MORE CHEMO!!!

I'll still be meeting with them tomorrow to go over the CAT Scan and have the usual blood work and X-Ray. Then on Thursday I'm meeting with the radiation oncologist for the first time, and we'll set up my radiation schedule, which should be at least two weeks away yet.

As I understand it, chemo works by inhibiting the reproduction of rapidly reproducing cells, which includes cancer cells (as well as hair). Since Hodgkin's Disease has a high "growth fraction," it's more easily treatable with chemotherapy. But because the center of the tumor is made of older cells that reproduce more slowly, the chemo has less effect. The radiation, focused specifically on the tumor area, instead damages the DNA of the cells. Normal healthy cells will repair themselves, but cancer cells are not developed and specialized into a specific type of cell ("differentiated"), so they don't quite have the mechanism to repair such low-level damage. This is inherited through cell reproduction and the damage is accumulated until they reproduce more slowly or die.

Hopefully the rad onc will be able to give me more of an idea of what to expect as far as side effects are concerned.

The fatigue hit pretty hard last time; I'm glad I don't have to do that again. HOORAY.

More details tomorrow, I'm sure...