What a week . . . oh yeah, and a few doctors visits too

You'll pardon my delay in updating this blog if for no other reason that Saturday evening, June 27 my youngest child, Ashley, was married.   She may be young in years (23), but such a warm personality, loving heart for those around her, and a Christian spirit you don't see too often in the youth of today.   Granted, Dad is not being too objective here, but hey, who is when their baby girl gets married?  

Here's a photo from immediately after the ceremony.

So its been a somewhat hectic week.  

Tuesday the 23rd, I had tests galore down at U of L as well as meeting with Dr. Tse in preparation for a stem cell harvest. By all counts, all the results of those tests were positive and it appears we will proceed with the actual harvesting procedure on Monday, July 6th.

I met with Dr. Zhong on June 26 for our biweekly consult. He's satisfied with the response to the chemotherapy . . . so much so that he's recommending potentially a THIRD round of chemo so as to eliminate most of the cancer and leukemic cells in the bone marrow. But this third round would not begin until sometime mid July, after the stem cell harvest is totally complete. That means 5 more days in the hospital and the subsequent 7-10 days of feeling like %$#%# when I get home.

It's important that my bone marrow have the lowest possible amount of cancer cells when it's time to do the actual transplant. When all this got started, I had close to 80% of my bone marrow occupied by plasma and leukemic cells . . . now, it's less than 4% and hopefully going as close to zero as possible.

The really sad part of this whole damn thing is the fact that Dr. Zhong estimates I have had myeloma growing within me for the last 12-15 months. Nearly a year and a half!!!!    And I did NOT have one symptom that would have clued me in that something was wrong. The only thing that would have been a leading indicator was my anemia level which was at 9.5.  But the only way to find out what that level would have been would be to have done a complete blood test. And who does that anyway when you feel great, exercise regularly and otherwise have no medical issues?? Sometimes, life is simply not logical is it?

I am continuing with daily injections of Lovenox, which is a blood thinner I am on after discovering a small clot in my right forearm . . . but that seems to be working as the tenderness of that area has dissipated, and I don't feel any abnormalities or pain there any longer.  

These last couple weeks and the week ahead I must admit I have felt pretty good . . . no fever, good appetite, walking every day for exercise, and working from home to boot. I even made it out on the river last weekend for a little sun and relaxation.

But the real work lies just ahead as I get ready for this stem cell harvest and the ultimate transplant that will hopefully lead to a period of remission from this treatable, but not curable disease known as multiple myeloma.   

I'd give anything to be at the All England Club this week, enjoying my favorite tournament of any sport whatsoever . . . Wimbledon. But I will have to resign myself to watching the action on TV and remembering the beauty of that place that I had the privilege of seeing in person back in 2010. If you ever get the chance to go, by all means, don't pass it up. It truly is special.

Thank you, as always, for your continued thoughts, emails, cards, phone calls, and prayers on my behalf. Trust me, they are uplifting and powerful and much appreciated.  

Injections, Transfusion, and Biopsy, Oh My!

This is going to be a crazy week.   

Sure enough, as everyone expected, my white counts dropped to an absurd .4 on Friday morning. That led to a weekend of seclusion at the house, away from visitors and well-wishers and crowds, so that I would not risk getting sick or catching a fever.    That happened last month about this time and put me back in the hospital for a quaint 5-day stay.  

But this morning at CBC, lab work showed my white count was back up to a level of 2.62 which is still low, but on the upswing based on supporting data from other hematology results.

I received my Neupogen injection this morning as well, plus an injection of Velcade, the cancer drug that Dr. Zhong administers 4 times a month. And take a look at this needle . . . not your everyday conventional one, is it?
  

Looks more like a rocket with some kind of booster engine on it. But Diane is pretty good at injecting that with a minimum of discomfort or burning sensation.

As for this week's activity, it's going to be hectic.
  

Tuesday at 10 am is a nice, comfy needle biopsy of my bone marrow. Dr. Tse will perform this down at the U of L Graham Brown Cancer Center. The purpose of this test will be to determine if I need a 3rd round of chemo, or if its okay to begin a stem cell harvest program. I'm hoping that most, if not all, of these plasma cells have been killed off.   But I am also realistic enough to know that the percentage of plasma cells originally in the bone marrow was quite high in the beginning and needs to be practically "negligible" for the transplant to be successful. Results should be back by late Tuesday or Wednesday.

After that fun little procedure, I immediately head back to Baptist for a transfusion of platelets. Oh yeah, my platelet count this morning was a 15, which is super low. The slightest little cut or scrape and I could bleed like a stuck pig. Platelets help the blood clot, so its important I get the number back to normal, which for me is in the 150 -200 range.

Wednesday is more lab work, including a Neupogen injection if necessary. Hopefully, my white counts will have recovered enough by then that an injection won't be necessary. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Thursday, believe it or not, I have NOTHING scheduled . . . not even lab work. Maybe I can arrange to make that 11 am tee time after all . . . HA . . . I wish!!

And Friday, it's back to CBC for follow-up lab work and another injection. 

So, just another dull, humdrum week of tests, and needles, and transfusions. How's your week going?



It's Roller Coaster week for my blood counts . . .

It's Tuesday, June 9, and it was one month ago when my white blood counts went crazy low and they told me wherever I went I needed a mask unless I was at home by myself. Of course, anticipating a repeat of that topsy turvy week, I showed up at CBC this morning all masked up, just knowing that my count would be lower than yesterday's 2.47 reading.  The last thing I need is another 5-day stay in the hospital on antibiotics. So, you can imagine my surprise when the numbers came back and showed my WBC to be at 7.42. Goodbye mask!!!

I'd rather have a jolt of espresso or a latte, but in a pinch, a smiley face Coke will certainly work.

I could never do needles . . . in fact, I have no stomach for this nonsense. But, considering a small clot formed in my right forearm during chemo round 1, this little shot of Lovenox is a daily reminder of the side effects that can show up unannounced. This is a SELF-injection too, in my belly. Somedays, I feel like a pin cushion I get stuck so much. 

Ahh, the best part of my day . . . lunch . . . my laptop which is logged onto my office workstation, and a little TV noise in the background. Friends ask everyday how my appetite is . . . well, you're looking at Exhibit A right there on my desk. Ha.

My kitchen countertop is overflowing with get well cards, well wishers, hand written notes and CANDY!! Thank you Nancy, Grace, Lynda and John!! 

 

And friends and clients have brought by cookies, my favorite cinnamon candy, muffins,

quiche (thanks Brad and Karen), and lots of other delicious food.   

I am not going to die from starvation, that's for sure.

This is MY own recommended chemo drip. Dr. Z says don't go crazy with the alcohol, so of course, I am trying to be a good boy. None whatsoever during chemo week, but now that I am strictly on a oral chemo pill, a little Woodford over some ice is acceptable. Besides, Dr. Z is still on vacation in China . . . he'll never see this blog. LOL

Tuesday during the summer is normally Interclub Tennis night, but for me, tonight was just taking a short stroll around the block. I must be a major weenie because that wore me out . . . time to take charge and get on some kind of exercise regimen. And with my daughter's wedding less than 3 weeks out, I need to be conditioned for that big walk down the aisle. :)

Most of all, THANK YOU to everyone who continues to pray for me and offer their assistance in whatever I may need. I so appreciate the unconditional support, prayers, visits, thoughts, and help. We're gonna beat this dang cancer thing, you watch and see!!!!  

God is not done with me yet!!

2 down, and 2 to go

Wednesday and Thursday are pretty uneventful, short of the wonderful friends and family who have stopped by in a steady stream to say hello and extend their best wishes. Having that kind of support and fellowship is PRICELESS throughout this whole ordeal. I am humbled yet so appreciative of everyone's phone calls, emails, and cards expressing their love and support. THANK YOU!! 

Kathy gowns up to administer bag 2 of 4. She looks so serious doesn't she?

And if the chemo doesn't work, there's always this direct laser technology she could use.  These bar code scanners have to be good for something other than inventory control, right?? lol.

Untethered between chemo bag 2 and 3...time for a quick shower and 10 minutes of sunshine outside.

Fellow tennis team member and international traveler, Tomas Aguilera, stopping in for a visit.



Let the fun begin...

Tuesday, June 2 is the actual start date for my chemo drip. Each bag takes a full 24 hours to slowly drip into my veins via the PICC line they installed just yesterday. That was another fun procedure too!

So these drugs are what comprises the chemo drip I am getting. I can't pronounce half of them, but I can say that when used in tandem with the other, this stuff seems to work, despite all the crummy side effects.

And of course, it's sensitive to light, so they put this nice little colored bag to protect the integrity of the chemo . . . at least that's what they told me. Ha.



Round 2 of Chemo begins bright and early...

Monday, June 1 started early with a 7:30 am meeting with doctors at CBC Group. A little blood work followed by a doctor consult and I am outta there by 8:45 . . . across the street I go to check into my room for the upcoming week . . . and lo and behold, see this nice little note written on the white board they keep in each room.

And so I am not even in the room for 5 minutes when the welcome wagon is rolled in and the lab tech says, "Roll up your sleeve, Mr. Bowman."

The hydration and IV fluids are set to begin on Monday. This blood work is just part of the process. Such fun!!!