Steve and his family have been going through a bit of a rough patch. We already talked about the flu and how that affected Steve's driving temporarily. Then there was the low platelet problem which has prevented Steve from taking Temodar. Unfortunately, his platelets have continued too low to resume his Temodar. We are a bit unhappy about this because we have heard from Dr. Hu that Temodar is the first line defense against glioblastoma and the most effective drug they have to fight recurrent tumors.
Blood lab results from 9/12/14 showing, once again platelets below 100,000, and therefore, too low for Temodar:
WBC 5.1
RBC 4.85
Hemoglobin 15.8
Hematocrit 46.1
Platelets 94,000
Creatinine 1.1
Then Steve got to have blood drawn again on 9/26 just prior to his Avastin treatment and just after his scheduled MRI:
WBC 7.8
RBC 4.84
Hemoglobin 15.9
Hematocrit 46.1
Platelet 68,000
Creatinine 1.1
Terry let us know the results with this information: "Hi Everyone! Steve's MRI showed NO NEW GROWTH!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the good thoughts, prayers, and love!!!!!!! Long day for my love...MRI;blood work; Chemist infusion ; all while dealing with the end of a chest cold and a sore right knee muscle....Been a long month... Many Thanks Love Terry".
She later gave us more details: "the Avastin did it job the MRI showed no new growth! Dr. Hu was very happy with the results, Next treatment October 10th, and next MRI in Early November. Steve’s platelets have been taking a beating as a residual effect from the Temodar, so we are discussing different treatment options to allow he platelets to recover.
One option is to do the Avastin alone, the next option is for Steve to wear the NovoTTF device, and the third is to do both, this is the option Dr. Hu is recommending. I have attached links to both websites for your information.The NovoTTF is a device Steve would have to wear at least 18 hours a day for it to be effective. Plus he figures he needs to get clearance from work. It would be a real lifestyle change. so we have a great deal of thinking and due diligence to do over the next week or so."
Steve had blood work on Thursday, 10/2 "Only a CBC...and his platelets were 106,000 Yeah!"
Terry had mentioned a sore right knee muscle above. When it didn't get better, Steve went to his regular doctor's office and was diagnosed with a strain. Because the pain was now closer to the ankle, he was given a boot to keep the ankle from moving when he walked.
Now we are up to Friday, 10/10/14 when Steve had his Avastin infusion treatment. He went wearing his boot like he was supposed to do. Dr. Hu questioned Steve about the boot, seemed to develop some concern and, at the end of the IV treatment, sent Steve to have a venous doppler ultrasound to the calf and leg, which showed…… A HUGE BLOOD CLOT covering the whole leg from hip to ankle. Steve was sent right to the emergency department and then stayed overnight in a nice, private room. He got IV heparin blood thinner to stop the clot from forming and to help decrease the risk of part of the clot breaking off and killing him. Saturday morning, Terry showed the nurse she knew how to give shots and now Steve gets twice a day Lovanox blood thinner shots at home for at least the next month and probably once a day thereafter for the foreseeable future. They got to go home Saturday afternoon.
So, two rumor recurrences this year, the flu with visual problems, a cold, low platelets with interruption of chemotherapy, sore leg now diagnosed with a serious blood clot which luckily wasn't any worse and now a new decision to start the NovaTTF which we will talk about in a new post to come.
It's been a bit of a trial for them. Steve doesn't like being sick so has not been pleased with these complications. On the other hand, he's been so lucky that he has been able to continue working, except when his cold was too bad, and he's been lucky that the blood clot didn't cause any serious problems.
Let's hope the rough patch is over.
