1-Year Evaluation Test Results

This morning I contacted my doctor to discover the results of my bone marrow and immunofixation tests. I had written on Wednesday that the preliminary test results were mixed, and that it could have gone either way. As I had guessed, the actual results were just as complicated.

The Good

• My bone marrow and serum tests were very good. They still do not show any signs of amyloid production.
• My standard blood tests show an overall improvement, which is to be expected as I recover from the chemotherapy.
• Light-chains production is slightly elevated, but the ratio (which is what is important) is still normal.

The Bad

• My urine still shows a slight abnormality. These numbers suggest that there is still amyloid in my system.
• The protein in my urine is not changing -- at all. Based on the improvement of the other numbers, this is unusual.
• Some of the numbers on my blood tests are starting to slip, which could be connected to presence of developing amyloid.

The Ugly

• Based on the data above, I have not attained a complete response to the treatment.
• Although I may have options on how I want to continue to be treated, my protocol states that if a complete response is not accomplished after the first transplant, then I need to go through a second transplant.

Next steps: I go to BUSM for a 'sanity check' urine test, to verify that the numbers they are seeing are correct. The doctors will consult with each other on July 9 on a game plan, then will present options to me on on the week of July 12th.

I am a little upset that I was not successful the first time around, but these results really make sense considering how I am doing and how I am feeling. I seem to have peaked health-wise, and my kidneys have not improved significantly in the last few months, so this could explain the slow recovery. I am willing to go forward and do what it takes to get this thing out of my system -- at any cost.

To be continued...