The Latest on Dom

These were Dom's latest numbers 2/27 at Tulane.   The second set is from Slidell Cancer Center on 2/7.  The numbers in parentheses are from November 2018.

WBC:  7.3   6.5  (8.3 three months ago)

RBC:   4.1   3.9   (3.71)

HTC:    38.7    39.4  (36.3)

PLATELETS:   170   154  (188)

KAPPA Light Chains:   10,5   11.4  (16.5)

LAMBDA Light Chains:   176.5   119.9  (36.4)

RATIO:   0.6    0.10  (0.45)

M-Spike:    1.7   1.3  (Not Observed)

Dr. Safah at the Tulane Cancer Center in NOLA saw us last Wednesday.  She took blood.  Had us follow up today with our Slidell Oncologist.

He's ordering a full body CT Scan with no contrast and a bone marrow biopsy.  Hopefully next week.

Dom is a hurtin' little cowboy.  Ribs, back, shoulder, neck.  You name it.

So... after the CT results come in, they've decided to put Dom on DARZALEX.  It's not chemo.  It's an IMMUNOTHERAPY.

I joined a Facebook Group for Darzalex support, and the members have been SUPER helpful.  Most of them rave about the drug! 

So, we're feeling very positive.

The docs are laying the groundwork for insurance, then full-speed-ahead. 

Thanks for the continued prayers and good vibes, gang.

Dom's Feb. Numbers

These were Dom's latest numbers.  The numbers in parentheses are from November 2018.

WBC:  6.5  (8.3 three months ago)

RBC:   3.9   (3.71)

HTC:    39.4  (36.3)

PLATELETS:   154  (188)

KAPPA Light Chains:   11.4  (16.5)

LAMBDA Light Chains:   119.9  (36.4)

RATIO:  0.10  (0.45)

M-Spike:  1.3  (Not Observed)

The M-Spike concerned us, but Dr. Calabreze wasn't concerned, as his Light Chains look so good.

He did ask us to make an appointment with Dr. Safah at the Tulane Cancer Center to get her feedback.  She can't get us in until late March.

Soooooo...  rolling right along here.  *sighing*

Remission Boy is Back... NO M-SPIKE!

Our Slidell Oncologist is delighted with Dom's numbers:

WBC:   6.9

RBC:    3.93 (L)

HTC:    39.1

Platelets:    223

Kappa Light Chains:    13.5

Lambda Light Chains:    16.1

Ratio:   0.84

ZERO M-SPIKE!

Dom's May Numbers

WBC:  15.2 (H)

RBC:  3.3 (L)

HTC:  32.7 (L)

PLATELETS:  120 (L)

KAPPA:  14.5

LAMBDA:  13.3

RATIO:  1.09

M SPIKE:  NOT OBSERVED

Dom's October Numbers

WBC:   6.7

RBC:   3.41

HTC:   32.9

PLATELETS:   307

Free Light Chains:  ALL NORMAL

Kappa:  1.44

Lambda:   1.32

Ratio:  1.08

M-Spike:  0.3  Dropped from 0.5 in April after just a couple of rounds of Rev/Dex/Vel
****************************************************************

Dr. Safah cut him loose until after the First of the Year.  She wants him to continue physical therapy.  (Which is going great!)  He used his walker in our house for the first time.... walked 200 feet!

The Zometa has shrunk the lesion on his hip.

She's very pleased with these latest numbers.

I'm hoping that in January, she'll tell him that he doesn't need any more chemo or SCT.  This was just a single Plasmacytoma on his hip.  His blood and bone marrow are clean.

Dom's CONFUSING September Numbers.

Just got the call.  His numbers are jumping all over the place.  (My opinion, not the doctor's)

Some background:  For years, his M-SPIKE was ZERO.

Last summer, it jumped up to .3 and stayed there for almost a year. (blood work results)

6 months ago, it jumped up to .6  (blood work results)

3 months ago it was at .8  (blood work results)

At this point, Dr. Safah ordered a Bone Marrow Biopsy.  The reading was only 0.2 and were were all happy about this.

Fast forward to this month:

M-SPIKE 1.0  (blood work)

We have been going to a Slidell oncologist out of convenience, but have an appointment with Dr. Safah at TULANE in December.  I just don't know what to think about this.  The bone marrow biopsy is a more definitive test than blood work.

His LIGHT CHAINS are weird, too.

Normal levels of serum free light chains are:
• Kappa: 3.3–19.4 mg/L
• Lambda: 5.71–26.3 mg/L
• Kappa/lambda ratio: 0.26–1.65

His March numbers were:
*Kappa:  25.67
*Lambda:  28.00
*Ratio:  0.91

September found us at:
*Kappa:  12.8
*Lambda:  0.6
*Ratio:  2.12

I'd be delighted to get some feedback from you guys.  TIA.

December Numbers..... 77 Months of Complete Remission!

WBC:   8.7

HTC:   39.3

PLATELETS:   288

ANC:   70



*Kappa:  18.93
*Lambda:  22.34
*Ratio:  .85

Thankfully, his M-Spike remains at .3!  His oncologist is very pleased.

Dom Remains in Complete Remission.....77 Months!

Normal levels of serum free light chains are:
• Kappa: 3.3–19.4 mg/L
• Lambda: 5.71–26.3 mg/L
• Kappa/lambda ratio: 0.26–1.65

His December Numbers Were:

*Kappa:  18.93
*Lambda:  22.34
*Ratio:  .85

Thankfully, his M-Spike remains at .3!  His oncologist is very pleased.

Tulane is sending me the other numbers via mail.

Merry Christmas!

September Numbers.....74 Months of Complete Remission!

WBC:   7.0

HTC:   40.2

PLATELETS:   211

ANC:   65


Light Chains:

Kappa:  19.55

Lambda:  21.56

Ratio:   0.91

M-SPIKE NOT OBSERVED   0.3

June Numbers.... 71 Months of Complete Remission!

WBC:    6.3

HTC:   38

PLATELETS:   189

ANC:    67

Light Chains:

Kappa-  18.86

Lambda-  19.72

Ratio-  0.96

M SPIKE NOT OBSERVED  0.3

Dom's March Numbers- 68 Months COMPLETE REMISSION!

We had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day and celebrated accordingly.  Dom's Light Chains continue to drop.  We're absolutely tickled.  Thank you for the prayers and positive thoughts, gang!

WBC:   5.4

HTC:   40.6

PLATELETS:   192

ANC:   62

LIGHT CHAINS:

Kappa-  16.16

Lambda-  16.26

Ratio-  0.99

M-SPIKE NOT OBSERVED   .40

Dom's December Numbers- 65 Months COMPLETE REMISSION!

This will be a truly wonderful Christmas for us.  No M-Spike, Light Chains are normal and coming down.  All is well with our world.  We sincerely thank you for all of the prayers and well wishes.

WBC:   6.2

HTC:   40.1

PLATELETS:  214

ANC:  56


LIGHT CHAINS:

Kappa:   17.6

Lambda:   18.7

Ratio:   0.94

ZERO M-SPIKE!!!!!!

Dom's August Numbers.... 61 Months Complete Remission!

Thanks for all of the prayers and good vibes!

WBC:      6.5

HTC:        36.1

PLATELETS:   186

ANC:     56


LIGHT CHAINS:

Kappa:  19.21

Lamda:   18.72

Ratio:   1.03

ZERO M-SPIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dom's May Numbers- Great

Dom's doctor at Tulane, as well as our family doctor, is very pleased.  If they're happy, we're happy!

WBC:     6.1

HTC:      38.8

PLATELET:    184

ANC:    68

Dom's Latest Light Chains.... yippee!

Hi gang:

Finally got to take a look at Dom's Light Chains from May.  I was tickled to see the numbers dropping, but was concerned about his Ratio shooting up.  After some research, I think that this is probably wonderful news.  Looking forward to discussing this with his doctor in August. Link at the bottom.

Light Chains

Normal:
Kappa  3.3 – 19.4
Labda  5.71 – 26.3
Ratio  0.26 – 1.65

(A Downward Trend in all of these is GOOD.)

Dom’s Light Chains:

Kappa…..

March ’13:  19.19
Oct. ’13       14.92
Jan ’14         13.82
May ‘14        7.49

Labda….

March ’13    19.21
Oct. ’13        16.77
Jan ’14         15.69
May ‘14         0.63

Ratio……

March ’13     1.00
Oct. ’13          0.89
Jan ’14           0.88
May ‘14         11.89
*********************************************************************
Heavy/Light Chain Ratios May Be A Prognostic Marker For Myeloma Patients

The results of a small Spanish study indicate that heavy/light chain ratios may be a prognostic marker for myeloma patients.

Specifically, the Spanish researchers found that multiple myeloma patients who experienced elevated heavy/light chain ratios after achieving complete remission following a stem cell transplant had longer progression-free and overall survival rates than patients who did not experience elevated heavy/light chain ratios.

According to the study investigators, these results show for the first time the association between a heavy/light chain ratio and sustained remission in myeloma patients.

http://www.myelomabeacon.com/news/2012/04/11/heavylight-chain-ratios-may-be-a-prognostic-marker-for-myeloma-patients/

Dom's January Numbers

GOOD NEWS:   All of his numbers are in the NORMAL range.

BAD NEWS:  They didn't draw enough to test his M-Spike.  We're having that done on Wed.

WBC            7.9

HCT              42.3

PLT              164

ANC             57

Light Chains are Looking Great!

We'll be getting his M-Spike and other numbers this week:

Light Chains

Normal: 

Kappa  3.3 – 19.4

Labda  5.71 – 26.3

Ratio  0.26 – 1.65

(A Downward Trend in all of these is GOOD.)

Dom’s Light Chains:

Kappa…..

March ’13:  19.19

Oct. ’13       14.92

Jan ’14         13.82

Labda….

March ’13    19.21

Oct. ’13        16.77

Jan ’14         15.69

Ratio……

March ’13     1.00

Oct. ’13          0.89

Jan ’14           0.88

Dom's October Numbers

Well, I've learned that Dom is not to be trusted in making his own doctor appointments.

It had been 5 months since he had bloodwork.  Dr. Safah was a bit irritated.  (I was in Florida during his last appointment, thus he made his newest one)

WBC   8.7

HCT     39.6  ( a little low.... should be 41-54%)

PLT     208

ANC     60

M-SPIKE and Light Chains coming later this week