The saga continues
Posted on Wed September 23, 2009 in Health
Views: 372
Saw my hematologist yesterday, and we decided the best thing to do is wait
another month.
We talked about possible treatments, and I was glad
to hear she (my hematologist) was amenable to using Rituximab as a single agent
therapy instead of going for all out chemo. I was also interested to learn she
was surprised my platelets were as high as they were, considering the size of my
spleen. She has seen several others patients, with smaller spleens than mine,
exhibiting much lower platelet counts.
Removal of the spleen is
another possibility, and could provide several years of relief, but there are a
few downsides to that approach. Not only would I be off the bike for a few
months, it will require the taking of antibiotics for many years, or even the
rest of my life, until other organs take up the spleens functions, and the
lymphoma has been known to spread to those other organs, including the liver,
which would not be desirable outcome.
She even mentioned the
possibility of radiation to the spleen, but I'm not too keen on that idea.
But after 7½ years of not needing treatment, and even entertaining the
thought I may never need treatment, the decision to wait at least another month
wasn't a difficult one to make. After all, except for an enlarged spleen, I feel
[mostly] fine. Plus I'm still convinced the green tea is the cause of the rapid
drop in platelets, and not a change in my lymphoma, or my biggest fear, bone
marrow failure.
So in the mean time, I'm going to cut back my green
tea intake [again] to about 3 cups of tea a day from 4 cups a day, and my
hematologist ordered new cytogentic tests, AKA Flourescence in Situ
Hybridization (FISH) to see if anything has changed in my chromosomal makeup,
i.e. new translocations, deletions, additions etc.
Based on those
results, and the results of next months blood test, we should have a better
handle on what, if anything, is going on. Plus it will give me more time to do
additional research, and consult with some of other lymphoma specialists, I have
had contact with since my diagnosis, including a few at the lymphoma conference
Edie and I will be attending in San Francisco next month.
About me
62 / Male
Member since Aug 2009
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About Me: I am a mantle cell lymphoma survivor, and to be so bold as to quote a line from another blogger “it may kill me.” Actually it is killing me, albeit very slowly at this point, but so far I am still able to function mostly as normal, going to work, riding my bike, playing golf and even planning for vacations, and of course posting here, and to my personal blog at http://livingwithmcl.com
Location: Long Beach, CA
Interests: Cycling, wine and golfing, in that order
Medical Conditions: Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Health Interests: Cancer, Dental Health, Insurance
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Anna says:
on September 23, 2009 at 09:03 AM
This is a lot to go through Marc. I am glad you attend things like the lymphoma conference to futher educate yourself. I've recently started getting involved with the american heart association and really like the extra knowledge I have gained as well as meeting a bunch of other people with heart disease and learning about how to deal with it better.
sandra says:
on September 28, 2009 at 02:19 PM
Thinking of you Marc, and hope all goes well. Thanks for sharing!