December 3rd, 2004

It has been a quick 6 weeks and I just saw my oncologist. Everything is going well. My spleen and liver were enlarged when first diagnosed and both are nearly normal now. I feel good and have had only very mild side effects to the Gleevec (wonder drug chemotherapy). I have been asked by my doctor to conduct an experiment. I am to slowly drink part of a beer to test the effects of alcohol and Gleevec. I could be selected for a worse test, huh. I wonder if I can get medical beer, like some patients get medical marijuana….

God has been so gracious to me. I am, of course, thankful for the prognosis of having a lot more time with you all than I first imagined. However, I am just as thankful that God’s peace has been so comforting. I am experiencing what I have read in scriptures about a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I’ll keep you all informed in any unusual things. However, there might not be any news before my first Cytogenetic response test on January 17th.

Here is where I am in my process for those who like details:

If you remember, there are three levels of response to Gleevec for chronic myeloid leukemia patients. I am very close to a successful first response, a hematological response. My blood count is nearly normal for all components. The platelets (they cause clotting to happen) are slightly low as well as my hemoglobin (the part that collects oxygen from the lungs and takes it out to the rest of the body). They should be normalized in the next week or two. As long as the white cell count does not climb again, which according to the doc would be rare, I will have achieved the first response.

I am progressing toward the second response, a cytogenetic response. This is where the Gleevec will reverse the DNA transfer so that my white cells will be produced as normal, instead of with the Philadelphia chromosome. I will have my first check to see how I am approaching this response on January 17th. It is common for this response to take 4 months to 12 months and to determine how effectively Gleevec is going to work. I can either respond by having Gleevec keep the ratio of leukemic cells to normal cells low and stable or I can respond by having no leukemic cells present, a complete cytogenetic response. If I have a complete cytogenetic response, then I’m on to the final response tests.