Medical: Met Someone w/ Same Cancer, Doctor, & (Completed) Treatment

Mrs. Blogger and I met with a woman, whom I'll call Dee on Saturday.

Mid 60s, cyclist and athletic. Last January, during her periodic colonoscopy, her Mantle Cell Lymphoma tumor was discovered at a time when she otherwise had no symptoms at all.

She did the same 3-phase treatment as I have started:

1. Rituxan-Bendamustine (low side effect)
2. Rituxan-Ara-C (requires weekend hospitalization; her hair started thinning at this point)
3. Stem Cell Transplant (3 weeks in July for her; rehospitalized 1 week due to fever)

August recovery (super germ-conscious)
September back to work
(Now) - wears a scarf to cover the only lingering visible effect
100 days from July, she will begin "childhood" vaccinations with her all-new re-grown immune system

There was lots to report.
- Her highs and lows
- Her strategy for second opinions
- The stuff they don't tell you before you start

I hope to lay these out in the coming week.