Date Night

Caroline went with me for my first maintenance treatment.  We took Amtrak, had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory , and supper at Giordano's.  We also did the Northwestern thing.

I had blood work done.  Everything looks good except I'm neutropenic, again.  I was given a Neulasta shot which will increase the the production of white blood cells.

We met with Dr. Ma and she brought pictures!  We looked at the images from my July PET scan and compared them to December's.  It really hit home the world of hurt I was in back in July and the progress made since then.  For the PET scan I'm injected with some radioactive glucose.  Then the scan.  The images gathered show where the "uptake" of the radioactive glucose is taking place.  The brain, heart, kidneys, and bladder glow naturally from the uptake.  Anything else that glows would be from the uptake of the cancer cells.  Needless to say there was a lot of glowing from my July images.  My upper sternum, left scapula, three left ribs, and parts of my pelvis were lit up.  Then there was my left kidney.  It was more than twice its size because of the tumor surrounding it.  The scan also showed the left lung at half its capacity/size because of the pleural effusion.  The December images were much, much different.  There was a dull glow from a very small area on my pelvis.  That was it!  Both kidneys were visible and equal in size.  Both lungs were the same size.  These results were the results that were hoped for from day one.

We also met with Andrea a couple of different times.  She reassured us that the December scan was the Christmas present we prayed for.  We also discussed a plan to have my port removed in a couple of months.

I had the first of my Rituxan treatment.  I will have this done every two months for two years.  This is suppose to keep me in remission longer.  I could have this done locally, but will likely continue to go to Northwestern.  They act like they know what they're doing.

I also had a dopplar done on both legs.  There were no clots in the right leg.  There were three in the left leg.  One above the knee, one behind it, and one below it.  All three were old and are consistent with the dopplar I had done in January.  It is likely these were a result of the tumor compressing a vein in my abdomen that was slowing down the venous return on my lower, left side.  I will continue to take Xeralto and repeat the dopplar in a couple of months.

Thank God for the answered prayers and ask for a long, healthy remission.