I have been taking the ruxolitinib (Jakafi®) since June 17, which is nearly a month. I have been back to Houston to see Dr. Gooday, once, on July 6, and will return on July 18. This is a powerful drug and a Phase II clinical trial so I have to be monitored closely. Everything was…
My life-long friend, David, and his wife Pat, have a wonderful home at Smith Lake in Alabama. That is where we are spending this weekend, celebrating July 4th, and my birthday. It’s good to have another birthday. Lots of folks probably wished they had had the chance at another birthday. I am thankful for mine.…
I am 2 hours and 20 minutes away from my fourth dose of ruxolitinib. So far it has been tolerable, mostly. I had a bout of nausea yesterday and awoke with a splitting headache, both of which are common side effects and are expected to subside as my body accustoms itself to this intruder. Ibuprofen…
It’s not often FedEx brings you a $100,000 package. There were four bottles like the one shown, which adds up to $25,000 per bottle. I admit that FedEx brings me lots of of stuff, some of it expensive, but nothing quite so expensive as this. Of course, the Ruxolitinib is being furnished to me free-of-charge…
I was asked if I would consider participating in a clinical trial at Big-as-Texas Cancer Center. The trial was then explained to me. Apparently, there are many people with CLL who do not actually need treatment to get their blood numbers back in order and their bone marrow whipped into shape. I am one of…
Are numbers ever nefarious? Do numbers themselves have a wicked agenda? I reckon numbers don’t care what they are. They are just numbers. It is, I suppose, their significance to us in certain arenas that render them nefarious or not. Seven is a lucky number on a craps table, but only on your come…
In an earlier blog post, I discussed the list. Lots of folks want to know about the list, some of which I share, but most of which I keep to myself. “How are you doing?” an acquaintance recently asked. “Just fine,” I said on automatic pilot. “And you?” They beleaguered me with their entire list,…
A full seven years ago now that October has passed, I was sitting in Hemosapien‘s office, apprehensive, fearful, and more than a bit disbelieving that it was actually me as a patient waiting for a consultation with an oncologist. The universe was apparently mistaken, as this could not possibly be right. Cancer was something that…
I can hear them. Thump! Bumba-Bumba! Thump Thump! Bumba-Bumba! A-rap-a-rap-a-rap! Bumba! Thump! [repeat and increase in tempo] Hearing the drums is one thing, but the increasing tempo is mesmerizing, even paralyzing. I hear it ringing in my ears, my pulse matching the increase of the tempo. Last May, I got the message back from the…
Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. I have said so before, and I hope to say so again. It has been ever since I had my first one right after my CLL diagnosis in 2008. It’s remarkable how a cancer diagnosis will change one’s mindset. So many things, once urgent, have taken a back seat…
Mississippi Chris Sharp CLL Blog 