Since my last update in May 2024 (“Chemo Rounds Five and Six“), a lot has happened, and I’m thrilled to share some wonderful news. After completing chemo earlier this year, I’ve had two additional PET/CT scans—one in July and another in October. Both scans showed no detectable lymphoma! What an incredible relief. My doctor reassured me that with each negative scan, the probability of a relapse decreases, which gives me even more hope as I move forward.

The journey to recovery after chemo hasn’t been without its challenges, but I’m happy to say that I’ve been making steady progress. Over the past few months, my energy levels have significantly improved. Early on, even simple tasks felt daunting.

Within two weeks of my return home late May, I started working again full-time. I had to take a 15 minute nap every day around noon-ish, since I was so tired all the time. My legs, and especially my knees, were incredible tight and would ache if I sat too long in a chair. Week by week, these symptoms improved and about a month later, I no longer needed naps.

When I first started working again, I still had no hair on my body. The chemo took everything away, including my eyebrows and eyelashes. I looked like a skin-head/space alien. Within a month, the hair started to return and my appearance improved dramatically. People would say, “you look great!” which I think really meant, “wow, you looked horrible a month ago.”

With time and heavy eating, my weight eventually got back to normal. I noticed that I gained fat quickly around my abdomen area, so I had to cut out the daily pint of ice cream. With light exercise and smarter eating, I lost some of that fat and regained some muscle.

I did physical therapy for a month and that helped build back more strength in my lower body. I’ve gradually incorporated more exercise into my routine, starting with long walks and stretching. Then onto some light jogging– which to people watching– likely looked like a fast hobble. Now, I’m lifting heavier weights, hitting the bag, and doing more cardio.

Here are some of my odd symptoms that either arrived post-chemo, or have lingered since the beginning of my illness: brain fog, very stiff knees, foot pain, insanely tight calf muscles, brittle nails, hiccups while eating (I didn’t have this during chemo like many people experience), change in food taste preferences, dislike for most tap water or plastic bottled water (reverse osmosis is best).

Regarding my recent blood tests, my hemoglobin is getting much better, and so are my immunoglobin counts. I was able to stop taking the prophylactic anti-viral medications due to improved IgG, IgA, IgM. Apparently the medication will help prevent some viral infections like shingles.

After about six months post chemo, I noticed the brain fog episodes were essentially gone. I can think more clearly and seem to have excellent mental focus— perhaps even better than the months prior to my cancer diagnosis.

My doctor said that Burkitt’s lymphoma comes on quickly and the progression from stage 1 to stage 4 might only be a few months. However, in hindsight, I had odd symptoms for possibly six months prior to my initial, more serious symptoms.

This journey has taught me so much about patience, resilience, and the importance of celebrating progress, no matter how small. I’ve learned to be kinder to myself, to focus on the present, let life’s stresses pass by, and to appreciate the beauty in life’s simpler joys. I also still really believe in Bitcoin, perhaps even more than before.

To everyone who has followed my journey, thank you. Your support, encouragement, and kindness have been a lifeline through this process. If you or someone you know is facing a similar challenge, I want to remind you that there’s hope, and every step forward—no matter how small—is a victory worth celebrating. Be sure to read my post about helping others in need: https://vincepaton.com/2024/03/21/how-to-truly-help-someone-in-crisis-beyond-let-me-know-if-you-need-anything/