Leukemia Journey
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Six years ago I was diagnosed with an incurable form of leukemia called CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). At the time I was living in Europe, and I was extremely fortunate that Dr. Terry Hamblin was willing to take me on as a patient. He was one of the world's top researchers in the field of CLL. He lived and worked in the South of England.
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Now at age 59-3/4 I have decided to write down the symptoms and progression of the disease.
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HEALTH SYMPTOMS: ------------------------------------------------------------ October 2008
1. It is not uncommon to have to wake up 5 or 6 times during the night to pee. One would assume that this is a prostrate matter and is largely unrelated to the leukemia. Symptoms are advancing rapidly. Perhaps a secondary cancer? Since I am one of the 50 million uninsured in America no one will ever know.
2. Constant uncontrollable sweating day and night. One needs to drink large amounts of water to keep from getting dehydrated. One side effect of this constant sweating is uncontrollable fungus or mold in the groin area. Despite impeccable personal hygiene, the jock itch gets so bad that in appearance it resembles bed sores in old people. Baby powder, changing one’s underwear several times each day, standing in front of a fan to dry off the groin area several times each day. The body not being able to fight off these invaders and cure itself is due to the continued gradual reduction in the proper functioning of the body’s immune system. A side effect of being dehydrated is night time leg cramps. Drinking plenty of water stops these cramps.
3. The night sweats are getting difficult again. At the start of this leukemia journey six years ago the night sweats were extreme, they decreased for a while, and now they are getting quite noticeable again. Bed sheets and pillow drenched every night. In the morning using the ceiling fan for an hour or more before making the bed, so as to dry everything out.
4. Another result of the continued diminution in the effectiveness of the immune system is loss of the body’s ability to arrest tooth decay. Brushing several times each day, constant flossing. Several months ago I fully 100% stopped all consumption of refined sugars/corn syrup/honey, etc. This has helped somewhat, but has not fully resolved the continued problem with tooth decay.
5. The lymphomas or bumps are readily apparent on my neck and under my arms. I am getting more and more of these bumps. These surface-visible lymphomas are disconcerting, but the more worrying ones are those inside the body which press against various important organs, sometimes impeding their proper functioning.
6. When I first moved back to the dry climate of the Chihuahuan Desert the COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), i.e. lung problems, got better. A lot better. Running a HEPA air filter day and night in the bedroom also was helpful. But now once again I am aware of a continued and significant reduction in the proper functioning of the lungs. Laying in bed at night sometimes it is difficult to get enough oxygen. I lay there gasping to try and get enough air.
7. Diagnosis of the CLL took place coincidentally because I went to the hospital with an extreme infection inside of my lungs (pneumonia). These lung infections keep coming back. The antibiotic Avelox still manages to knock it back, but with each outbreak the antibiotics have to be continued for longer and longer times. Certainly this ongoing bacterial battle is related to the body’s improperly functioning immune system.
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