My battle with El Toro
By Delbert Blickenstaff, M.D. 

In May of this year I started losing my appetite and generally feeling weak.  I did feel a lump in my abdomen which was mildly tender.  A CAT scan suggested that the mass was a lymphoma, and a needle biopsy on May 31st confirmed the diagnosis: Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma. 

My weakness gradually increased, and on June 7th I called my family physician, Dr. Menendez, and asked to be hospitalized. It was then that I decided that any lump causing that much trouble deserved a name, and I named him “El Toro,” the bull.  Of course I realized that he was not alone, but he was the largest. 

I was put in the Intensive Care Unit at Wayne Health Care from June 7th until June 22nd where I was treated royally. 

El Toro had done a number on me, and my first chemo treatment was on June 11th I had shaking chills for two full minutes, and it made me question everything.  But Jill Brown, R.N., with supervision of Dr. Sabiers (Oncologist), finally got things under control.  I have had no serious side effects since.  To date I have had five two-day treatments, and I don’ know how many more I will need.  But Dr. Sabiers is happy with my progress, and when he is happy, I’m happy. 

The chemo treatments require intravenous injections, and my veins took a beating.  Nurse Jill  Brown suggested that I have a port put in.  I had never heard of such a procedure.  On Aug. 5th Dr. McKellar put a port in my chest wall on the right side, below the clavicle.  It has a catheter leading into the bloodstream, and the skin over it can be numbed.  No more multiple needle punctures. 

I’m home now and go in to Outpatient ICU every 2 weeks for chemotherapy.  So, Sr. Toro, Adios and I hope I never see you again. 

Delbert  Blickenstaff