Every 28 days, I get to lay on a table, on my side with my trousers down just three or four inches. It’s not my proudest moment but at least I’m not at the business end of this medical procedure. They shoot my hip full of lidocaine, then drill into my hip bone. The nurse says "Take a deep breath, now exhale!" I have no idea why I’m supposed to breathe then exhale, except it might keep me from shouting four letter words as she pulls a core sample of bone marrow from my hip. It hurts...a lot. But one core sample isn’t enough, so she repeats the procedure for a total of three pulls.
Most people take a sedative but that would require a friend to be present to help me walk out the door afterwards. The fewer people who have to see my plumber’s butt, the better so I do the procedure alone and without a sedative. I’ve done this procedure five times and have just one more to go. One of the tests on the core sample is to measure the amount of cancer cells within the marrow. On day 28 after my second transplant, they found just a trace of cancer cells. On day 56 (last Monday), they found zero, not one cancer cell in the bone marrow. I was warned that it doesn’t mean I'm free of cancer, it’s just a sample of a small portion of marrow. I could still have cancer cells elsewhere in the marrow and in the form of tumors but it’s a great sign and I’ll gladly take it as good news. This is the first time in five procedures that the number hit zero.
A complete cancer workup will happen on day 84. They will do a series of tests that will be more conclusive. That’s when I’ll know exactly how much (if any) cancer is left. Twenty percent of patients who receive a double transplant end up in long term remission. However, fifteen percent die from the procedure.
I’m pretty certain I haven’t died yet unless heaven or hell allows tuba and banjo music. (My musical friends will all have a some strong opinions on this). As far as the near cure, I’m hopeful to end up with the twenty percent but even if I’m not, the cancer is so minimal at this point, I can live with whatever the result. The key words here are: “I can live.”
very positive news, Mike. great to keep in touch with you from your blog. we'll be thinking of you at tonight's silent movie, City Lights. again, but fun music. take care as always, Bob & Laraine
ReplyDeleteHi Mike
ReplyDeleteIf you need a buddy to help walk you out of a procedure, feel free to ask and if I really can't do it, I won't feel bad about saying no. It doesn't take long for me to get there and I could probably even work around work if needed. Of course swearing can be fun too, either way.