My 1st R-CHOP

18th June 2014.

Finally my 1st chemotherapy started.

R-CHOP:

• rituximab
• cyclophosphamide
• doxorubicin (hydroxydaunomycin)
• vincristine (Oncovin ®)
• prednisolone (a steroid).

**Reference from: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Combinationregimen/R-CHOP.aspx

Before it's start, doctor and nurse gave me a lot of advice; Those to do and don't.

Today will begin with R, the Rituximab, following by CHOP - Tomorrow.

After chemo started, many should stop.. Firstly stop all uncooked foods... eg: sushi, salads, cheese, probiotic and blah blah blah... (T_T)

By around 2pm, nurse brought a black bag and there was my Rituximab. 

Before she started the chemo, again she reminded me that chemo will caused a lot of side effects, 1 of them may be I couldn't pregnant in future. If my hubby alright with the issue.. and I said YES!

She started giving me 2 panadols and some sleeping medicine as Rituximab may cause allergic. 

Then afterwards everything started with kind of blur situation and eventually I feel ok with Rituximab.

Meet the team of Doctors

The next morning, on the 17th June 2014.

Mom went to pharmacy to buy chemo pot needle as UM said it's should be provide by my ownself.

Right after she came back from pharmacy, Professor Gan and her team of doctors came to visit me.

They just came with simple words - If I have money now to starts my chemo as Rituximab need to purchase by myself and CHOP will be subsidize by government.

Mom need to go to pharmacy again to buy medicine so that my chemo can starts soonest possible.

By noon time, they arranged me to visit cardio department again as they worry Pericardial Effision happen.

After long hours waiting at the department, finally I back to my room again and they have changed my room, I could share room with a lady.

Transferring to Hospital University Malaya

On the 16th June 2014.

Morning - As usual, Doc Alan will came for routine check up and this round he brought me the news that UM has confirmed the status and I will be able to transfer there for treatment.

After discharged from SDMC, we brought the reports to UM. They informed me that I should admitted through Accident & Emergency Department aka A&E.

We were long waiting in A&E department. Finally a doctor came and asked me few questions... then wait again.........................................

By evening time, they sent me to X- ray and then wait!!!

Finally by 8++pm, they could arranged me a bed in ward and sent me in. Phewwww!!!

By the time I arrived in ward, only i realized that I need to share a bed with an uncle as UM's bed were full. Luckily uncle has a wife who accompany him always.

A practice doctor came by then and said that she needs to set line for me as they don't practice using chemo pot in the department. OK.. FINE!!

When she inserted the needle to my vein I already know that it's a fail line as my blood wasn't go back flow. I told her "Doctor, it's failed"... she insisted that the line was ok and continue... GOSH!!

At last after few times she poke on me.. the line set **Thanks GOD** and she given Dexamethasone as I still needs it everyday till my chemo starts.

Late night, a nurse came and she thought of giving me drip, who knows the line that the doctor set has failed. Once the nurse tried to flush the line with medicine. Hence, the nurse took off everything of me and let me to rest for a night!!

Weekend in Hospital

Dr. Alan and Dr. Lawrence came for routine check up during weekend.

Some of the friends and relatives have came and visited me during weekend and spend some time to with me...

Nothing big deal but to wait the confirmation from UM.

My Chemo Pot Insertion & Bone Marrow Biopsy

The Friday, 13th June........ It's was not really a  Black Friday. Dr. Alan told me that result out, I diagnosed have Lymphoma large B cell, Non Hodgkin Lymphome. 

"It's very treatable, it's very curable and it's a common case compare to T-Cell." he said. 

It was like a relieve to me. 

Due to my insurance problem and I couldn't continue my treatment in SDMC, therefore, he advised me to transfer to Hospital UM or Ampang Hospital.

I have chosen Hospital UM as my treatment hospital. After Dr. Alan told me about my situation, the next things he wants to do are:

1. Book Dr to insert the chemo port in me. 

2. Take my bone marrow cell for test to see if it's affected. 

Hence, my Friday was in narcosis status. 

I went in to operations room in the late morning for my chemo port insertion. 

By the time I back to ward was around 2pm. After taking lunch and some rest.... 

Dr. Alan came by 4.30pm... another round of anesthesia need to be done as to ease the pain of bone marrow biopsy. 

Luckily it was done by Dr. Alan, no pain..... phew!!

My days in SDMC

The next day, 11th of June, I finally came out from CCU and back to normal ward again. I told nurse that I "not really willing" back to the same bedroom that I slept yesterday night due to my "room mate" wasn't made me feel comfortable. I requested to change to other room.

Doctor allowed me to take soft foods as I wasn't took foods for long hours and gave me full rest for the days. 

The Thursday, 12 of June....... as usual Doc Alan Teh will come in to the rooms......... He brought me a traumatic news........ It's confirmed cancer.... but details report has not out, he unable to let me know what kind of cancer I have got. 

It was really a bad day and I really trauma. Besides crying, I do not know what can I do. 

When I meet Dr. Lawrence Chan, the Cardiology

The 10 of June 2014. 

After Dr. Alan's visit in the morning, Cardio doctor, Dr. Lawrence Chan came see me in the morning after I took shower. 

My hear beat went up to 134 per minutes and oxygen level was 89%.

**Note: Normal person hear beeat - 60 - 80 per minutes and oxygen level - 99% - 100%**

He went out a round and came back to me again and told me this:"You better stay on you bed and don't walk around otherwise I will transfer you to ICU, don't say I am not giving you a choice." I was like stunned. 

Afterwards nurses came in with and put on "Complete Bed Rest" on top of my bed and then "fall risk" bracelet on my hand and then giving me oxygen. I was like bubble fish!!

Then I been scheduled to ultrasound for my heart... 

What the screen showed made me afraid. I can see my heart and pumping and surrounded by the water. Dr. Lawrence told me that it pump so fast to supply what I need however the water is given the heart so much pressure and it's keep pumping faster and faster.. until it cant stand anymore, it will collapse!! OMG!!

Doc told me they will scheduled me for operations in the evening. 

After hours later, I went to another department for the biopsy test. Dr. Liu took some of cell from my lymp node and send for the test.

After the biopsy test, they transfer me to CCU (Cardio Care Unit) for the heart operations. 

The small operations started by 5++ and ended by 7++. 

All I could heard is doc told nurse give me food by 7.30pm. I was like Thanks God!! After many hours of no food and drinks finally I could have something. 

By 9++, nurse took out 750ml water from the bag, it's all from my heart...