Day +34

GREAT news today! Well some mixed bag news but still great news.

I had a CT to check on my phenomia. It is still there and my docs are putting me on a new antibiotic to clear it up. I also have the beginnings of an ear infection which the new drugs should kick as well. I managed to bang my right ankle and have some nasty big bruise that is puffy....didn't even know about it until they found it today. Gotta love how thorough these folks are. Finally the GREAT news the scan they did to check the lungs of course ran over the cancer mass....and they report there is shrinkage in my mass. This is amazing! It still is too soon to be even scanning me for this stuff so it's like an extra special side note that it happened today. Other great news....it looks like insurance will pay for radiation treatments are Hopkins! Almost 99% but won't commit until I have that lovely approval letter in the mail.

More good news. My liver functions are all down (the direction they need to be going) and I am operating on a normal level for all but 2 specific functions. I have dropped more weight than I think I gained at this point and my docs are taking me off my diuretic meds.

I ate a meal yesterday (thanks Mom) which is news in itself these days. I don't think I have had a real meal in weeks. I think slowly my appetite might bounce back. I am still on orders for a low sodium diet. In all reality I think I am never going back to the normal sodium level. As I told my uncle Keith today....if I have to give up salt forever to be in good health than goodbye salt shaker. No sweat off my back.

My other counts dropped (they need to go up) but they think it's the phenomia holding up their rebound and this new drug should help. Amazingly I have held onto my last platelet transfusion for about a week. As a reference I was getting them daily in the hospital so this is good for me.

Also some possible spectacular news! I have this rash spreading all over my belly, legs, and arms. Sounds weird but it is somewhat possible that it could be Graft Vs. Host Disease (GVHD). This is something that happens to true bone marrow transplant patients and it is a good thing; a sign that the new immune system is taking hold. It is rare in auto transplant patients (what I had) - about 20% chance. But we know my odds; I am always on the rare end. Overall what this could mean is that my immune system is really kicking butt and hopefully killing this cancer big time. My docs are still not positive so don't get your hopes up just yet.

My hopes are sky high and Dave is worried but I just can't help myself. I needed some good news and today we got some. Even if I don't have the GVHD my mass shrunk! It shows shrinkage on a CT scan something I have NEVER gotten. They have only seen reduced activity on PET scans never shrinkage on the CT. I am giddy that this crap is working once and for all. I believe that 2007 has to be my year, my time has to have come, these prayers around the world are working, I am gonna beat this stupid cancer.

I often pray just for the strength to get through the day and it's like god has given me some sign that I do have the strength, he is walking beside me, and this is going to come to an end one day.

Well I get a day off from the joint tomorrow (sigh) and then back again on Wednesday. Of course it means laying low, no fevers, and steering clear of the sick kidos but I can do that to stay out of the joint.