Like all my other outpatient rounds of chemotherapy, we end with a white blood cell booster shot. Neulasta. I guess it is good. My counts came back nice and quick after round two. Obviously not so well after round three. Let’s hope we do well this time 🙂 Had the Neulasta shot today. Basically that means bone aches tomorrow. Ugh. Along with being tired from chemotherapy. This soon shall pass.
Come on bone marrow! Come on hair follicles!
What’s up? You haven’t made an entry in a couple of days.
I miss Evan. I sure wish he’d come back and post. I thought Lynn was a little hasty in giving TC his key back before the poll closed or we’d discussed it some more. But Lynn is Lynn and he’s got such a good board.
I’m having no luck with the beta. As soon as I try to log in my comp crashes. Hoping the new build will work better, otherwise, dunno what I will do.
Hang in there, better days are ahead, dude.
Glad to hear that you will soon begin the maintenance phase of treatment. My husband has e-mailed you before. I also have APL and have gone through the exact treatment plan you have. I was diagnosed on June 30,2004 and spent a total of 5 weeks in the hospital and several more under “house arrest.” I began the maintenance program in December but after reducing the dosage several times, I was taken off the methotrexate and mercatopurine. The doctors decided that they couldn’t risk the toxicity of the medication because my liver enzymes were too high. I’m now only taking the ATRA every 3 months. I’m praying that will be enough to keep me in remission. If not, I will begin to take Arsenic Trioxide. They will also begin to set things in place for a bone-marrow transplant.
I started back to work part-time in January. I’ll be back teaching full time in July. Last week my son and I went kayaking and Terry and I went to see the fireworks to celebrate. Last year I was in the hospital.
Even though I try to be outwardly optimistic, you can’t help but wonder if its going to come back – and when. We all deal with things differently and my faith has helped me. With God’s help, I have actually been able to embrace this illness with an attitude of anticipation- waiting to see what God has to teach me and seeing each day how I can more fully experience God’s grace,power, and glory. “When I am weak, He is strong.”
Hang in there! I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Kathy
PS All my hair came backwhen I began the maintenance phase of treatment. It was thicker and
wavy.