Not quite a cancer blog

I have been interested in the idea of having a blog for over a year now, but I have never really found the time.

In November 2007, I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma - Stage 2B, which means it is in 2 places (chest and armpit) but only on one side of the diaphragm (the "b" means I was experiencing symptoms (night sweats, weight loss, coughing)). On Nov 28th, 2007 I started my first of what will be 12 to 16 rounds of chemotherapy.

Anyway,  a number of people who care about me suggested that I start a blog so that I could have one place to let people know how I was doing, and then avoid having to answer the same questions to all of the wonderful friends and family who have been giving me great support. I actually don't mind answering the same questions, but I think the blog sounded like a pretty good idea. 

It was also suggested to me that I keep a journal during chemo for my own sake. So that I can look back and find patterns in when I start feeling good again, what kind of foods work, how I react to different pills etc. I have sucked at doing that so far (I am now through treatment 5), but I can see now how it is a really good idea. After awhile one treatment seems to blur into another, even though my reaction and recovery time seems to vary a bit. For example, 3 times while getting chemo I basically felt fine, an 2 times I felt pretty nauseous. I wish I had taken some notes so I could look back and try to figure why the 2 treatments were different than the 3.

So, I am going to try to kill 2 birds with one stone. A blog that others can read now and then if they are interested, and a place where I can record my own notes. But, as I said, I liked the idea of blogging even before I became chemo-boy, so I would like to not just blog about about cancer. I'd like to write about anything that happens to interest or amuse me at the moment.

We'll see how I do though.  I think I'll keep the blog to myself at least for the next week or so to make sure my heart is really in it.  If it is, then I'll start sending the link out.