Another Update

Josh took me to BAMC this morning in rush hour traffic so that I could have lab tests that took about 1 minute. My doctor called later to say my platelets are "trending down," and that tomorrow after my bone marrow biopsy I will need a transfusion. White counts are also down. We think it's due to the radiation, and may take awhile for things to start upwards again.

Meanwhile, I saw the doctor on Monday. My low blood counts and having to wait for the surgical site (Ommaya reservoir) to heal have delayed the treatment plan a bit. That is worrisome because of the aggressiveness of the mantle cell lymphoma. Dr. B believes that we can go ahead and start the Rituxan as early as next week. It won't affect the healing of the surgical site like other kinds of chemo. Once the site has healed, the other chemo can be started.

I'll be receiving chemo both systemically and intrathecally. The spinal cord is known as a "sanctuary site." There is a physical and chemical barrier which prevents toxins from reaching the spinal fluid, and that makes it difficult to treat the mantle cell which has invaded my central nervous system. That's why we are using the Ommaya reservoir; the chemo can be put directly into my spinal fluid where it will circulate through those bad cells. In addition, the chemo will be put into my chest port, to take care of cancer cells in other places in my body.

I had a PT session yesterday afternoon. It didn't seem like I did that much, but it sure made me tired. The low platelets and white cells probably account for that, though.

In addition to the bone marrow biopsy and platelet transfusion tomorrow, I have another MRI scheduled on Friday. Dr. B wants to take a good look at my lower spine again, to see what the radiation has done to the cancer cells.

Enough boring cancer stuff. Hope your week is going well!