Biopsy Test Results: Number Two

The results are in: My PCR is 2.15 x 10-3. According to my doctor, it is almost half of what it was two months ago at 4.47 X 10-3. He says that I have jumped the most important hurdle of Complete Cytogenetic Response and that we will be “refining” our approach during my next visit.

Fortunately, he will now be able to monitor my PCR through blood tests, as opposed to bone marrow biopsies. That is, as long as there is a continual decrease and no increase in my BCR-ABL. I am very happy to receive that news.

Prior to my biopsy results he had decided to reduce my Sprycel intake by one dose per week. That means that I am taking 100 mg of Sprycel six days a week. He was waiting on the results to see if we could lower it to five days a week, but I didn’t quite reach THAT goal…..darn it. I believe that he is giving me one day off per week due to the cough that I have developed while taking Sprycel (Dasatinib). One of the more serious side effects of Sprycel is pleural effusion . Pleural effusions are basically defined as fluid around the lungs. This of course can lead to a whole host of serious complications, nothing I plan on dealing with. Hopefully this small reprieve will keep me and my lungs from entering into the danger zone.

More troublesome than the cough these days are the mouth sores. By the time the current ones go away, another two or three appear. I am in awe of just how painful they are, I have had fever blisters and other canker sores in my mouth before, but nothing like these. The good news is that maybe I will finally lose those five extra pounds that I have managed to gain since it is so difficult to eat!

As far as my Sprycel vacation day goes, I am thinking that I will choose the day based upon when my dance competitions are. That would mean that they will most likely fall on a Thursday or Friday. Hopefully my body will adjust quickly to the respite and I will have a tad more energy and be a bit clearer in the head for my dance competitions. This weekend will be my first trial run as we are competing on Friday at the South Bay Dance Fling.

Praise God for my good results and thanks to all of you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement.