Received results of last week's blood work. For the first time in at least 18 months, maybe longer, my IGGs have taken a hit. They dropped from 7700 to 4100. The best we've been able to accomplish since I was at MDAnderson was stability. I don't remember any reduction of disease levels since February 2010. I was so surprised that tears came to my eyes as the fight over the last 2 years seemed to be released, at least for a moment. Man, this has been a rough road and it seems that all we're looking for is the smallest progress to keep us going. The regime that has brought down the IGGs is a concoction Rifkin, my doc from MDA who is now at Sloan/Kettering, and a few of their colleagues. No set protocol, just a combination they thought might work: bendamustin, revlimid, dexamethasone, supplemented with numerous transfusions and neupogyn shots. Rifkin is reserved about the results, knowing how difficult my disease is, but nonetheless, we'll start cycle 2 on Monday.
I've become good friends with all the nurses at the clinic and the news of my progress burned through the halls today and I was hit with numerous good wishes from all the nurses who have taken care of me these past years and who have expressed much concern about my well being as we went from one trial to the next, hoping to see some progress.
Julia was with me when I got the news and she, too, showed emotion and relief. When we called Suz all she could say was Oh My God, OMG, OMG.
And so we continue forward. The next month will be spent primarily at the hospital/clinic since the drug combo hits my blood counts pretty hard and I'll need numerous transfusions. My situation is delicate and that's probably why Rifkin is guarded in his reaction. He has done a marvelous job working on the myeloma while at the same time preventing me from getting sick.
We are very grateful for all your support.
Peace love light
dan
Thursday, January 05, 2012
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