So first, the counts: whites are at 0.02. Lowest I've ever been. Literally, I think two white cells keeping each other company. Platelets are at 27 (normal is 150 to 500). They will likely give me a transfusion of platelets tomorrow so I don't end up like one of the Romanov kids. They are also preparing to give me more blood (take THAT World Health Organization) in the event the hemoglobin falls much lower.
Surprisingly, I don't feel horrible...although some of this is psychological rather than physical. All of my labs are where they should be...CRP (the tell-all measure of impending infection) is normal, which is rare for somebody with no immune system. So I pressed my luck and asked the APN for the tumor markers. She came back ten minutes later and said "I think you'll be in the mood for a Disney parade." And so I am.
There are three markers that are looked at:
* M-spike measures the presence of the protein in my blood that is manufactured as a result of the myeloma cells. It is this M-spike that was observed when I was first diagnosed. The M-spike at diagnosis was around 4, and it increased to around 8 right before my treatment began. As of two days ago, it is at 1.6! Obviously, we want this to be zero, but it will continue to fall and this is a very good sign.
* Lamba free light chain is a metric of tumor activity, although mine has never been all that high -- except as a result of therapy (BB noted the treatment causes a spike which later falls). At any rate, normal is below 1. Mine was around 3, if memory serves, and went up to as high as 50 or so. It is now effectively ZERO.
* IgG is a measure of the antibodies created by both legitimate plasma cells, and by the myeloma. Normal is 700 to 1400. Mine was as high as 11000 before treatment. After induction they fell to 6500. Three days ago, they were at 2100, and still falling.
Bottom line: the therapy is working. I am not in remission yet, but the cancer has been kicked square in the face.
Onward!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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