[Nfbf-l] News about me and my two and a half year battle with cancer

[Judith Hamilton]

Such good news, Jim. Continuous thoughts and prayers are sent your way.
Judy

-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim Ellsworth via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Aug 21, 2014 10:16 PM
>To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: [Nfbf-l] News about me and my two and a half year battle with cancer
>
>Everyone,
>
> 
>
>I really want to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  I especially
>want to thank my friend Sherri Brun for diligently posting the updates to my
>progress and my set backs.  I couldn't have done it without all of your
>support and God's wonderful blessings.
>
> 
>
>I do need to tell all of you that the battle isn't in any way over.  They
>will need to monitor me to make sure the drug is continuing to do what it is
>designed to do and to make sure I am still in remission.  As you have read
>the drug could stop working at any time but in actuality they really don't
>know what it will do because there is only about two and a half years of
>study that has gone into it.  The FDA authorized a fast track series of
>tests on the drug before it was approved back in November of 2013.  I
>provide monthly reports to the company that makes the drug to help them
>gather more knowledge about the medication including what side effects I am
>experiencing etc.  Fortunately I have tolerated it pretty well so far with
>only minor side effects of some bone and muscle pain, increased cramping of
>the lets and hands, and a rash.  Probably the most annoying side effect is a
>cough I have developed.  Upper respiratory problems are common place with
>this drug.  I am being treated for that now.  The cancer and chemo therapy
>has caused nuropathy mostly in my feet with some in my hands though I can
>still read braille.  The pain has been controlled with Oxycodone which is an
>addictive drug but fortunately I have only needed to take it in small
>amounts so getting off of it shouldn't be to hard when that time comes.  I
>will be seeing a pain management specialist this coming Monday for the first
>time and he will determine how I will control the pain.  I am kind of hoping
>for some kind of a patch that I can wear round the clock instead of taking a
>pill every 6 hours or so.
>
> 
>
>The battle will go on and I will continue to fight.  I am so thankful for
>this new drug I am on and new treatments are being developed as I write this
>so the future holds promise for me and others who suffer from cancer of
>which there are so many kinds.  By the way, what I have is pretty rare in
>the grand scheme of things.  There are less than 5,00 reported cases of
>(MCL), Mantle Cell Lymphoma in the uSA and when you think about it that is a
>very small number.  Often times when a particular disease has such small
>numbers very little attention is paid to it so development of treatments are
>slow to come but it hasn't been that way with MCL.  Somehow there is lot's
>of research going on with new drugs and treatments coming along quickly.  I
>pray it will continue that way.  
>
> 
>
>Well, thank you for allowing me to share a little info about me and my
>history so far with MCL.  We have joined the Blind Cancer Survivors Division
>of the NFB so we can contribute what we know and learn from others.  I am
>hopeful it will be a great learning experience.
>
> 
>
>Thank you,
>
>Jim Ellsworth
>
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