This Month's Blood Work Results

Another month has gone by and Steve had his blood drawn to be checked before his next round of chemotherapy. Here's the latest:
wbc 4.4
rbc 4.47
hemoglobin (normal range is 14-18 gm/dl) 14.1
hematocrit (normal is 42-54%) 42%
platelets 119,000
creatinine 1.2
BUN 20

Nothing out of the normal for Steve.
They follow up with Dr. Hu again on Friday.

Here's a couple of pictures from Thanksgiving. We didn't take many :)

Pre-Chemo Blood Work and Starting the Next Round of Chemo

rbc 4.58
wbc 3.9
creatinine 1.2
BUN 15
platelets 118,000 We don't know why it was normal last week and not this week, but it's within the expected range for a man on chemotherapy.

Also, Terry says she will start reporting hemoglobin and a second lab value which measures a part of the red blood cells next month. Those lab tests have been done all along but she hasn't been following them before. Now that we are familiar with these tests, it's time to expand our knowledge.

The above blood sample was taken Sunday morning. It had to be fasting since it is also for his 6 month nephrology follow up appointment.

At 9:30 Tuesday morning, Dr. Hu called Terry to say not to panic due to the platelet number change this time from the normal 150,000 to today's 118,000. He's awfully thoughtful. He also said the numbers showed that it was ok to start chemo on schedule Tuesday night. Steve started his 300 mg Temodar last night after taking two Zofran anti-nausea pills, as usual. He continues to take Zofran daily even if he is not on chemo because he still gets stomach aches, like if he ate strong salsa and had heartburn, otherwise.

Yaaayyy, Another Good MRI!

Steve had his MRI this morning to look for signs of recurrent tumors. It was NEGATIVE! Whoopee!

It's been almost one year since we learned about the onset of this awful brain cancer. I know it has been a trial for Steve and his family and all of us who love him. I'm so pleased with how he is doing at the one year mark. He is feeling well, working productively and loving his family.

We will be at his home for Thanksgiving again this year. I think we have a lot to be thankful for. I know Steve and Terry are thankful for all the support from you, their friends.

Happy Thanksgiving in two weeks.

Recent Labs and Next MRI Scheduled

From blood taken 11-5-12:

wbc 4.9 (normal)
rbc 4.53
platelets 212,000 Yay, normal!
creatinine 1.0 !!!! Normal! We didn't expect that :)
bun 17.7 (normal)

rbc is microscopically, slightly low (4.6 is normal)

Steve is tolerating his chemo very well and is planning to start his eighth round next week. His original dose was 140mg of Temodar and the dose increased regularly to the current dose of 300mg.

His 4th MRI is scheduled on Friday 7:15 am followed by a Dr Hu appointment at 8:30 am. Please continue to cross your fingers and toes.

The Latest Doctor's Appointment

It's time again for Steve's monthly lab work. Here are the results of his blood test taken during week 3 after the last round of chemotherapy. As of Tuesday, October 9th:

wbc 4.5 (normal range 4.3-10.8)
rbc 4.19 (normal range for men 4.7-6.1. Steve is just a little low.)
creatine 1.19 (Still technically high but within what the nephrologist thought would be his new normal range).
platelets 121,000 a little low (normal 150,000)
bun 19

Dr. Hu says the numbers mean Steve is fine, there is nothing alarming, Steve is doing great. They will continue the same dose, 300 mg Temodar as last month. Temodar is dosed according to body mass. At Steve's size the very highest dose would be 370 mg. Due to how sick Steve was during the initial, intense delivery of chemotherapy, they don't expect him to reach the 370 mg level. The doctor is happy with the 300 dose. As usual, Steve will have another round of blood work soon, just before the next round of chemotherapy begins.

Earlier this month, Steve had a mild reaction after his flu shot was given. He felt chilly, shivery and nauseous for a short while. We think his reaction was worsened because of the chemotherapy. Normally, Steve feels fine with regular anti-nausea medications. He has been maintaining his 245 pound weight. He started at 306 pounds before his diagnosis. He is walking their dog, Amber, on weekends. He stopped using the treadmill since he's too tired after work.

Their family went to Disneyland one Sunday through Tuesday and had lots of fun and some good quality family time. Steve didn't require any more rest periods than any one else as they took an afternoon break back at their hotel before returning to the park in the evenings. Good times!

MRI Results

This came in an e-mail from Terry today. She also mentioned that Dr. Hu will be increasing Steve's Temodar dose to 300 mg this month. I hope he doesn't feel too nauseous with the stronger amounts:

 

Hi all....Summer flew by and the kids are back in school. Hope this finds everyone well. Steve had his bimonthly MRI today, and it came back CLEAR!!!!!!, So far the maintenance chemo is going well, and his creatin levels have stabilized at 1.2 (Kidney)..

 

He’s starting his 5th round of the Maintenance chemo, so for those who are keeping track, 3 Mri’s and 5 rounds of Maintenance chemo. The maintenance chemo will last through next May, then we will discuss what’s next.

 

Steve’s been back at work since April, and we took the boys to the Grand Canyon this June, and are doing a three  day Disney trip at the end of September.  Lots of family time, and our new normal. We are hoping we keep on this track.

 

Thanks to all for your love and support. Will update again Just before the holidays.

 

With love,

 

Terry

Routine Blood Work Results

Blood work from week three, before tomorrow's scheduled MRI, with blood taken on 9/11/12:
rbc 4.09
wbc 4.22
platelets 133,000
creatinine 1.2
Bun 20.5

The first three (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) are mostly effected by chemotherapy. When they get too far off, we're concerned about Steve's body having trouble with the chemo. Since these numbers are pretty close to normal, we're thinking Steve managed the last 250 mg chemo dose well. Dr Hu said the standard of care is 250 to 400 mg. We wonder if Steve's dose will increase again.

These lab numbers are usually the lowest at this time of the month, the third week of chemotherapy.
Steve has been feeling a little fatigued. Terry thinks the humidity they've been having is affecting Steve, since he feels tired, has a headache at the location of scar, and his scar feels tight.

Tomorrow is the bimonthly MRI. They are always a little scared before each MRI. We're sending out all our good thoughts and wishes in support of Steve. The MRI is scheduled for 6:45 am! It's a good thing they are early risers. Then they have an appointment with Dr. Hu at 10:00 when they hear the results from the MRI.

Next week is Nathan's fifteenth birthday! They will have a family dinner on Wednesday which includes celebrating Terry's Mom's birthday, too. Then Nathan will have his friends over on the weekend for a slumber party (or a Non-slumber party, as the case may be). Terry says she and Steve will stay upstairs, out of the way of the kids. They are so grown up now!

So, I was looking at the Temodar website. Does anyone wonder what this stuff looks like? There are all kinds of warnings about not opening the capsules or chewing them or getting the drug on your skin or mucous membranes. Yikes!

Suggested Capsule Combinations per Day  Number of Daily Capsules by Strength (mg)
2.0 m²	300mg		0
Capsules are not shown at actual size. The Suggested Capsule Combination, based on daily dose in adults, is determined from BSA calculated above.			0
			0
			3
			0
			0