Now that I’ve been prepped overnight and had a few tests done, we’ll start cycle #1 (of 6 total) today.  Here is how it goes:

• Day 1-2: infuse chemo cocktail and monoclonal anti-bodies (more details on R-CHOP), mix in some stuff to try and deal with side-effects of battle drugs.
• Day 3-7: hunker down and survive the storm…while I tolerate most meds well, nobody gets away for free with this stuff.  We’ll see how bad it gets…but the bad guys will be dying, I’ll just be puking and balding. I hear day 4 is usually where it peaks. 
• Days 8-21: rest and recovery.  I’ll probably notice some of my lymphoma-generated pains going away.  The chemo starts working immediately.  Even after 1 or 2 treatments, a LOT of the cancer cells may be gone. This is when it would be nice to pretend I have a normal life…get out for some hikes, hit Starbucks with Sophie and the Club, etc.  In the meantime, my primary doctor is consulting with experts at UCLA and City of Hope on appropriate additional treatments to improve my chances of being cured even more (they’re really good already)
• Repeat 3 more 21 day cycles
• Do some tests to see how much progress we’ve made. Plan on secondary “belt and suspenders” and “reinforcement” therapies, like bone marrow transplants (most likely with my own cells).
• Repeat 2 more cycles of chemo
• Do other stuff (some of it may happen during the initial 6 cycles, not sure).