Thursday, September 16, 2010
Day 56
I began third month of Chemotherapy today. Since it's Thursday I took Dexamethasone with the Chemo, so it's loopy Thursday. I met with the doctor this afternoon to go over my lab tests after the second month of therapy. All of the readings were in the normal range (same for you and same for me) except for one key MM indicator, my protein M-Spike, but it was down 27% to 1.1 g/dl from 1.5 g/dl. If it goes down to 0.** next month it will be regarded as a VGPR (Very Good Partial Remission), if it goes to 0, it will be regarded as a CR (Complete Response or Complete Remission) and I'll be ready for my autologus stem Cell Transplant (ASCT). The reason I'll need that even though I achieve VGPR or CR is that this cancer comes back almost 100% of the time, it seems to have the ability to learn how the overcome the chemo drugs administered and reinvent itself. It would be good if I could teach my stem cells to be stupid.
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Wooo-hoo, sounds like it is heading in the right direction. Any news on the donor kits? Love ya.
ReplyDeletesounds like good news! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI'm not generally for stupid, but I'm a fan of it here.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to here that the count is coming down,Praying that the count comes down to zero next month or at least 0.03 and the rest in the 4th month. Just so glad to here its going down.
ReplyDeleteBrother Jim
Whoo Hooo sounds terrific, love the thought of remission and ready for ASCT
ReplyDeleteYou go low Bro. We'll allow a stupid
ReplyDeletehere. All our love and prayers are with you.
YFBIL & S
Hello Bob, it's been a long time since we've communicated! I got an email from John Murphy today telling me of your situation. To say the least, Helen and I are very disappointed at your situation but are encouraged after reading your blog. Know that you will be in our prayers for a complete recovery. I'm pleased to see from the other comments that prayer is in your family. Helen has been a devout Christian for some 40 years. I finally saw the light and professed my faith in Christ 3 years ago. We both recognize the power of prayer and will include you in our prayer groups.
ReplyDeleteOn a slightly different note...I retired from Lucent in 1999 and have kept myself busy with hobbies. We are snowbirds shuffling between St.Pete, FL and Plaistow, NH. So far we have been blessed with good health and Alcatel-Lucent is still paying a pension! I'll send you an email soon from my gmail account. Blessings to you and Joanie. Peter Cunningham
We are praying hard for a good number! John, Lori, Landon, and Baby H.
ReplyDelete