New arm discomfort

This afternoon I had to call MD Anderson because my pic line IV thing was a bit soar. I have now been to the minor care clinic and am currently sitting in Radiology Associates waiting on my sonogram reaults. I will keep you posted. It is just a reaction to my pic line or it could be a blood clot.

Love
Derrick

Lab Check


Time for the weekend.

My Chemo

Today is my month anniversary of finding out I had some sort of cancer. Things are a bit slower now that we have been poked prodded and tested. My knowledge about cancer has grown larger than I could have ever imagined. Before I started my research I thought there was one type of chemotherapy. I quickly found out that is like saying there is one type of soda drink or on type of car. I also found out that if you mix them you can get a better result. My doctors have chosen a protocol or cocktail called R-EPOCH.

R-EPOCH:

  • Rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV on day 1 plus
  • Doxorubicin 15 mg/m2plus Etoposide 65 mg/m2plus Vincristine 0.5 mg/day by continuous IV infusion on days 2-4
  • Cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 on day 5
  • Prednisone 60 mg/m2 on days 1-14; every 21d[29]

So within the protocol there are a few drugs that have a spot in the sequence and a duration before the next one runs. While at the hospital you are connected for 5 days and your nurses are changing bags to keep it running non stop for 5 day. They hang a new bag and switch over right as soon as the old back completes.
wpid-20140925_114248.jpg
So it all feeds into your PIC line shown here. I tried to get another color but purple is all they had. If I trace the line in my body up to my armpit I can roll it and make the tail outside of my skin move. I know sort of gross, but I had to share.
This line will be with me until the end of my chemotherapy run in January. On my days off from MD Anderson we have to flush the line and keep the insertion point clean. Kendra is doing a great job taking care of me and flushing me each night. I’m still getting use to sleeping with a tube coming out of my arm. It also have to wrap it up while strumming the guitar. If I don’t restrain it it thumps the guitar and I have an accompanist drummer.

There are a few other meds that I take to help with the chemotherapy. One shot to help with white blood cell count, another pill to help with nausea created by the chemo and there is a antibiotic to help with staying infection free.

Well thanks for reading and staying positive. I’m off to find a place that can do my blood-work locally. Fun times in Perrin Land.

-Derrick

Don’t read the small print.

image

Sorry but it seems like my post will all be poop-ish today. Keep up the laughs my friends.

Just so you know rectum = your bottom.

Things are about to get crappy – ha-ha

So when you get cancer you want to do whatever you can to get rid of it quick. One thing I’m doing is injecting myself with poop. No, this is not some natural-path hippie medicine. This is the real deal $5000 a shot prescription by the best cancer docs in the world. Read the photo description above if you don’t believe me. I was almost happy to see this was a human derived medication since last week’s had mouse product in it.

The learning continues. Almost afraid to read the warnings at this point. This medicine is predicted to cause major bone pain. The pain comes from a flu like symptom that arises from the white blood cells being puled from my bone marrow and called into cancer fighting action.

I will let you know how this poop works.
Have a good day.
Derrick

One rough night


So we finally made it home, got a bite to eat and crashed out. The crashing was short lived and I spent 1/2 the night in the bathroom acting as if I was a college age dunk kid. Good news is there was not a hangover. Kendra ran out and grabbed my nausea mediation and it immediately went to work. Most of today was spent in bed sipping the children’s electrolyte punch. I’m slowly adding calories via the blender.
Note to self, don’t forget to take the anti-nausea medication and life will be a beautiful place. Also noted is my wife is awesome. If you don’t have an awesome wife I would suggest you go do anything in your powers to find one. Your world will be a better place.

Thanks for reading.
-Derrick

The journey home

The family is back at home after 6 days apart. I would like to pass on having to do that again. So far all seems well in chemotherapy land. My body has done extremely well and is ready to tackle this week and adjusting to life post chemo. In the next 48 hours I will get a white cell booster shot. The doctor said that will make me feel like I’m getting the flu and my bones will hurt from within.

I wanted to take a second and thank my wife, Kendra, for here extra special care to not only me but out little ones. I know she must be really stressed and stretched thin right now. It was simply amazing having her at my side at M.D. Anderson.

More to come after a good round of sleep.

A Parents Love

Love, love, love

The last 30 days has been a month of learning. I have learned my small hip injury is stage 4 cancer. I now know the difference between B cell and A cell Lymphoma. I know that you must swipe your credit card fast in order to pay for parking in Garage 10. The most important thing I have learned is the love of a parent is grand. I knew that from the first time I held my own child and all sorts of stuff my parents said and did over the years finally made perfect since. Its just the way life works and until you become a parent you might not fully understand how much your parents truly love you. If this month teaches me anything there is a lot more to learn about life.

Stick with me as I work through this

In Houston’s medical district there are a lot of powerhouse facilities. From the top of the M.D. Anderson tower you can see St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in one direction, Baylor in another, Texas Children’s is just across the street, and I think there is an A&M vet clinic down the road. All joking aside I tear up when I see the Texas Children’s hospital and think about the kids who are fighting it out next door. I think about back when our Benjamin was born and might need to be studied at Texas Children’s.

Meet Benjamin West Perrin

It was just about 3 years ago when son #2 was born. Our Sweet Benjamin. We call him that because we hope he might be sweet someday. Today he is full of energy and life. A lot of energy and life! His life didn’t start that way.
Benjamin
We had a lot of people praying hard that days like this would come. When Benjamin was born he had an under developed airway that needed to harden up a bit. It was so bad that he would stop breathing and have to be shaken to start up again. We took shifts on staying awake to monitor his first days and make sure he had future ones. People from all over were praying for him and his growth. I think we now could use some prayers for strength and energy to keep up with Sweet Ben-Ben.

We love this guy and are so thankful he made it passed his very rough start

Those first 5 days of Ben’s life out of the hospital sucked. At one point we were presented with a doctor who wanted to put him to sleep and scope his throat to see what could be done. Another option was getting an opinion at Texas Children s Hospital in Houston Texas. Long story short, Dr. Mintz was able to diagnose and give us great peace of mind. We didn’t have to put little Benjamin under and we didn’t have to travel great distances for 2nd opinions. The love and prayers were amazing. Since that time I had always wondered about Texas Children’s Hospital but it was never a tangible object. This week it stands out big and bright. It reminds me of the love of our few day old child and wishing I could simply take what he had so he could be health. You sit there and pray that you would take any pain or problems just as long as your new child could have one healthy day.  Praise Jesus Christ Ben’s healthy days arrived and we get to enjoy him and his energy.

It has been a very positive week, but somethings just bring a tear to my eye

So I bring you back with me in M.D. Anderson. I have been running around observing people and families taking care of each other and taking care of “the one” with cancer. There is a sign in the wall that reads something like, its not one person who gets cancer, its a family. Minutes later I see a family with two 20-somethings helping their elderly father make it to the break room. They are all working so hard to keep it together and not splash dad on the floor. I stopped and thought of how hard it would be on my emotions to have to take care of a parent as a kid. Yes, that is the natural progression of things and the youth help the elders. Its also natural for the new generation to bury the old.

Then it hit me

Well crap I now get it. (I think I do, member from the first paragraph, I’m still learning) My parents have been with me since day 1 of cancer and have been here to support me and my little family. It wasn’t till today that I was able to see what it was like to see their baby boy helpless. Their support has been grand and powerful. At times I think they are pushing too hard or a pain in the butt. In actuality they are doing exactly what I would be doing for one of my 3 kiddos. A parental love is strong and I pray that over the years I will get a better understanding of how deep that love runs.

Whats the reason for all this cancer crap

We might never figure out why cancer came to visit Derrick Perrin. We will always have questions and you can “Why Me?” yourself to death and that will never solve a thing. The thing I do know is that cancer has brought my family together. When I mention family its not just blood but the network of amazing people God has put in my life.

g and sophie

So to my lovely parents thanks for making sure I always have more than I need and I’m well taken care of. I thank you for all you have done for me, Kendra, Grason, Benjamin, and Sophie. We would not be in as good as a place without you.

-Love Derrick

MD Update 09.22.2014

I have a Ukelele and I’m not afraid to use it.

Yesterday I was wising I had one of my guitars with me here at M.D. Anderson. There wasn’t enough room to pack it and I’m thinking it would be too loud to play. I put out a simple post on facebook that read:
I got $50 for the first person who brings me a $40 ukulele. This hospital needs some music, and this white boy without rhythm can give it to them.
My system started working and I had one in a few hours. Thanks so much to Scott and Dawn for the visit.
Other visitors have been Pam & Peggie, DC & Debbie. Day before we had Jonathan & Tawni Flack. Andy Peal also stopped by with a Lego kit.

There are no new medical updates. I’m feeling well and have had no side effects of illness so far.
Thanks for keeping up with us and keep those prayers coming. We will be heading back to Corpus Christi on Tuesday afternoon. Things are looking great today.

-Derrick

Cancer treatment day 3 Video

We are doing amazingly well for our circumstances. The hospital folks have been really nice and we have more love and support than we could imagine. Thanks for all your comments and prayers.

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