The Good

Today's immunotherapy went well overall. I tolerated the premeds they gave me to avoid another allergic reaction to the Rituximab better than usual. My platelets are very low, and since my oncologist is away on a family emergency, it took a while for someone to eventually give the green light for treatment today. I may need a platelet transfusion to continue next steps.

It also took a while to find someone to fill in for my oncologist and comment on my CT scan from yesterday.

When I was first diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in July, this was the most relevant finding of my CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis:

Numerous prominent and enlarged lymph nodes in the pelvis, abdominal cavity, neck, and armpits as well as an enlarged spleen that was vulnerable to rupture. While not part of the scan, my legs were filled with visible and rapidly growing tumors that led to extreme swelling and made it difficult to walk.

Yesterday's scan revealed:

The spleen is of normal size and all swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) that were noted in the previous scan have returned to their normal size or disappeared completely. While not part of the scan, the tumors in my legs have also resolved. My legs have returned to their normal size and walking is no longer a challenge.
 
In the words of the Nurse Practitioner we saw today, this is phenomenal! We are so grateful for this wonderful and encouraging news! The Nurse Practitioner reminded us of the severity of my diagnosis and we recalled the words of my oncologist upon diagnosis that I would be dead within a year without treatment. When I ended up in the ER for a blood transfusion shortly thereafter, I had no doubt she was right.

While they will not repeat a bone marrow biopsy at this time, they said it can be inferred from the favorable CT scan results that the presence of cancer in my bone marrow has likely been reduced as well.

The Bad

Despite the dramatic improvement, I need to complete the original course of treatment. Tomorrow I report to Evanston Hospital for two nights as planned for chemotherapy administered in an inpatient setting.

The Ugly
 
The chemotherapy drug I start tomorrow, high-dose Cytarabine, is a strong chemotherapy drug that comes with many potential side effects. This is the part where I am expected to lose my hair. While many of my friends rock a bald head, I do not think mine will be especially attractive. 

Thank you again for all the love, prayers, and support! We could not endure without you. While today was a mix of highs and lows, we will continue to stay the course and do whatever possible to put this cancer into complete remission.