DAY 107: Round 6 & an option for Lymphoma support...

I check back into the Emory 'hotel' as an inpatient tomorrow for round SIX (of EIGHT). Unfortunately, my body still hasn't really recovered from the last round and so I'm a little disappointed, but I guess it's playing out like the doctors said it would. This is my B-round, which means it is the stronger of the two and I really, really, really hope we don't have any infections in the coming weeks. To be candid, that's what scares me the most these days: another infection. That would mean getting my second port out (and a third line put in somewhere) and having to be put on all those powerful antibiotics. Fevers and chills again... noooo thanks. So please pray this round comes and goes with no infection or curveballs.

Below is some info that I want to pass along from Candace's blog regarding a local Atlanta event coming up that specifically supports Lymphoma. We are well on our way to raising a good chunk of support, thanks to all of you!

(From Candace's blog)
Ten years ago, Stuart's chance at life would be very slim. Today, because people have supported research for lymphoma, Stuart has a great chance of living a cancer-free life.

If cancer research speaks to you, come walk with TEAM SMARTT to show your support. Raise some money, give some money. If you can't walk, join the team and help raise money in honor of Stuart and all those who have struggled with this battle and who will struggle with this battle.

The Lymphomathon is non-competitive 5K walk where survivors, family, friends, community and corporate teams walk in honor and in memory of those whose lives have been touched by lymphoma. Over half a million people are currently living with lymphoma in the United States -- the most common blood cancer in the United States today and the third most common childhood cancer. Funds raised by participants will support the Foundation’s mission of eradicating lymphoma and serving those touched by this disease. (facts about research and lymphoma are listed below)

Event Location:
Wesleyan School (Norcross)

Event Schedule:
Registration 4/25/2009 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Walk 4/25/2009, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Fees:
Free: No Fees

To find my personal Lymphoma-thon page (to give donations or to join) go to:
Candace's Lymphomathon page

You can also go directly to our "Team" page to register to walk or to make a donation. Team Smartt page

Thank you for your help and support!

For those of you who are WALKING with us, we will be wearing lime (or a light green) shirts. Lime green is the "color" for Lymphoma. (Think pink = breast cancer)

If you have any questions, just send Candace a comment via her blog.

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when lymphocytes--white blood cells that help protect the body from infection and disease--begin behaving abnormally. Abnormal lymphocytes may divide faster than normal cells or they may live longer than they are supposed to.

Lymphoma may develop in many parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood, or other organs. In Stuart's case, they found his in the appendix after an emergency appendectomy. They also saw two other tumors - both in the small intestine. The problem with blood cancers is they move, they flow around freely. Wherever the blood goes, these cancers can go, therefore it is very different from having a stationary tumor affecting one organ (breast cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, testicular cancer, etc.)

There are two main types of lymphomas: Hodgkins (the most common) and Non-Hodgkins (all the others). Stuart's is a type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma called Burkitt's Lymphoma. It is very rare (on 100 cases a year in the U.S.) and one of the most aggressive types (they told us if we did not go through with treatment, he would be dead within 6 months).

Lymphoma is often called the "Rosetta Stone" of cancer research because it has helped unlock the mysteries of several other types of cancer. The Lymphoma Research Foundation funds some of the most cutting-edge research to find a cure for lymphoma. Some promising research areas are:

New antibody treatments, which act like guided missiles that zero in on specific targets (antigens) on the lymphoma cells. Stuart takes one of these called Rituxan, which was researched and added to treatments only in the last 10 years. Rituxan has increased chances of survival by roughly 10 percentage points.

Vaccine treatments, also known as personalized active immunotherapy, that stimulate the immune system to attack the lymphoma

Profiling tumors by examining the fingerprint-like pattern expressed by genes, thus aiding in prognosis and development of new treatments. At first, Stuart was misdiagnosed with intermediate grade Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. Thanks to Vanderbilt and Emory, they decided to do a 2nd diagnosis using this new "gene-expression" technology (called a FISH study). He was then diagnosed with the correct type of Lymphoma - Burkitt's. It is VERY important to get a correct diagnosis so the cancer can be treated appropriately.

Had Stuart been given the chemo initially prescribed for his initial diagnosis, he would stand a 0-30% of overall survival.