FRIDAY REPORT - We just got back from a meeting with my oncologist, Dr. Singh. He just talked to Dr. Katz, assistant professor of medicine in the Onocology department of Rush University this week. This is who we've met with and who has designed the protocol that I had been on...and who Dr. Singh works with.
So, where do we go from here? There are 3 choices.
1. Do nothing - of course there is some risk or a higher risk that the leukemia will come back if we do nothing. But it is a choice. However, our goal is that it does not; or that we control that risk as best we can. I have come to understand that it's all about risk factors and what studies have shown. It's all about odds and every patient and every situation is different. So there's never an exact best answer.
2. Go on a Maintenance Program - This is where I'd get a low dose of Citabin [chemo drug...or similar] for 5 days in a row each month. It would only take an hour or less and there would be no side effects and I could even go play tennis that same day, should I want to. I would be on this maintenance program for a long time...forever, maybe.
3. Do the 3rd Round of Consolidation Chemotherapy - This takes 6 days in the hospital which I've done before. After that, I'd do nothing except be monitored by Dr. Singh. The downside is the risk of another infection which could be even worse than the last one. Nobody knows. And we can't know the risk of another infection.
Dawn and I have right away ruled out #1. And, in discussing options #2 and #3 with Dr. Singh, there's seems to be no data at this point on which is the best choice in preventing a recurrence of leukemia. Possibly less of a chance of recurrence with maintenance....but there's not hard evidence for that. It's iffy....flip a coin.
We told Dr. Singh that we'd make a choice by next Wednesday. I'm going to try and call Dr. Katz directly and get her opinion. Frankly, it's a really tough choice. It would be nice if Dr. Singh would/could say, "Here's your best choice and why, in my opinion." But the problem again, is that there no current research that compares the options. He does have patients on the long term maintenance program now.
So here's what I am asking you to do:
1. Pray that God gives Dawn and I wisdom in making the best choice. There is no 'right' choice as Dr. Singh says.
2. If you have experience, friends with experience or want to offer some advice or suggestions, we are totally open to what you think. So chime in.
The choice we make, is probably what I"ll be doing by about August 17 ---about 10 days from now.
Otherwise, I am feeling very, very happy with my recovery at this point --- feeling good, great 'numbers', O2 getting better by the day and normal, raring to get back to working and playing tennis. I definitely need the energy level to keep coming back. I'd probably hit the tennis ball twice and then have to sit down for a few minutes right now.
- We've got Dawn's brother and sister coming over tomorrow which will be nice.
- I made a delicious peach cobbler last night. It's a great recipe where you have a stick of butter in the bottom of the dish, pour in the batter and then the peaches on top. It ends up with this delicious biscuit crust on top and is easy. Isn't this picture better than one of my tubes or IV's?
- We probably have some shopping to do this weekend.
- I have several important Sun City meetings next week which I love to be involved in as you know.
Love you all,
Bob
So, where do we go from here? There are 3 choices.
1. Do nothing - of course there is some risk or a higher risk that the leukemia will come back if we do nothing. But it is a choice. However, our goal is that it does not; or that we control that risk as best we can. I have come to understand that it's all about risk factors and what studies have shown. It's all about odds and every patient and every situation is different. So there's never an exact best answer.
2. Go on a Maintenance Program - This is where I'd get a low dose of Citabin [chemo drug...or similar] for 5 days in a row each month. It would only take an hour or less and there would be no side effects and I could even go play tennis that same day, should I want to. I would be on this maintenance program for a long time...forever, maybe.
3. Do the 3rd Round of Consolidation Chemotherapy - This takes 6 days in the hospital which I've done before. After that, I'd do nothing except be monitored by Dr. Singh. The downside is the risk of another infection which could be even worse than the last one. Nobody knows. And we can't know the risk of another infection.
Dawn and I have right away ruled out #1. And, in discussing options #2 and #3 with Dr. Singh, there's seems to be no data at this point on which is the best choice in preventing a recurrence of leukemia. Possibly less of a chance of recurrence with maintenance....but there's not hard evidence for that. It's iffy....flip a coin.
We told Dr. Singh that we'd make a choice by next Wednesday. I'm going to try and call Dr. Katz directly and get her opinion. Frankly, it's a really tough choice. It would be nice if Dr. Singh would/could say, "Here's your best choice and why, in my opinion." But the problem again, is that there no current research that compares the options. He does have patients on the long term maintenance program now.
So here's what I am asking you to do:
1. Pray that God gives Dawn and I wisdom in making the best choice. There is no 'right' choice as Dr. Singh says.
2. If you have experience, friends with experience or want to offer some advice or suggestions, we are totally open to what you think. So chime in.
The choice we make, is probably what I"ll be doing by about August 17 ---about 10 days from now.
Otherwise, I am feeling very, very happy with my recovery at this point --- feeling good, great 'numbers', O2 getting better by the day and normal, raring to get back to working and playing tennis. I definitely need the energy level to keep coming back. I'd probably hit the tennis ball twice and then have to sit down for a few minutes right now.
- We've got Dawn's brother and sister coming over tomorrow which will be nice.
- I made a delicious peach cobbler last night. It's a great recipe where you have a stick of butter in the bottom of the dish, pour in the batter and then the peaches on top. It ends up with this delicious biscuit crust on top and is easy. Isn't this picture better than one of my tubes or IV's?
- We probably have some shopping to do this weekend.
- I have several important Sun City meetings next week which I love to be involved in as you know.
Love you all,
Bob
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