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January 2001 Updates Monday, January 1, 2001 Bruce is starting to fatigue easily, probably because of a falling RBC. He also still has his cold. However, we do have some good news! His rectal abscesses have stopped draining and they appear to be healing!
We'd like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!!!
Friday, January 5, 2001 Bruce has been sleeping a lot lately, which isn't surprising considering his blood counts. His white blood count, red blood count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin are all down some more this week, although they're still not low enough for him to need transfusions. His platelet count is still dropping drastically however, and spontaneous bleeding could occur at any time. If it drops as much this coming week, as it did during this past week, Bruce won't have any platelets left (in fact, he'll be in the minuses!). I'll be pleasantly surprised if he doesn't need a platelet transfusion next week. He lost 2 pounds during the past week, which isn't good.
On the bright side, although his absolute neutrophil count had dropped 4814 last week, this week it's holding steady. We're hopeful that neutropenia isn't going to be a problem after all! His blood counts are expected to bottom out in 2 weeks, and then we should start the uphill climb!
Wednesday, January 10, 2001 Bruce isn't scheduled to have blood work done again until Friday, but we believe his blood counts are still continuing to drop. His energy level is still decreasing daily, and every day he feels more tired and weak than he did the day before. Both a low RBC and/or a low platelet count will cause this type of fatigue, so it's not unexpected. He hasn't had any spontaneous bleeding yet, so we're assuming he still has some platelets.
Bruce is still sniffling a tiny bit, but he's pretty much over his cold now, and the best news is - his rectal problems look like they're behind him (sorry for the pun!). Regardless of how low his blood counts go, at least he'll be entering the nadir in relatively good health! Whew!!!
Friday, January 12, 2001 Monday, January 15, 2001 The main reason why I'm writing today, is because I want to share something with you. Especially with those of you who have been recently diagnosed with this life-altering disease. When Bruce was diagnosed, our youngest daughter was 5 years old. From what the doctors told us at that time, there was a likely possibility that Bruce wouldn't live long enough to see her start kindergarten. But, today is Chrissy's 20th birthday, and Bruce is still here! And, he plans on helping her celebrate her over-the-hill birthday someday! Is this an unrealistic expectation? We don't think so!
Since Bruce's diagnosis, we've seen many new treatments come into being. Fludarabine, Interferon, Rituxan, Bexxar, Zevalin, stem cell transplants, mini allo's and vaccines, to name a few. Also, support treatments like Leukeran, Procrit, and better anti-nausea drugs. Although these treatments weren't available when Bruce was first diagnosed, some have since saved his life! And, there are other new treatments just on the horizon!
With research, we believe newer and even better treatments (and the cure!) WILL be found! Research takes money though, so we urge you to support lymphoma research - with contributions to the Lymphoma Research Foundation of America, and with letters to your representative and senators asking for more government support of lymphoma research. Working together, we believe this disease can, and will, be eradicated!
And to those of you in the heat of the battle - if you have little hope left to cling to, remember that when medical science fails, the Greatest Physician of all is still available. Miracles DO happen! We know it for a fact!
Friday, January 19, 2001 Friday, January 26, 2001 Wednesday, January 31, 2001 On to: February 2001 Updates Bruce's Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Story ~ Main Page Bexxar Background courtesy of :
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