A New Report for a New Year

Well, in October Dr. Kipps told me to return in 3 ½ months. On Tuesday I returned, knowing in the last few months my blood numbers had remained steady, and what lymph nodes I thought I could feel, seemed pretty small to me. It turned out my blood numbers had gone up ever so slightly, but still in the ‘normal’ range. He could feel the lymph nodes, but said that they were ones he had felt before. His comment to us was that this was ‘an excellent exam and see you in six months’. End of Short Report.

Dr. Kipps ran a couple of extra tests that can further check for disease progression, but these tests will take a couple of days to get the results. He said he didn’t think that there was going to be much going on, but he wants to check just the same. I have been trying to find a local oncologist that can deal with any day to day issues and think that I have found one. Several people in my CLL Support Group have seen the same doctor in Fullerton and Dr. Kipps has worked with him (or he with Dr. Kipps), so I will make an appointment with Dr. Sharma in the next 2-3 months. After discussing my plan with Dr. Kipps, he said there was no need for me to come back to see him for SIX MONTHS. That will be the longest that I have gone without seeing him since that first appointment in November of 2007.

My goal is to remain in remission as long as I can because there are some amazing new developments in the treatment arena. Two of my CLL friends are enrolling in Clinical Trials for a new drug that has shown remarkable results. There are several other new treatments that have shown equally promising results, but are just in the beginning stages of Clinical Trials. I am hoping by the time I need treatment again, there will be something non-toxic (read non-chemotherapy) that will be available for me.
It seems like between the times that I post there has been another friend diagnosed with cancer. A Credit Union friend’s husband is being treated for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, and is responding to treatment. A friend from church had a bone marrow transplant for a bone marrow disorder and is now in full remission. Our friend who has Melanoma has had VERY aggressive treatment, but she is responding well and just got back today from a 2 week RV vacation. Another friend from my CLL support group received a new type of bone marrow transplant at Stanford and is now back home in remission.

2011 was a big year for the Evans Family, two marriages of the Evans children, a 40 year anniversary for Donna and me, the marriage of our nephew, and the birth of our first grandson Wyatt James Watkinson. Four years ago I was not sure if I would ever see any of these things, but by the grace of God, here I am. You learn to appreciate all of those things you took for granted. Every day is a gift, enjoy each and every one of them.

I am blessed to have such a great family and friends.
Terry