Well, the blood counts are headed down a bit more aggressively now. My platelet count hit 20 today which means I go to OU Med Center for a platelet transfusion tomorrow. White blood cell count is below normal, but not far, and hemoglobin (red) is still barely in the normal range. I was expecting this, I just expected it sooner. I don't know how many billions of platelets I'll get tomorrow. Right now, I'm just trying to stay away from sharp objects. I guess my superpowers from the radiation are turning into super-weeney-powers. I still feel OK, a bit tired but nothing that really keeps me down. I'm still working all day, every day, which is good.
There's the latest. Stay tuned.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Pet Scan Rocks!
Got the results of the PET scan that was done on Monday, and it is GREAT! It's a two page report with lots of big $5 words. The layman's interpretation, for people like me, is that the lymphoma below my jaw is completely gone. Also, other areas in my chest and abdomen that previously showed signs of possible lymphoma activity are clear. That is the best PET scan result since this whole thing started 5 years ago. This Bexxar stuff is pretty cool.
Brother Mark took another picture of me after Bexxar. Here's the link to it: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/Arrowheaded/Resized_Fish_Jan_2007_016_S.jpg
I can't figure out how to hyperlink to it, so you'll probably have to copy that line and paste it in a browser to see the picture.
Still feeling kind of fatigued and the doctors are still watching my blood counts closely. That's a pretty good trade off, though, for this kind of result.
Brother Mark took another picture of me after Bexxar. Here's the link to it: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/Arrowheaded/Resized_Fish_Jan_2007_016_S.jpg
I can't figure out how to hyperlink to it, so you'll probably have to copy that line and paste it in a browser to see the picture.
Still feeling kind of fatigued and the doctors are still watching my blood counts closely. That's a pretty good trade off, though, for this kind of result.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A Freakin' Miracle of Modern Medicine
Well...not really, but the doctors were very impressed so far with the results after treatment. They were a bit surprised that the side effects have been so mild. But, my blood counts recently have shown noticeable declines, particularly platelets. They warned that there still could be side effects to come if a trend develops in lowering blood counts. Platelets dropped the most, down to 61 from 184. The normal range is 140 to 300. They said if that keeps dropping and reaches 20 I'll have to get a platelet transfusion. White blood count is down a bit below normal, but not bad. Red blood cells have barely moved and are still in the normal range. That's all based on results from this weeks blood work.
I had the PET scan this morning but the results were not in to the doctors by the time of my visits. They'll call me in a couple of days when they get them. Dr. Thompson, the radiation oncologist was downright flabbergasted at the short time it took for the lump to disappear. He said he's never seen a tumor shrink that fast. He pushed and poked all over me looking for a lump but found none.
Anyhoo, I sure am happy with the results so far and so are the docs. I'll keep posting updates about once a week until the blood counts start moving up. I might make stuff up just to make it exciting.
Aunt Janny, your comment post worked! You figured it out! Thanks.
I had the PET scan this morning but the results were not in to the doctors by the time of my visits. They'll call me in a couple of days when they get them. Dr. Thompson, the radiation oncologist was downright flabbergasted at the short time it took for the lump to disappear. He said he's never seen a tumor shrink that fast. He pushed and poked all over me looking for a lump but found none.
Anyhoo, I sure am happy with the results so far and so are the docs. I'll keep posting updates about once a week until the blood counts start moving up. I might make stuff up just to make it exciting.
Aunt Janny, your comment post worked! You figured it out! Thanks.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Still Kickin'
It's been awhile since my last post. Things have been really uneventful without much, if anything, to post. Blood tests are still coming back with acceptable results, not feeling any side effects to speak of, and, the good news, the lump appears completely gone. I have doctors appointments and a PET/CT scan this Tuesday, I think I already mentioned that, and that's about it. The disappointing part is I didn't develop superpowers, no x-ray vision, still unable to leap tall buildings in a single bound, bullet's probably won't bounce off of me, and so on. Teresa and I are sleeping in the same bed again, I can now pee standing up, my eating utensils can now intermingle with the rest of the utensils, and I can get within 6 to 10 feet of other humans without exploding their thyroid glands. That's like the Y2K buildup when everyone thought all computers were going to crash, then nothing happened. I'll take that kind of non-excitement anytime. So, one more update after the follow up doctor visits and scan then I'll probably sign off this blog and hope this issue never rears its ugly head again. But, it's been fun. I might post a fishing report every once in a while.
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