Back At It

Happy 2011 to everyone!

It's time for another round of chemo and the second stem cell transplant.  The first transplant was completed November 2, 2010 and the subsequent lab work looked very good.  The Huntsman Center protocol is to complete two transplants early in the treatment of myeloma.  They believe they achieve longer terms of remission with the tandem transplants.

Clancy had a full day of procedures on Tuesday, the 4th.  He started with a MUGA scan.  The is done by drawing a vial of blood and mixing a radioactive material into it.  The mixture is injected back into the patient and a scan is done to measure the heart's ability to pump blood out into the bloodstream.  Next was a bone marrow biopsy in his hip.  The samples were drawn from an area left of his tailbone.  The physician's assistant, Andrea, who conducted the biopsy did an excellent job and he only a small amount of discomfort.  However, today the area is quite sore and will be for a few days.  His morning wrapped up with a PET scan.  The PET measures the presence of cancerous lesions in the body.  A sugar solution is injected into the patient and the sugar adheres to areas with cancer activity.  A CT scan is then conducted to identify the affected areas.  Clancy had a PET in late October.  It will be interesting to see the results and compare the two scans.

His afternoon consisted of an MRI.   This is not for anyone who is claustrophobic.  The scans above required his arms and legs to be securely strapped down which made him want to squirm like a cat in a boot.  The MRI also requires the head to be strapped down.  Clancy focused on the fact that he made it through a MRI in September without total panic and should be able to do it again.  Determination and half of a little pink pill can do wonders!

Today, he had a pulmonary function test.  It also went well. Even the arterial blood draw from the wrist was much better than when it was done in September.  On the pain scale, it rates just below sticking a fork in your eye but only hurts for a few seconds.  He learned his body's ability to oxygenate the blood has dropped 20% from when this test was conducted in September.  This can be directly attributed to the chemotherapy and other medical procedures conducted over the past several months. The technician said the best news is "you'll get it back."  Clancy sure hopes so.  The lack of energy and stamina have been extremely frustrating.  However, it's only temporary and we know the cause.

On Thursday, the 5th, there's a meeting scheduled with a dietitian at noon.  I wonder if she'll bring lunch?  At four there's a meeting with the doctor to review the tests and go over the upcoming treatment.  High dose chemo starts on Friday, the 7th, and the second stem cell transplant will likely be on Tuesday, the 11th. 

I hope you have been able to stick to your resolutions.  If not, go have a DQ Blizzard and celebrate!