Remission Test Results

After checking the mailbox for the letter from the John Theurer Cancer Center, for the third day in a row, I caved and called to get my remission test result. No news should be good news, but during the wait, there's always a "What if it's bad, and they just haven't called yet?"

In this case, no news is good news. The blood sample was negative for the APL chromosome abnormality. As of May 25th, I will officially have been in remission for one year. I'm already contemplating chocolate cake choices...

At the moment, I feel a mix of relief and trepidation. This afternoon, while lying on the couch, enduring the side effects of the ATRA, I searched the Internet for APL and came across some cases of patients who have relapsed. As if the meds don't have me in enough of a tizzy right now... I want to believe the cure rate for this disease is 100%, and I hate reading any evidence to the contrary. These people are in my prayers. I pray that they will be eating chocolate cake soon too.

Remission Test Results

Chocolate cake recipe from Jennifer M.



Chocolate cake Sheila made in a cupcake bundt pan
 while staying with us in October



Chocolate cake-themed card from "meiner Deutschen Familien"

...yes... we did eat chocolate cake tonight.

Blood Test Results

First and most importantly, my PCR remission test showed that I am still in remission. Fantastic!

One of the other blood tests came back showing a slight snag in my recovery. My immunoglobulin (IgG) count is low (i.e., I have an antibody defiency). This explains why my cough/cold has persisted for six weeks.

The treatment to correct the deficiency is called intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG). Over a period of six hours, I will receive an infusion of antibodies donated from between 3,000 and 10,000 healthy donors. At this time, I don't know much more than that. The registered nurse at the cancer center, who informed me of the irregular test result, said they would prefer to discuss the treatment and possible side effects with me in person.

Chemo Ahead

The other day, I noticed a man wearing a fundraiser T-shirt with an imprint of a traffic warning sign that read "Cure Ahead" instead of "Curve Ahead." Very clever. As I'm finishing my tenth and final week of Arsenic Trioxide, I've been thinking about what lies ahead on my path to complete remission. My curve this fall is the chemo that will lead me to being cured.

My schedule:

PCR Remission Test Results

I received my PCR test result today... There were no blood cells that showed the chromosome mutation that is the hallmark feature of APL. That means I am still in remission!!! The PCR test is more precise than the FISH test I had after my hospital stint, so the favorable result is a huge relief.

It feels counterintuitive that I have to continue a drug treatment program if I'm in remission. According to the doctors, the goal of the treatment is to prevent a relapse. My plan is based on the survivorship results of a series of clinical trials. Even though I'm considered in remission, there could be a few cancerous cell lurking in my bone marrow. It only takes one bad cell to spoil the bunch. The drugs are designed to kill any lingering rotten cells.

I will continue to have PCR tests periodically. Each one will get me closer to the five year mark, at which time I will be considered to be in complete remission. But that's a long way away. I need to celebrate this victory with another piece of chocolate cake. One step at a time. Actually, the counter with the cake on it is ten feet away, so the next five steps will be taken very quickly...

Thank you again to everyone who's been so supportive of our family this year. If it weren't so logistically challenging, I would send each of you a piece of the cake.

FISH (Remission Test) Result

I received the call today with the result from my first test for remission. It was clean! I am in remission!

Woo-hoo! Oh yeah! Hot diggity dog! (Insert celebration dance here. Heck, I'll even do the Macarena if someone plays the song.)

My parents, Rob, and I are so thankful for this result. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.

Now comes Phase Two (laid out in the "Killing the Wicked Witch of the West" blog entry), which starts June 6th. The objective of Phases Two and Three is to keep me in remission. There will be PCR remission tests every three months or so at first, and then gradually more spaced out until I hit the 5 year Cured mark. These need to show zero cancerous cells, whereas a few in this first FISH test was okay because they should get wiped out with the rest of treatment.

But before I focus on Phase Two, this milestone deserves some chocolate cake.