Skip to main content

Why can't it be all good news?

Got my latest blood test this morning, and as usual, there was good news, and bad news.


The good news is my lymphocytes are still stable at just under 100 thou/mcL, and my hemoglobin actually increased to 12 g/dL, but [and there's always a but] my platelets dropped to 172 thou/mcL.


That's the lowest they've ever been, and 13 thou/mcL lower than the previous low reading. Now don't everyone tell me that's still within the normal range (130-400 thou/mcL), because I know that already. I've also have read platelet counts can be lower if taken early in the morning (which I did today), but none of that is much consolation.


In my case, a continuing drop in platelets is either an indication of bone marrow failure, or the spleen is traping the platelets [or both], neither of which is good, and both of which are indications for treatment sooner than later.


It could have something to do with the green tea I've been drinking, but I've already cut back about a 1/3, since my bloody nose episodes, and I hate cutting back more because I still believe it is a benefit overall.


Oh well, such is life I guess. Nothings ever perfect, plus I've always said, one test does not a trend make, so there's still hope. I'll just have to wait for next months results. It's just not making it any easier deciding when and if I want to go to South America, which I am still debating.

Labels:

Comments

Becky said…
South America? What are you going to do there?
7:02 AM
Marc said…
Didn't you read my last post? :(
7:38 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My concerns reaffirmed today

When I was first diagnosed with MCL, I pretty much read just about everything I could get my hands on, I attended various conferences, and I talked to anyone who would listen. One of the most important lessons I learned, and which I've mentioned numerous times before was No one cares more about you than you. But in addition to that, I learned to fear the drug Doxorubicin , AKA Adriamycin, Doxil, Hydroxydoxorubicin, or more affectionately the Red Devil. Besides being a deadly chemical, as is the case with most chemotherapy drugs, it is one of the few chemotherapy drugs known to cause permanent heart damage. I even heard Dr. Sandra Horning , a noted Stanford lymphoma specialist, state at the first lymphoma conference I attended in LA, there was no evidence Doxorubicin provided any added benefit to chemotherapy protocols. This was music to my ears, since Doxorubicin is very common in most lymphoma treatment protocols. And even though Dr. Horning has since changed her tune [which my sk...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bowling: A metaphor on life [sorta]

Over the past 15+ years the game of bowling has changed dramatically. Not only has the equipment changed, making it easier for bowlers of all ages and physical conditions to participate, and score well, but there have even been major advances to how the lanes are prepared for the start of bowling. No longer is it just heavy oil, light oil, long oil, short oil, or no oil, with the latest equipment, the amount of oil can be varied from front to back and side to side, producing a myriad of patterns designed to make the game more interesting, more challenging and as you might surmise, more frustrating. No longer does the "one ball fits all" approach work any more either. In order to navigate all the differing possible lane conditions, you need to have a varied selection of bowling balls. Most pros will tell you the average bowler needs 3 balls, plus a ball for spares, but to be an above average bowler you'll need at least 6 balls, with many possessing more than that. But just...
1 comment
Read more

Fatigue! Part II - Maybe it is real?

Or it's actually Motivational Deficiency Disorder, MoDeD (pronounced Mo-Dee-Dee) for short. In a report this week by Roy Moynihan who reports for the British Medical Journal Austrailian scientists may have come across the reason for extreme laziness . The condition is claimed to affect up to one in five Australians and is characterised by overwhelming and debilitating apathy. Neuroscientists at the University of Newcastle in Australia say that in severe cases motivational deficiency disorder can be fatal, because the condition reduces the motivation to breathe. Neurologist Leth Argos is part of the team that has identified the disorder, which can be diagnosed using a combination of positron emission tomography and low scores on a motivation rating scale, previously validated in elite athletes. "This disorder is poorly understood," Professor Argos told the BMJ. "It is underdiagnosed and undertreated." Who knew? Maybe I have MoDeD, from my attempts to become a...
Post a Comment
Read more