When people get cancer, treatment starts. Not exactly a revelation.
My form of cancer is diffuse large b-cell lymphoma. Delightful.
The treatment is called R-CHOP. It sounds like something from a Karate manual, I know.
Let’s take a look at R-CHOP, the medical definition, then what I wish it stood for.
R = Rituximab, which is immunotherapy. Immunotherapy helps the immune system fight the cancer.
C = Cyclophosphamide, which kills cancer cells but also healthy cells. Chemo.
H = Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, which attacks cancer cells. Chemo.
O = Vincristine Sulfate, also known as Oncovin. Chemo.
P = Prednisone, a steroid that can reduce inflammation.
You can look up all the gory details but R-CHOP has a good track record fighting the type of lymphoma I have.
About a month ago, all this terrified me because I went down the Google rabbit hole and that was a mistake. I got through the first treatment feeling pretty good, overall. I’ll have two more rounds of R-CHOP then a test. If the test is clear, I’ll have one more round of treatment and if things look good, I’ll be through this. But things can and do go sideways. So there’s a long way to go.
When all this becomes history, here’s what R-CHOP will mean.
R = Real Ale. A pint of beer in a pub in England. Fuller’s please.
C = Champagne. The good stuff.
H = Helping people as a way to repay the incredible help I’ve received. And 250 miles of hiking this summer.
O = Optimism, generally part of my view of things but may need a boost, an extra focus.
P = A pie. I like a good savory pie, like a game pie, or a pork pie. Something like that.
I reserve the right to amend the above. I prefer to think about the latter definition as a goal.
