I was at the BC Cancer Agency today for my appointment before chemo today (Monday the 15th), as I always do. My blood work is good to go to continue with chemo tomorrow (Tuesday the 16th).

So, after meeting with Dr Connors it is decided that I will “officially” be taken out of the clinical trial. The reason for this is because Dr Connors feels it is in my best interest to continue doing the chemo regime that I have been doing for the past 4 months which is by IV drip: bendamustine & rituximab. If you remember, I missed doing the drug bendamustine for my second round of chemo. I only did rituximab due to the chemical reaction I had to the trial drug. The clinical trial company didn’t want me to do rituximab again with the bendamustine as I have done 6 rounds already. Dr Connors feels that it is in my best interest to do both, thus the reason I am out. I am totally good with this. I know my doctor and believe he knows what is best for me. I won’t be doing a CT scan tomorrow, only chemo & then again on Wednesday.

Moving forward my plan of attack is to do chemo maintenance in March and a CT scan to see where I stand. Chemo maintenance will be rituximab every 3 months for the next 2 years. It sounds daunting, but really isn’t. It has shown great success in keeping the cancer at bay. The side effects of rituximab aren’t as bad as bendamustine so it should be okay to deal with.

I am hoping that the next 2 days of chemo go well. I am hoping that don’t have the congestion side effects that I have been having for the past few months. I sound like I’m super nasally – like the teacher from Charlie Brown. It’s not an infection as I have seen an ENT doctor and she says it all looks good. I live on decongestions & Medi-pot a lot . The congestion has made me a little hard of hearing in my right ear which is not fun, so I pray it doesn’t continue or get worst. Fatigue is a factor too these days, and I hope that doesn’t slow me down over the holiday season.

Happy holidays!