Update Feb 3, 2009

My mom's WBC have dropped again. Last week they were down to 400 but are back up to 1100 this week. She's off treatments again. Her doctors have different theories (of course) on what the next step is. One wants her to stop treatments all together and let her body heal. She would restart them if her cancer numbers got bad again. Her other doctor wants her to continue a low dose permenantly-as long as her body can handle it. Both theories make sense but who will win?

She has also stopped Zometa treatments. During her annual dentist appointment, the x-rays showed a dark spot on her jaw. Apparently long exposure to Zometa causes something of the jaw. I can't remember what the word was but nevertheless she's stopped Zometa and will have x-rays again in a month.

Sorry I only post when there is not so great news. Hopefully there will be some victories to report soon.

Giving Thanks

Late in coming but much to give thanks over. Wednesday before Thanksgiving we found out Betty's WBC count was up to 3000...YIPPIE!! She was deemed ready for treatment and that day they started her back on the Revlimid. Get their body back and break it again - that the oncologists motto. She went this past Wednesday to check her WBC again and they were up to 4000!! She's scheduled to go back on Wednesday, again, to check her numbers, again. We may petitioned the state to build a tram from my mom's house to Greenwich, only one stop in between: "The Club Sandwich" in New Canaan - YUM.

Can We Get A White Blood Cell?

Wednesday Mom headed back to the doctors to check her WBC and possibly begin her final Revlimid cycle. Unfortunately, she's only at 1100 white blood cells. Her doctor doesn't seem worried and thank God (yes, please take a moment to thank Him) the kids (and thus my mom) haven't been sick yet. She got another Neuprogen shot and will make the 30 minute drive again next Wednesday to have blood work, again.

As I was going through some boxes this week, I found the notebook I kept during my mom's stem cell transplant. It was kind of funny to see how neurotic I was. I wrote down everything, medicines she had to take, her temperature and blood sugars, a few days I wrote what food she ate and how she reacted, and near the end her blood work. I discovered after her chemo, her WBC dropped to below 100. We are grateful for the extra 1000 this time, but could really use about 4000 more :)

Today Mom is hosting a Lily & Nana Special Day. Right now they should be taking naps but what they are actually doing...hmmm.

Little Improvement

My mom had her appointment on Wednesday and there wasn't much improvement. Her WBC is only 1100, still a far cry from where it needs to be. She got another shot of Neuprogen and holds off on further treatments for another week.

Friday, November 7 2008

My mom has been a regular at the doctors' offices this month. Lots of check ups and check ins to be done. The original plan for her current treatments was 3 cycles of Revlimid then re-evaluate. Over time her Greenwich doctor has upped it to 4 cycles then take a break. But because my mom has been responding so well her Yale doctor wants her to continue on with even more cycles. He figures if it is killing cancer and her body is handling it, why stop when you can kill more.

Wednesday Mom went in to begin cycle number four. They always do blood work. Checking for cancer, of course, but also checking her white blood count, red blood count and such to make sure her body is still handling it well. As they were preparing the vast amounts of paper work it takes to get Revlimid, her doctor got the results in and stopped everything. Apparently her white blood cells are down to 1000, a normal range is 4500-10000. Our white blood cells help us fight infection. Right now my mom has no ability to fight off a cold or any other type of infection. They gave her a shot of Neuprogen to help bring white blood cells from her bone marrow to her blood. The same stuff from her stem cell transplant. She gets another week of rest, well another week without treatments. Next Wednesday, she'll go back to Greenwich to find out how her body is doing. Meanwhile, my mom is being very cautious and trying to keep herself well. I may try to go with her next week to make sure another set of ears are there. Sorry to cut this short but my girls are not cooperating. I'll post again after next week's appointment.

On The Mend

My mom is doing much better. Yesterday she seemed to have a turn around and today she's back on her feet, even babysitting grand kids!! I'm sure the cold will linger a bit, she's still coughing. She's able to sit up, walk around and all the other things that only days ago seemed too much.

She saw her oncologist today to start round 2 of her drug treatments. She'll have a total of 3 rounds-each lasting a month. I believe she did blood work today so hopefully next week I'll be able to update you on her numbers.

Thank you all for your prayers and kind words. God Bless!!

A Lesson for Winter??

We had a nice trip to Maine last week. Unfortunately, either my girls or the hot/cold weather gave my mom a cold. If it was the cold my girls and I had, then it only manifested itself in us as runny noses. I pumped us full of Airborne and we all bounced back quickly-within days. But because of my mom's cancer and the current treatments she's on her immune system is that of an infants on formula - in other words weak. She's very sick right now. Even with all the cold medicines and vitamins we bought her, her body isn't able to fight it off.

Please pray earnestly for healing. I'll try to update in a few days.