We were back to seeing Dr. Bahlis and Dr. Neri at their regular clinic, yesterday. Bob was the last patient yesterday so we turned out the lights just before 6:00pm. We hadn't seen Dr. Neri for months so it was great seeing her. They are both so pleased, for Bob, with the results of the transplant.
The last paragraph of the Diagnostic Radiology report for the PET scan is:
Impression
1. No sites of adverse change/disease progression can be identified. No abnormality has appeared at the right hip itself to explain his symptoms.
2. At sites of residual active disease in the right illium and the L 1 spinous process, metabolic activity has further decreased mildly, compatible with a favorable response to interval therapy that appears near-complete in the right illum and partial at L 1.
3. The lesion in the right hemimandible, that was new on the prior study 2015-05-06, has demonstrated a favorable response to therapy that appears to be a complete metabolic response.
4. A complete metabolic response to therapy has been maintained at several other bony sites such as the C3 vertebral body, the left second and fourth ribs, in the T9 region and the left ischium.
This whole report is now our new base line. The cancer has sure been active in Bob's bones, these past years.
Numbers: neutrophils-----4.6, WBC---7.4, RBC--3.4, HGB--111. Kappa/ Lambda free ratio--1.09.
From that we are taking Bob as in remission. Not cancer free but in a good place.
The new plan will begin this Friday the 20th of Nov. Bob is going to receive weekly injections of Velcade, a chemo drug, This is administered under the skin in the belly. When Bob received velcade before it was IV. Still no talk of a steroid (hurrah). Bob needs to go to the hospital for this. We are guessing it must be terribly expensive because patients are not given syringes to administer the velcade at home.
As for the pain, Bob now has a different morphine to try. Keeping the pain controlled is still up and down.
Thankful for the prayers of so many. The ongoing prayer of our hearts is that this remission will last a very long time. Please pray with us.
For this time: "Just the facts ma"am, just the facts". Know who said that?????? hmmm??
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
GRADUATION
Once a patient is healthy enough, to not need any post- transplant medical needs met, they are considered having graduated!!!!! Today Bob was told he had graduated. HURRAH, HURRAH. I have never seen such a wide, wide smile from Dr. Bahlis :-))) We would have whooped and shouted but not everyone in the BMT clinic was happy today. We saved the whooping until we were out side.
We were told that the two vials of liquid from the bone marrow contained......wait for it.........NO myeloma cells. However, the more solid sample that contained scar tissue had 30% active myeloma. The remission word was used but with the caveat of this spot of myeloma. Tomorrow Bob has a PET scan scheduled (cycletron must be up and working again). The scan will show if that is the only active spot or if there are others. To receive that news we will have an appointment in two weeks.
In two weeks time we go back across the hall to Dr. Bahis' regular clinic where we will have the PET scan results AND Bob will begin another regime of chemo. So pleased Bob graduated but sadly this is the clinic that has long waits. This is also a Wed. clinic. Being on Wed. doesn't really mean to much, as our calendars are able to be very fluid!!!!!LOL
The plan is that Bob may receive radiation on the spot of myeloma. He hasn't had radiation since he was first diagnosed and it was only on his back. Radiation will depend on the PET. Bob will also begin a maintenance dose of velcade and pomalyst. This will be 3 weeks on and 1week off. The velcade is given by intravenous once a week at TBC. The pomalyst is oral. We are so thankful, that for now, Bob will not be on a steroid.
For my medical friends and family: WBC 5.2
RBC 3.3 still a wee bit low
HGB 104 " " "
Platelets 104 " " "'
Kappa free 9.04
Lambda free 11.10
Kappa/Lambda free ratio .81 (this is where we all whooot)
U protein .09
Is that all you need, Donna??????
Soooooo we are pretty pumped. Dr. Bahlis said he hoped that we would have a good year but was hoping for a long life for Bob. The nurse said she hoped for lots of good years. That is our prayer too.
Dr. Bahlis does not want Bob to go back to work until the new year due to the immunity issue and the vaccines that Bob may require. We still have lots of trips to TBC too. Not sure what the future will be like but the One we trust with our lives does. Let 's give it up for God--Hurrah and thank you.
Thankyou from the bottom of our hearts for the many prayers that have been offered up to God on our behalf. God has heard the cry of our hearts and is doing a miracle in Bob's body and in our hearts and faith. We are so encouraged today, but each day has its own challenges. This is true for each one of us. My desire would be that each of us know God so intimately that each moment of our lives are dependent on Him. No matter the outcomes of life's daily challenges we would be able to trust that God has our backs.
We were told that the two vials of liquid from the bone marrow contained......wait for it.........NO myeloma cells. However, the more solid sample that contained scar tissue had 30% active myeloma. The remission word was used but with the caveat of this spot of myeloma. Tomorrow Bob has a PET scan scheduled (cycletron must be up and working again). The scan will show if that is the only active spot or if there are others. To receive that news we will have an appointment in two weeks.
In two weeks time we go back across the hall to Dr. Bahis' regular clinic where we will have the PET scan results AND Bob will begin another regime of chemo. So pleased Bob graduated but sadly this is the clinic that has long waits. This is also a Wed. clinic. Being on Wed. doesn't really mean to much, as our calendars are able to be very fluid!!!!!LOL
The plan is that Bob may receive radiation on the spot of myeloma. He hasn't had radiation since he was first diagnosed and it was only on his back. Radiation will depend on the PET. Bob will also begin a maintenance dose of velcade and pomalyst. This will be 3 weeks on and 1week off. The velcade is given by intravenous once a week at TBC. The pomalyst is oral. We are so thankful, that for now, Bob will not be on a steroid.
For my medical friends and family: WBC 5.2
RBC 3.3 still a wee bit low
HGB 104 " " "
Platelets 104 " " "'
Kappa free 9.04
Lambda free 11.10
Kappa/Lambda free ratio .81 (this is where we all whooot)
U protein .09
Is that all you need, Donna??????
Soooooo we are pretty pumped. Dr. Bahlis said he hoped that we would have a good year but was hoping for a long life for Bob. The nurse said she hoped for lots of good years. That is our prayer too.
Dr. Bahlis does not want Bob to go back to work until the new year due to the immunity issue and the vaccines that Bob may require. We still have lots of trips to TBC too. Not sure what the future will be like but the One we trust with our lives does. Let 's give it up for God--Hurrah and thank you.
Thankyou from the bottom of our hearts for the many prayers that have been offered up to God on our behalf. God has heard the cry of our hearts and is doing a miracle in Bob's body and in our hearts and faith. We are so encouraged today, but each day has its own challenges. This is true for each one of us. My desire would be that each of us know God so intimately that each moment of our lives are dependent on Him. No matter the outcomes of life's daily challenges we would be able to trust that God has our backs.
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