Craig Hockenberry, a software developer known for his contributions to early mobile app development, shared a personal account of his experience undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. His journey involved a combination of lumbar punctures and infusions of medications including methotrexate, Bendamustine, and Rituximab. Hockenberry described the physical challenges of the treatment, such as severe headaches caused by spinal fluid imbalances and a significant loss of muscle mass and stamina. He noted that while he avoided some common side effects like nausea or hair loss, the systemic fatigue and a metallic taste in his food significantly altered his daily life and diet.
The chart illustrates the physical toll and weight loss mentioned in the account of chemotherapy.
One of the most significant physical hurdles Hockenberry faced was nerve damage in his spine, which severely compromised his gait and balance. He utilized walking sticks to maintain mobility during his recovery. He observed that while the chemotherapy initially appeared to hinder his nervous system's healing, his condition began to improve significantly after the infusions concluded in May. He reported that his nerves began to repair themselves, allowing him to regain the ability to walk without assistance and eventually return to a gym to work on his mobility through specialized exercises.
Despite his physical recovery, Hockenberry faced a final complication during his last stint of chemotherapy. While hospitalized, he identified a major PHP vulnerability that threatened the security of his company's servers. Even while experiencing the side effects of his medication, he took action to block access to PHP processes across his infrastructure. He eventually successfully migrated his systems to a newer version of Ubuntu and WordPress, concluding his update from his home deck after the final procedure to ensure his brain fluids were clear of lymphoma. He noted that once his port catheter is removed, he plans to return to swimming in the Pacific Ocean.