WEDNESDAY - Good news - bad news

WEDNESDAY - Bad news is good news. OK, I'll explain that in a minute.  

• MONDAY NUMBERS
• WBC - 3.9: Low but OK. 
• HGB - [Hemoglobin] - 10.1 - Only a wee bit low. 
• PLT - [Platelets] - 133 - Only a wee bit on the low end. 
• WEDNESDAY NUMBERS - Today
• WBC - 2.3 - Low
• HGB - 10.7 - Still OK. 
• Platelets - 66 - Low

So, yes, my numbers are dropping. And, this explains why today I am starting to feel it. I told Dawn I think my "Tippy factor" has gone from 3% to maybe 15%. TF is totally my interpretation of how I am feeling. Joke.

However, remember, they expect me to drop; although much more next week. We'll see. I've seen WBC's as low as .4 at home after chemo. Yeah, that means I am really, really careful around people. It's not a good place to be. I am hoping I don't dip that low, but it could happen. 

WHAT'S NEXT? We talked about that with Dr. Singh today. This is the Bad News, Good News part.

• If I do very well, then Dr. Singh thinks that we should do a 4th round of chemo. Hey, I'm all over it. That's fine with me because I've done it successfully 4 times now, and this would give me the very best chance that leukemia will not return. Of course, with cancer and life, there's no  guarantees but there are intelligent decisions and choices to make. 
• If I do not do so well this round; meaning that I run into some trouble and end up back at Sherman for any reason [likely excluding a transfusion which could be needed but does not indicate a big problem], then Dr. Singh says, "No way will we do more chemo." 
• When? We are kind of guessing but we think a 4th round would be in mid-September. We're prepared and good with that although we were kind of booking up activities for a lot of September. But my health comes first. 
• A 4th round would almost 100% be the end of treatment. Sure, the ultimate is transplant but we're not seeing that as an option with Dr. Singh. 

We talked about work and that I am considering a 3 day business trip in early October. He said, fine, if I feel like it. I am really chomping at the bit to really get back to agressively working with my consulting clients now. Even if I do go for another round, I think it's quite realistic since I know how to get through a round of chemo without too much trouble...even while in Sherman. Boy, would the girls be surprised to see me again! I'm old, I can call ladies, girls, don't you think? 

Today - This morning I worked for a while; or, as long as Dawn let me which was a few hours. So good. In case, you're are interested or just curious, after lunch we...

• Bought candy and flowers and delivered them to two terrific staff members that I worked with on committees who are leaving Sun City this week.
• Picked up cosmetics at our Mary Kay dealers house a couple minutes away. Yeah, we're both users.
• Got my labs done and met with Dr. Singh.
• Stopped at Dawn's office so she could check in and take care of a couple things. 
• Went to the nursery to get a big mum, pots and other stuff. 
• Stopped at the outlet center which is 5 minutes from our house and I got some new shoes at Sketchers and we looked for a shirt for Dawn's tap show [struck out so just ordered from Lands End.]. 
• Stopped at the market to get ice cream, pie and wine. 
• Got home and watched half of an old cowboy movie starring James Garner. Will finish it tomorrow. Westerns are my favorite. 

That's it, folks. Pray for our continued wisdom as we face more decisions and that God continues to bless us more than we deserve.

Bob