ONWARD

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??