Well, this is quite a different ride from last time. Eric's labs now show all of his counts to be NORMAL. Can you believe it? Platelets are 240. 240!!! (If you need a recap, they started at 16 in June. Normal is 140-450. )
Ramping up of Venetoclax is still going well with no negative side effects. Full dosing will be completed by next Sunday, 9/8. (The day we leave for our cruise-- which we still can't believe we're getting to do!)
Treatment this Thursday and follow up with Dr. S on Wednesday. We're not expecting any surprises-- just continued good news.
Thanks to all for the prayers and keeping up. This feels miraculous to have such a positive result so quickly with so few side effects other than fatigue.
Maureen
Saturday 31 August 2019
Tuesday 20 August 2019
Results from 8/15
I'm a little behind in updating and the latest news from the lab results is pretty miraculous: platelets are NORMAL! (140). All other numbers still looking great, all still showing improvement with many already back to normal. Venetoclax seems to be agreeing with Eric. He finished the first week and began the ramped up (increase dosage) second week and everything seems fine so far.
It's pretty amazing how effective this treatment has been so far and how well Eric has been feeling. This is nothing like the last go round. We just hope the end result is as good-- all indications are that it will be.
Labs and FastTrack visit this Thursday and next. Then treatment on 9/5.
Maureen
It's pretty amazing how effective this treatment has been so far and how well Eric has been feeling. This is nothing like the last go round. We just hope the end result is as good-- all indications are that it will be.
Labs and FastTrack visit this Thursday and next. Then treatment on 9/5.
Maureen
Sunday 11 August 2019
Treatment Cycle 2 of 6, labs, Dr. visit
This past Thursday was full of good news. Labs continue to show now steady platelets, still below normal, but excellent as far as progress and reducing the fear and anxiety that came with the initial labs. Dr. S said Eric is doing much better than they expected in terms of his labs and his response to the treatment. He has now begun the second drug, venetoclax, an oral drug to be taken daily for a year. The biggest concern here, and it’s a very large concern, is kidney function. The drug comes with a requirement to drink 56 oz. of water a day to keep hydrated, to keep the kidneys functioning, and to avoid dialysis. Because of the potentecy and the potential side effects, the dosage is ramped up every week until the full dosage amount begins in the fourth week and that’s where it will remain for the following 11 months, assuming kidney function remains good.
We have had a cruise booked for almost a year and it sails September 8. The PA and doctor had indicated they didn’t think they’d be able to clear Eric for travel and to be away from the clinic for 8 days but that we would have to see how things went. To our delight and amazement, the doctor gave the all clear for us to go. He said Eric is doing so well with his treatment, he expects he will respond well to the venetoclax and is willing to forego doing labs and follow up during that time. So, if all goes well with the venetoclax during this ramp up period, we are going on the cruise.
Other good news is that now the infusions are monthly so we don’t go back for that until 9/5, right before the cruise. Blood work/labs and follow up with the PA at Fast track will still be weekly but only for the next 4 weeks until the venetoclax is fully ramped. Then the bloodwork and Fast Track will be monthly. So, just four more weeks of going weekly, then everything is monthly except the daily pills.
It’s pretty amazing how much better the treatment is than it was five years ago as far as tolerance. Hopefully, it will be as effective and even more effective than five years ago, also.
Maureen
We have had a cruise booked for almost a year and it sails September 8. The PA and doctor had indicated they didn’t think they’d be able to clear Eric for travel and to be away from the clinic for 8 days but that we would have to see how things went. To our delight and amazement, the doctor gave the all clear for us to go. He said Eric is doing so well with his treatment, he expects he will respond well to the venetoclax and is willing to forego doing labs and follow up during that time. So, if all goes well with the venetoclax during this ramp up period, we are going on the cruise.
Other good news is that now the infusions are monthly so we don’t go back for that until 9/5, right before the cruise. Blood work/labs and follow up with the PA at Fast track will still be weekly but only for the next 4 weeks until the venetoclax is fully ramped. Then the bloodwork and Fast Track will be monthly. So, just four more weeks of going weekly, then everything is monthly except the daily pills.
It’s pretty amazing how much better the treatment is than it was five years ago as far as tolerance. Hopefully, it will be as effective and even more effective than five years ago, also.
Maureen
Friday 2 August 2019
Weekly follow up 8/2
All good news today. Labs all looked good. Platelets still heading in the right direction. Kidney and liver function both normal. Hydration seems a lot better.
Next follow up on Thursday, 8/8. That’s a big day: labs, visit with oncologist to get some sense of what’s next, new drug starting which will be taken for a year as part of treatment, and then treatment again which begins cycle 2 of 6.
Just an FYI- the treatments are systemically referred to as chemotherapy (like Kleenex, or Xerox). Even on Eric’s appointments, they’re shown as chemotherapy. Treatment has changed and for many, the drugs now administered are not technically chemotherapy drugs, they’re immunotherapy drugs. Both of the “chemo” drugs Eric is getting are technically immunotherapy drugs. So I try to refrain from saying chemo but the process is the same, the drugs are just different. When I refer to “treatment”, I’m referring to what you would normally think of as chemo.
Maureen
Next follow up on Thursday, 8/8. That’s a big day: labs, visit with oncologist to get some sense of what’s next, new drug starting which will be taken for a year as part of treatment, and then treatment again which begins cycle 2 of 6.
Just an FYI- the treatments are systemically referred to as chemotherapy (like Kleenex, or Xerox). Even on Eric’s appointments, they’re shown as chemotherapy. Treatment has changed and for many, the drugs now administered are not technically chemotherapy drugs, they’re immunotherapy drugs. Both of the “chemo” drugs Eric is getting are technically immunotherapy drugs. So I try to refrain from saying chemo but the process is the same, the drugs are just different. When I refer to “treatment”, I’m referring to what you would normally think of as chemo.
Maureen
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