A Great Test Result

As you know, I have my blood tested every 90 days to monitor the progress of my lil lymphoma. The result that is most revealing is IgM. Patients with elevated IgM are at significant risk for opportunistic and repeated infections. In addition, the defect in the immune system results in a decreased ability to identify and fight cancer cells.

Ninety days ago, the result was 1608; the test before was 1408. The normal range is 45-281.

I was prescribed a rather new and promising medication, Brukinsa, after the 1608 result, loss of energy and weight loss starting in early December.

I was tested yesterday. The current IgM result is 312! That is, almost within normal range!!!

Needless to say, I am very happy. Not only do I feel much better, but taking a few pills with almost no side effects at all is so much easier on both me and My Adorable Wife than intravenous chemotherapy.  In fact, we both remarked about that yesterday driving home from the lab.

I will see the Dr. Hema5 on March 2 where we will discuss this excellent result. He and his staff have given me the finest care for which I am very grateful.

I have high hopes that intravenous chemotherapy is now behind me and that my lymphoma will be entirely controlled by twice-daily medication.

 I had my usual round of blood tests last Friday. The salient result is IgM which was reported at 1608. That is approximately 14% higher than than three months earlier. The normal range is 45-281.

My doctors have often suggested watchful waiting as my symptoms deteriorate. The reasons are two; first, the fewer rounds of treatment that a patient undertakes in a lifetime means greater comfort, away from the intravenous needles and chemicals.

The second reason is that new drugs are being developed every year. Don’t start the second-best therapy today when a much better therapy may be available tomorrow.

In my case, there is a better therapy available and Dr. Hema5 has prescribed an oral medication, taken twice a day. That certainly is preferable to day after day of intravenous treatments that invariably, at least in my case, have very unpleasant side effects.

I start the new medication this Friday. I will continue to have quarterly blood tests and expect to see my IgM number decline.

Blood Test Thursday

Waldenstroms, also known as my little lymphoma, is characterized as ‘smoldering;’ that is, the disease progresses slowly, and, in some cases, it plateaus or doesn’t progress at all.

Because of this smoldering nature, Dr. Hema5 prescribes blood tests quarterly and in-person visits semi-annually. I reported for regularly scheduled blood tests a few days ago. I have reviewed the protein immunoglobulin M (IgM) reading and it has risen to 1199.

IgM is the primary indicator of battling cancer cells in the body affected by Waldenstroms.

For reference, here is a brief history; the reference range is 45.0 mg/dL - 281.0 mg/dL:

4/15/2020 After session 4 of chemo: 265 i.e. within normal limits

7/30/2020 384 up 11910/19/2020 426 up 42

1/19/2021 Prior to office visit 453 up 27

5/3/2021 489 up 36 

7/21/2021 635 up 146

1/17/2022 873 up 238

5/18/2022 1199 up 326

Some tests were postponed or omitted during Covid-19.

As the untrained eye can see, it is increasing at an increasing rate. The smoldering embers are starting to look like fire.

While I am a bit cautious, I am certainly not yet alarmed. When I last needed chemo, it had risen to about 2300 and I felt terrible.

Today, at 1199, I feel fine. My appetite and energy are fine and I have no complaints at all.

I next see Dr. Hema5 in August and I’ll be very interested to see the result.

Routine Follow Up

Things have been very quiet here on the blog recently; that’s because my lymphoma has also been very quiet, thankfully!

I had a regularly scheduled visit with Dr. Hema5 who, after analyzing my recent blood test results and prodding and poking me a bit, said that he is having a hard time finding anything wrong! 

Although my IgM number is up a bit, as expected, it is not alarmingly so and therefore neither the doctor nor I are concerned.

We discussed treatment options for the time, many years from now, we hope, that the numbers peak and my energy and overall health decline. He said that there are new options coming along regularly; options with fewer side effects and lower cost. 

Finally, he gave me the best news I’ve heard in a long time: “See you in six months.”

Awesome news! Now I can plan a long vacation for My Wonderful Wife and me!

Chemo is finished!

In my last post, I reported that my doctor was pleased with my progress and wanted another blood test in order to judge the next steps. I had the test on April 15, My Beloved Wife's birthday, also tax day and, all around, a day for giving till it hurts!

My Immunoglobulin M number was reported at 265; that is, within normal limits. A few days later, my doctor said, electronically, "My recommendation and advice is that we are done with treatment." I will return to quarterly followups with the doctor.

That is wonderful news! My health and energy level certainly agree with this conclusion. I feel very well, indeed.

After the first occurance of this illness, chemotherapy gave me about ten years of symptom-free living and so I have high hopes that this will be the outcome of my most recent rounds of chemo. I hope to enjoy my life to the fullest.

Now if the virus would go away, we'd be all set!

Chemo postponed

When the COVID-19 crisis erupted, my appointments for chemo were postponed. I assume that skilled medical providers are required for virus cases; certainly more dire than mine. I also assume that I was postponed because I have been making very good progress and that I would most likely be well whether my chemo infusions were carried out one month or three months or even six months from now. I also assume that there are other patients who are not so lucky and that chemo was carried on because to not continue promptly might mean a dangerous regression in their illness.

Today, Dr. Hema5, working from home and distancing himself from danger, telephoned me to discuss my progress. He agreed that my progress has been very good and that my numbers have improved remarkably. After discussion, we agreed to postpone chemo until after I have visited with him in person in June or July. We also agreed that I would have a blood test next week.

If the numbers from next weeks blood test continue to show the improvement that I listed in my just previous post, I think there is at least a small possibility that further treatments will not be required! Fingers crossed!

I feel very fine indeed. I am back to my regular exercise routine. I have picked up my camera and am photographing whatever I can safely find in COVIDfinement. I am thinking once again about vacation season out west.

Please stay safe, dear friends. I look forward to an early opportunity to see you happy and well.

Beware the Infusions of March.

With apologies to Willy Shake.

On the first two weekdays of March, I appeared at the infusion room for my periodic poisioning, politely referred to by the professionals as chemotherapy. This was the fourth session of six.

On both days, my appointments were at roughly 10:00 am. On both days, the entire process, from check-in to check-out, was just about two hours!

On both days, so far, fingers crossed, I have had no side-effects at all! I am very glad to report this and very sorry to not have a more interesting report for you all.

I report to Dr. Hema5 a few days before every infusion session. At each visit, my blood is tested to judge my general health and suitability for continuing infusions and, as well, to judge my overall progress. I have access to my results and the news is quite good. Immunoglobulin M is the first antibody to appear in the response to initial exposure to an infection. In my case, the relevent infection is cancer.

I have been very encouraged by the trend. The reference range, that is, the range that our doctors consider acceptable and not remarkable is 45.0 mg/dL to 281.0 mg/dL. I've noted my recent history and the progression is:

10/22/2019 Before treatment 2285
11/8 Before treatment            2093
12/23 After session 1               926
1/13/2020 After session 2        757
1/30 After session 2                 485
2/27 After session 3                 364

Wow! I am getting very close to normal, that is, as normal as a Waldenstrom's patient can reasonably expect to get!

Woo hoo!

I will report more as I have news.