06/16/10 – Second Round Stats

I will be glad when the month of the second round is over. The second round was given over 3 days instead of 5 in the first round, so multiple drugs were given every day. On the third day, I was already feeling pretty wiped out, but zofran and steroids (premeds for the day) soon made me feel quite well again. I felt pretty good until that evening, when I started getting flu like symptoms (dull headaches, sweats, GI issues). After the first round, this lasted about 2 days. This time it has lasted 7 (it was so bad I missed golf, so some of you know how I must have felt). I am not sure why, but there are a number of theories all unproven and unscientific. First was the shortened period of time the drugs were given. Secondly, my body had been beaten down last month and it had not fully recovered. Third, I didn't drink enough to flush out the drugs. Fourth and most definitive. NO ONE KNOWS WHY. Needless to say I was kind of discouraged. I thought I would recover quicker or at least in the same time period. That had been the case in my previous treatments (but this one is different). Then the mental piece of this whole thing started – 'is the treatment working?' 'Am I developing other complications?', etc.

So when I went down to La Jolla on Tuesday I was not a happy camper. Because it was just a blood test and quick check I was hoping to get out early and get back to Long Beach by noon for my Credit Union Board Meeting. The best laid plans….They ran the wrong blood tests (which take about an hour to get the results back), so instead of being in Long Beach at noon, I was still in La Jolla at noon. BUT, it was all for a reason. ALL of the blood tests are going in the right direction, even ones that had been so-so before. I also ran into Dr. Kipps on my way out who knew all about my issues after the second round and reassured me on how well I was doing, and said that all the other people in the study are also doing extremely well. So after those words of encouragement and the positive test results, I am feeling a little better mentally. Once again I expressed all my concerns about not being able to take any OTC drugs to help me out and they once again pointed to the 'study' and how it might skew the results. I understand their logic, but boy, when you know there is something simple (an aspirin) that can help you feel better, it is frustrating.

The good news is that I am free for the next 3 weeks and will finish off my month in Seattle for a family 4^th of July get together. I am sure that I will be fine by then and looking forward to getting away from here. As to what will happen in next month's round? WHO KNOWS? I am just hoping it is the same as this month (hopefully shorter) and it doesn't extend out even longer.

Still appreciating all the prayers and well wishes.

Terry

06/06/10 – Off to 2nd Round

On Monday night we will drive down to La Jolla to get ready for an early morning appointment at UCSD on Tuesday. We decided that we didn't want o get up at 5am to drive down there on Tuesday so this means I will be well rested and ready for round 2. So far my tests have shown mostly positive results. My White count has gone from 53,000 to 5,000 (normal is 4-10,000). My hemoglobin has remained fairly stable in the 14's, which means the Anemia seems to be under control. If you remember, the two main concerns of this treatment are a drop in platelets and a rise in the liver enzymes. My platelets have kind of bounced around, starting at 250, then going down to 120, and then up to 200, now they are at 150. This isn't a cause for great concern yet and won't be until they get down fewer than 50. My liver enzymes (2 tests) have been normal until the test this week where one of them was slightly over the high normal range. Still not a major concern. It will be interesting to see where they go after round 2.

Round 2 consists of 3 days of treatment with 2 blood tests every 2 hours on the first two days, which are the longest days. The last day is fairly short and we should get home pretty early. The first round was 5 days and this one will be only 3, so it will be quicker. I do have to go back down every Tuesday for a check-up and blood tests until round 3, when I can do blood tests locally.

We did have some excitement this month as our son Jeff graduated from Long Beach State with an MBA. It was especially nice because my Dad and his wife Lois flew down for the ceremony. Life goes on.

Terry