HEALTH ISSUES DELAY TRIP

My doctors are finally making some progress in resolving my stubborn prostrate healing issues. Unfortunately the lack of healing appears to be due to malignant cells in the prostrate. They did a biopsy after my second surgery and found non-hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the tissue. This is not prostrate cancer but is a common form of cancer (diffuse B cell) found typically in the lymph system. In fact it is only seen about 0.1% of the time in the prostrate.
The chances of recovery are good with chemotherapy and it looks like I will start the first of 6 treatments next week. But first they want to do a pet scan and bone marrow sample to see how far the cells have progressed. They wait about 3 weeks between each treatment so I hope to complete these by mid September. Needless to say that changes my departure plans completely for returning to Tanzania, which was scheduled for mid May.
I'm feeling fine except for some increasing pain in my lower back which may be due to the enlarged prostrate, which is nearly twice the normal size. It may be pressing on a nerve. This usually does not slow me down during the day but makes sleeping difficult at night. I thought it might be another kidney stone but everything checked out okay there. I also got a good report on my colonoscopy last week. That's always good to hear since mom had polyps removed at this age (66).
I purchased a large aquarium (75 gal)a few weeks ago with the intention of waiting to buy fish until my return from TZ. It looks like I'll have more time to tend the fish after all, so I hope to be getting some African Cichlids this week from friends of the family. Getting the tank and supplies set up has also helped to keep my mind occupied. It turns out the Cichlids are from Lake Malawi which is the long slender lake that borders Tanzania on the south. I hope to read more about them soon. I have had Cichlids before but never knew much about them, except that they are unusually colorful.
Last week-end we had a wonderful family celebration for my niece Natalie and soon to arrive first baby. Who ever heard of a baby shower for 125 people? It rained most of the day so 3 tents was erected. But my sister's backyard grass is a pretty big mess now. It lasted from 3 pm til 8 pm so people were feeling no pain by that time. I sure didn't make it that long. A bunch of party animals. Of equal excitement was the announcement of Natalie's sister's first pregnancy. Bridgette and Matt are expecting in early December. Great news. Natalie and Mike are expecting in mid May near the BD of me, twin brother Jim and son Kyle (21st). We are all hoping for that day.