Tuesday, 1st July

THIS IS ME DOING THE HAPPY DANCE !

Jimmy had his pre-start-of new-chemo-cycle appointment with Prof Novitzky yesterday evening.  We got the best news anyone could wish for....

Prof: 'Hmmmm....let's have a look at some blood results'.  'You know that when you started chemo in May your cancer was very aggressive?' And I am thinking....funny how they don't use these words in the beginning when you are being diagnosed.

Just to back step a little and explain again so the new results make sense: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow.  Plasma cells are white blood cells which make up proteins called antibodies (immunoglobulins).  Normally, plasma cells produce many types of proteins, called polyclonal immunoglobulins, to fight infections.  In MM, a group of abnormal plasma cells multiplies in the marrow to an abnormally high level.  These malignant plasma cells produce large amounts of a single monoclonal immunoglobulin (called M protein), which is not in response to an infection.  Uncontrolled MM can lead to severe bone pain, multiple lesions in the bones, thinned and weakened bones susceptible to fractures, kidney failure, severe anaemia, weakened immune system and hypercalcemia.

With Jimmy's first blood tests when they measured his M-spike (amount of M proteins) Jimmy's was 78gr of M protein per 1 litre of plasma.  The blood test results that Prof used yesterday were as at the 11th of June which was after the completion of Jimmy's second cycle of chemo and the M proteins measure 21gr per 1 litre of plasma.  Prof explained that one hopes for the lowest possible count prior to a stem cell transplant as the lower the M proteins are, the longer remission will be.  Best case scenario of course would be 0 M proteins. This is a huge improvement and since the 11th of June, Jimmy has completed another cycle of chemo so it should be even better.  He is meant to start the 4th cycle of chemo today but his white cell count is too low so we will go through on Friday and have bloods done and if they have come up enough then they will start 4th cycle on Friday, if not then they will start next Tuesday.  Jimmy's white blood cells are low but the problem with the orange chemo (an extra chemo administered at first treatment of each cycle) is that it lowers the white blood cell count and we think Prof if concerned it will drop too low.

The best blessing we have had yet.  Jimmy had tears of joy in his eyes and I am sure, if he could have, he would have done the hoola-hoola.  Words cannot explain how happy we are.

Happy birthday to my cutest little niece Tammy today.  And sending birthday wishes to Rohan too, this is the best birthday present we could come up with Ro ;)

PS  31 more views of my blog to reach 10 000 views.  Awesome xx