Monday, May 3, 2010

Marcel started his treatment

I created this blog a few months ago because my husband relapsed…and Hodgkin’s lymphoma came back.


These past few months have been the most insane roller coaster of our lives. My husband was told he relapsed in January, and just last week (April 26) he started treatment.

We weren’t even sure what could be done. He already had 2 bone marrow transplants (1 auto, 1 allo; cells from his brother)…had every chemo…and even chemo’s created for him by his favorite Hodgkin’s specialist Dr. Sandra Horning.

So the only option was a clinical trial….and we almost lost that opportunity because he was taking immunosuppressant’s. they let us know he couldn’t participate in the trail….but by the grace of god, with help from Dr. Logan (only the most amazing man who actually answers all of our phone calls…and calls to check up on how marcel is doing). He is one of the assisting Dr.’s for Dr. Advani…and he really pushed for marcel to be in the trial….

These past months have been pure hell. We weren’t even sure he’d make it to treatment. Almost everyday the past month…my husband kept saying he could feel himself dying…. That really messed up my head. I couldn’t comprehend such a thing. The right side of his chest have visible tumor growth….if I put my hand there, its like a bunch of peanut M&M’s under his skin…I cant even touch that area because I start felling like I cant breath. It’s really hard to see your spouse going through such things…or to contemplate death….I can’t even begin imagine how he must feel.

So I’ll use this blog to write about his experience and progress with SGN-35….and also to write about how brain is wrapping around our life.
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Last Monday he had his first treatment. The weird thing compared to other chemo’s he’s received…this infusion only took 30 minutes (some of the chemo’s he’s had in the past were 24 hour infusions). But he spent all Monday at Stanford. They did an ECG on him for 2 hours…gave him the SGN-35, and then gave him another ECG for 2 more hours.

Then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday he went each day for a 2 hour ECG. I have no idea why all the ECG’s…most likely because it’s a clinical trial.

We were told that many people had no side effects to the SGN-35…but I think he may be having some. For the past few days he’s been complaining of bone pain. And he has been having diarrhea …but hopefully these go away.

I’d really like to hear from anyone else who is doing SGN-35. I don’t know anyone personally who has ever done this treatment. I know that some respond…some people don’t… (I pray he responds)…. I’d just really like to find an internet support buddy…ha-ha. Preferably a spouse.. of someone who is going through the same thing.

I didn’t do much research on SGN-35 because we thought he didn’t qualify for the trial, so I put it out of my mind.
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My husband’s mother arrived in the states this past Saturday…so hopefully that lifts his spirits and helps aid in his recovery. She will be here for 2 months :)

8 comments:

poshlemon said...

This is a thread I found about SGN35 on the lymphoma forum:

http://forums.lymphoma.com/showthread.php?s=419171dcccf290aa28ca7fff5d812bfb&t=42341

You can try different cancer forums. I am sure you'll find many people going through similar experiences and can help you with info or just general support.

Best wishes. I have my fingers crossed.

I know it is easy for me to preach but the first step to beating cancer, or any disease as such, is believing you are stronger than it. Whatever the outcome, you will always know that you met it with the great strength you had in you.

The Sole Sisters Collective said...

Thinking of your family sis. May Allah make it easy and not difficult.

Wafa said...

Glad that he started his treatment finally. it's going to be tough and hard but inshAllah will be great and will work greatly for him.

My prayers are for Marcel and for you dear :)

Angie Nader said...

poshlemon..thanks for the link. i joined the message board and am so happy to have such a resource!

salma...thank you for your prayers...i pray he makes it easy as well

wafa'...i'm so excited he started his treatment finally, as well. thank you for all of your prayers and support!

HijabRockers said...

Angie, eerything wil go up and up for u and ur lovely family after this. God is fair. We pray for u. His mom coming to stay for 2 moths? Owh man all the food that she's gonna cook. Yum yum yum. :)

Muslimah for Jannah said...

Salams my dear,

i want you to know that I admire your patience and Insha'Allah Allah will reward you for being a patient and good wife to your husband and may allah make this path easy for him.

Ameen.

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