Two small updates...both promising...
So about an hour ago, my medical team came into my room to discuss two different options they have pondered the past few days. One of which is a drug that will prevent my antibodies in my blood from destroying and attacking my platelets. The other is to, while performing radiation, to radiate my spleen with small doses because it seems that the spleen might be one of the organs that might be "eating up" my platelets.
Both of these things have their risks. The radiation to the spleen should be the less trouble-some. I think that this procedure sounds promising. Like I said... it's all about quality time and time I get to spend with my family and loved ones. Success with either of these procedures/medications is NOT guaranteed, but it is nice to have a little bit of hope and promise.
The drug is called RITUXIMAB. Other names for it include Rituxan.
Here's how it works:
Rituximab acts specifically against cancer cells to slow to stop their growth. Most of the cells destroyed by rituximab are cancer cells, but some of the normal cells in your body may also be affected. Unwanted effects that occur when normal cells are affected by rituximab are called side effects. Duh.
Basically this drug LOOKS like chemotherapy on paper, but in real life, it's not chemotherapy much at all. They are hoping to cope with my immune system enough so that the platelet levels are allowed to increase to higher and healthier levels.
Okay...I didn't mean to get long-winded about drugs. But yeah...don't these seem a little bit promising? It's almost like there was NO hope....and now there's a glimmer of hope as far as keeping me around that little bit longer. :) I'm gonna fight it, I promise!!!
Thanks for everyone being concerned with everything going on here with me.
On another note... I got to spend some awesome time together with my mom and my sister Amy. Amy is my power of attorney, and she deals with ALL the paperwork, too. I love that girl. Tonight, I'm not sure who is spending the night with me. I think my aunt Darlene might be spending the night with me tonight on the sidecar. She's always a hoot, and she has a similar disposition to my mother, which makes things so much easier from a patient point of view.
Aaaaaaand... very excited... Santino comes in on Monday night. I'm so pumped. I'll post pics of us together if I don't look too swollen from the steroids they've been giving me. It's freakin' crazy. My face is all round and shit. I'm OVER it. But today I was able to shave and do a good spongebath. I feel so fresh and so clean clean.
Once again...thanks for all the prayers and love... :) Keep 'em coming, and I'll keep posting about my condition as long as I can manage. XOX
And I love chocolate and candy! That is all.
Both of these things have their risks. The radiation to the spleen should be the less trouble-some. I think that this procedure sounds promising. Like I said... it's all about quality time and time I get to spend with my family and loved ones. Success with either of these procedures/medications is NOT guaranteed, but it is nice to have a little bit of hope and promise.
The drug is called RITUXIMAB. Other names for it include Rituxan.
Here's how it works:
Rituximab acts specifically against cancer cells to slow to stop their growth. Most of the cells destroyed by rituximab are cancer cells, but some of the normal cells in your body may also be affected. Unwanted effects that occur when normal cells are affected by rituximab are called side effects. Duh.
Basically this drug LOOKS like chemotherapy on paper, but in real life, it's not chemotherapy much at all. They are hoping to cope with my immune system enough so that the platelet levels are allowed to increase to higher and healthier levels.
Okay...I didn't mean to get long-winded about drugs. But yeah...don't these seem a little bit promising? It's almost like there was NO hope....and now there's a glimmer of hope as far as keeping me around that little bit longer. :) I'm gonna fight it, I promise!!!
Thanks for everyone being concerned with everything going on here with me.
On another note... I got to spend some awesome time together with my mom and my sister Amy. Amy is my power of attorney, and she deals with ALL the paperwork, too. I love that girl. Tonight, I'm not sure who is spending the night with me. I think my aunt Darlene might be spending the night with me tonight on the sidecar. She's always a hoot, and she has a similar disposition to my mother, which makes things so much easier from a patient point of view.
Aaaaaaand... very excited... Santino comes in on Monday night. I'm so pumped. I'll post pics of us together if I don't look too swollen from the steroids they've been giving me. It's freakin' crazy. My face is all round and shit. I'm OVER it. But today I was able to shave and do a good spongebath. I feel so fresh and so clean clean.
Once again...thanks for all the prayers and love... :) Keep 'em coming, and I'll keep posting about my condition as long as I can manage. XOX
And I love chocolate and candy! That is all.