Quick Tuesday afternoon update. Ed is still in the hospital but doctors are optimistic that they will be able to release him tomorrow around lunchtime. One more day for safety......final look at his counts, etc. and a little more time to strategize about antibiotic options for home etc. We're hoping they will convert to oral, but if not, it only takes about an hour to float in another PICC line for IV type, and we've done that at home before so it's not a big deal. He's just very anxious to have some time out of the hospital.
Had some REALLY good news from UCLA today - his bone marrow biopsy came back negative, meaning that the chemo has done it's job of eradicating the cancer in that area. That's good news for the stem cell coordinator to present to the committee tomorrow, along with his other pre-screening tests, which all came back good as well. That makes it pretty much a "GO" for the stem cell transplant, which is coming up fast.........
By the end of this week, we should have the plan pretty much hammered out in terms of dates for remaining chemo, mobilization of the stem cells, harvesting, transplant, etc. There are some options to explore and Dr. De Vos and Dr. Menco will collaborate on that and make decisions hopefully by Friday. Then Dr. Menco is off on vacation for 2 weeks to Amsterdam (his birthplace) and he'll be back in time for the big stuff. Good timing! We feel much safer when we have him available to manage everything that happens at our local hospital up until the UCLA stay. Lots of details to attend to, so it will be a busy few weeks, but we're hoping to have a tiny window of get-away time before the transplant. My son Tyler graduates from high school on June 9th (he's the baby of my 4) so that's in the mix as well, making for an oh-so-jam-packed calendar. Guess that's what life is all about!
Ed is still having a lot of pain today with the left arm and shoulder as well as considerable bone pain, but meds help and it's just part of the super big chemo that we now know is working. Makes it a little more bearable when you know the impact is working toward good results.
Keep strong thoughts and prayers for everything to stay stable so he can come home tomorrow. :)
Wow Ed - great job blowing up the bone marrow cancer -- that makes all the pain worthwhile! Keeping my fingers crossed you can come home tomorrow and work that left arm and shoulder in the privacy of your own home :)
ReplyDeleteLove you man, TC
It sounds like there was some good news in that post. Keep up the good healing. I think of you both often.
ReplyDeleteTom
Fantastic news about the bone marrow biopsy! All systems go! xoxo - Jeanne
ReplyDeleteHe's just very anxious to have some time out of the hospital.
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