Tag: cancer
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Bone Marrow Biopsy #9 and Pre-Donor Evaluation
George had his bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday, Sept 13 and for the first time, we had to wait almost two hours for him to be taken back! Poor thing was starving, as he couldn’t eat. As always, everything went well and he was ready for a snack when he was rolled back to recovery…
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A Bridge to Transplant
After meeting with Dr. Lai, the research doctor, we got some clarification regarding the clinical trial/ CART-38 cells. After George completes this current round of chemotherapy, he will undergo a bone marrow biopsy (the week of Sept 12). If he has less than 5% blasts, then he will be eligible to go directly to transplant,…
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BM Biopsy Results…
Were not what we were hoping for. Of course, blasts are the immature white blood cells that are the main characters in everyone’s AML story. Over 20% means you have leukemia, so it’s not that. But you must have below 5% to be in remission, so it’s not that either. That means the bone marrow…
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Bone Marrow Biopsy #8 and More
We started this week off with a trip to the cardiologist to get an EKG and a chest x-ray for George. There was still some concern about the fluid/edema in his feel, ankles and calves. The doctor wanted to make sure there wasn’t any fluid around his heart. He got the all-clear from that visit,…
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Chemo infusions complete…
For seven days, we braved the traffic and drove to and from Philadelphia for George’s infusions of Vidaza. He finished his last infusion yesterday and now he will continue taking the oral chemo, Venclexta until July 30th. For the first time, George was nauseated and had dry heaves and vomiting after his treatment. This happened…
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Challenge accepted (like we had a choice…)
In my last post, I wrote that we are moving towards a second bone marrow transplant and that there is a delay because of the results of George’s bone marrow biopsy: he had too many blasts (immature white blood cells). So, on Wednesday, we met with Dr. Loren to discuss the results and plan our…
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Well, Damn.
We actually got the preliminary results from George’s bone marrow biopsy on Friday, June 30th, but I opened them first and when I read them, I chose not to tell George they were available. Why? Because I saw words that I knew would cause him stress and fear….”increased blasts” and “the findings are consistent with…
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Bone Marrow Biopsy #7
Yesterday, George had his seventh bone marrow biopsy. He has to be clear of AML in order to have his transplant next month. He’s getting pretty good at this! So, we should get the preliminary results by the end of the week. The molecular data will take about a month. He had it done under…
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BMT #2 Scheduled for July
But when in July? We aren’t sure yet. All I can say at this point is mid-July. Last weekend, Dr. Loren (oncologist) and Dr. Heyman (pulmonologist) both happened to be working and consulted with each other about George. Dr. Loren asked Dr. Heyman if she could possibly taper George off the Prediosone faster so that…
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It’s been a minute…
Well, I haven’t posted anything in a while because honestly, we have just been in what seems like a holding pattern until George gets his second bone marrow transplant in July. But, now that may be delayed. George started his chemo rounds in February and has now undergone 4 cycles. The last two were with…
Diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). A Journey 