Monday, June 18, 2007
Update # 112
Day Plus 188
Good Evening,
“NO LEUKEMIA" were the words the nurse practitioner told us last Wednesday on the phone. That was the initial result of the bone marrow biopsy but at that time, all the results were not in. Today, another result said the marrow still shows 100% donor. They said that the chromosome part is not back yet.
When the nurse practitioner called last week, she also said the CT Scan came back ok but the PET Scan showed some "uptake" in the tonsil area. That meant the glucose took hold in that area. She said Dr. DiPersio was not too concerned and felt it might mean viral or Graft vs. Host. Dr. DiPersio noticed today that Jeff's tonsils are enlarged with some white spots on them so they took a throat culture and those results should be ready in 48 hours. Since Jeff has no sore throat, no fever, no swollen glands, and normal energy, Dr. DiPersio thinks it is viral. He feels it would still be wise to repeat the PET Scan in 4 months.
The last two blood counts showed a rise in the white blood count. Today's counts showed it had come down some but still above where it had been for a while. They said the fluctuation is normal but could go along with the tonsils. The red count again rose a bit on its own. It is slowly creeping upward.
I asked when we would know when Jeff's blood has "flipped" to the donor's blood type. They said "when the counts level off and are stable". But there is no reason to type and cross-match to find out. Jeff is still within the time frame of changing over.
Dr. DiPersio is pleased with Jeff's progress so today was the last day of the anti-rejection medicine. The blood pressure medicine was also stopped today. Even in that one month of taking the anti-rejection medicine every other day, Jeff's blood pressure has returned to normal. Jeff will need to remain on the anti-viral med and the Bactrim for another 3 - 4 months. Jeff has been told to watch for a probable flare-up of Graft vs. Host about 3 - 4 months after stopping the anti-rejection medicine. Depending on if he gets GVHD and the severity of it, Jeff may then need to resume the anti-rejection med or Prednisone. Please pray for a mild (or no) case of GVHD.
Jeff is to have another blood count in a month. Where he has this done, depends on where he is living at that time. If he is in Waterloo, the oncologist up there will do it and fax the results to StL. If he is still in Hillsboro, then he'll go to StL. The timing is good since his port will need to be flushed once a month anyway.
To celebrate the six-month mark of his transplant, Jeff went by himself to Iowa for a few days last week. He was anxious to see his apartment after they had painted it for him. He returned here with the key to his new place up there! Now, we pray the phone call for the job comes soon. Jeff is ready to return to work.
Some people (ones who couldn't remember and ones who did not know Jeff then) have asked about Jeff's Hodgkin's treatments. Jeff decided to include all the updates on his webpage -- beginning from his cancer diagnosis in 2001 and going through June 2006 right before the Secondary AML diagnosis. So, you can see how God has lead and guided Jeff these last six years. It is a truly remarkable journey and Jeff has handled his life with great strength and faith. We give praise and thanks to God for blessing Jeff to this point. And we needed each of you along the way and will continue to ask that you be with us since this long road still stretches forward into the future.
I'm not sure when I'll update again. Maybe when Jeff knows about his job. I will definitely email about the blood count in a month. Jeff does not need to see Dr. DiPersio again until August 20th. Please keep Jeff in your prayers and enjoy a wonderful summer. God's blessings!
love,
Marcia