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Another Perspective

Connecting to the Holy

January 26, 2014
Tags: Holy
Life is Holy.

I have felt the presence of the Holy many times throughout my life. This is probably one of the main reasons I became a priest, though at the time of my ordination I didn’t know it. What follows are some of the ways the Holy has used to touch my  Read More 
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Watch and Wait

January 3, 2014
Tags: CLL, Chlorambucil, Platelets
I saw my oncologist yesterday. He said I am finished with the Chlorambucil. It has accomplished what it can. The long-term risk of damaging my body outweighs the short-term benefits continuing on the drug might provide. I am again in a “watch and wait” period.

It is unclear at this moment if my body  Read More 
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Time Out: Chlorambucil

December 15, 2013
Tags: CLL, Chlorambucil, Red Blood Cells
The only decision made on December 3rd was for me to stop taking Chlorambucil for a while. All indications from the blood tests are that it is working at bringing my CLL under control. However, my red blood cells are also decreasing. My hematologist/oncologist said it is unclear whether Chlorambucil is responsible for  Read More 
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The Infusion Center

November 26, 2013
Tags: Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, infusion center, nurses
The check-in for the infusion cancer center is in the main lobby of the Moores building on the UCSD campus. I don’t know about you, but I’d never been to an infusion center before I needed to go myself. It is the room where cancer patients receive their chemotherapy.

It is a  Read More 
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December Decision

November 8, 2013
Tags: Chlorambucil, Ibrutinib
After meeting with my oncologist last Tuesday there is some good news and some disappointing news.

The good news is my white blood cell count continues to decline. From a high of 161.5, it is now 42 (normal is 4-10). The Chlorambucil is clearly doing its job. I have more energy and on occasion recall what  Read More 
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In Honor of All Saints' Day

November 1, 2013
Tags: All Saints' Day, Episcopal Church, Arne Folkedal, Morton Kelsey, St. Luke's, Monrovia, Bishop Bloy, white owls, Notre Dame University
Growing up in the Episcopal Church I’d participated in more than a dozen All Saints’ Day activities by the time I was a teenager. It never meant much to me but I loved the music, especially “For all the saints who from their labors rest.” Not only did I participate in All Saints’  Read More 
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Initiation by Fire

October 4, 2013
Tags: Initiation, Fire, CLL, healing, Dreams, Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.
Throughout our lives each of us experiences a series of initiations. These are rites of passage whereby we move from one level of awareness and understanding into a new, more expansive and profound one. The church calls these sacraments. Often these initiations involve pain, suffering, an enduring of fear, humiliation and loss of social  Read More 
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That Burning Sensation

September 28, 2013
Tags: Chlorambucil, CLL, Dr. Castro
After last Tuesday’s dose of Chlorambucil, I had an intense burning sensation fill me. It felt like I had a fever: violent chills, shaking and a headache. I was miserable for about 4 hours until these symptoms went away.

This was a nasty enough experience that doing it again in two weeks left me  Read More 
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A Week to Recover

September 19, 2013
Tags: Chlorambucil
When I went for my latest dosage of Chlorambucil, I was told I’d had a mixed response to the first two dosages. My white blood cell count has dropped impressively but my lymph nodes have not reduced in size. Consequently the doctor decided to increase the dosage. I took 31 pills last week instead  Read More 
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Better Living through Chemistry

August 21, 2013
Tags: Chlorabambucil, Ibrutinib, CLL
I want to begin by thanking my readers for their thoughts, prayers and good wishes. They are very much appreciated. Thank you.

The computer for the clinical trial study for Ibrutinib randomly assigned me to the older drug, Chlorambucil. While disappointing this drug, that was approved by the FDA for the treatment of  Read More 
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