Mon. March 23: Mike is doing well

Bendamustine.  That is the chemo drug taking the place of the more toxic (and four days) combination. I will call it "Ben."  

Mike will have a half day of Rituxin next Monday. Then "Ben" will be about 90 minutes on Tuesday. Three weeks off, and do it again. 

Not to be misleading, however, because the effects can be as tough as any other chemo.  We still expect Mike to lose his hair over the next month. The treatment will tire him, and he can have a variety of gastric issues. And yes, it will kick this cancer's butt!

For nerds, why the change?  The first lab report said the stomach biopsy was type 3, large B-cell, aggressive; and the bone marrow sample type 1, small call, indolent or slow growing.  OHSU said type 2, intermediate, with type 1 in the marrow. Doc says, "We're going with intermediate. And the treatment has lower long term risks for him at his age.".