Cycle 3 - Week 3

 Hey Hey....just your favorite cancer support partner here to give you an update!

Cycle 3 - Week 3, which means we were scheduled for both Velcade and Dara.

Andy's appointment this week was in the afternoon and we both agree, we like morning appointments better.  While things have been going well, the anticipation of waiting kind of puts a weird veil on the day.  

Given that the appointment was in the afternoon, I planned on meeting Andy at the hospital.  His appointment was at 2:00.  At 2:02 he sent me a message that he was out of labs already.  As I ran in the door, we were already receiving the text message that his results were ready!

Hg - 13.4, up from 13.2.  I'm going to assume we won't be seeing a ton of movement with this number going forward.  We were told from the beginning that 14 is sort of that Average number.  And we like average!

Platelets - 252 - Up from 204.  But remember last week it took a big jump down from 261 to 204 and now back up to 252.  ugggghhhhhh Why is cancer so weird? 

ANC - 8.7 UP from 3.3. Which is like a BIG jump.  His White Blood Cell count (WBC) is 11.1 which is up from 4.5.  So...perhaps Andy is fighting something or is getting over something.  He did mention he had a tickle in his throat.  Later when we talked to his nurse about the number she said it was still OK, a jump, but OK and she wouldn't call the doctor until the number reached 20 or higher.  We really just needed to keep an eye out for any temperature or any other clear sign of infection.  Do you know what I do really well?  Waiting.  I wait SO well.  (Spoiler...I do not wait well). OK, fine.  We'll just watch this number.  

Total Protein was 7.1, which was up from 6.7.  Normal Range is 6.1 - 8.4.  Proteins are one of the big markers of Andy's cancer.  So when this number moves up, I tend to not love it.  BUT.  He's still in the green and it was only a small change. AND with is WBC count being higher, this could also be a result of coming over an infection and the resulting antibodies.  

His Calcium was up to 8.8 from 7.8 - so that was a nice little jump too. Not enough of a jump for us to receive the Zometa, but making progress in the right way. 

Andy's nurse came in, went through the run down of side effects and reactions.  Andy continues to be a rock star and does not have any side effects or reactions. 

We talked about the Zometa and we talked about the WBC / ANC numbers.  But other than that, we received our medication and off we went.  

Things are going well.  Andy's numbers continue to make progress and most importantly Andy feels great.  But this week we didn't have monumental progress and for some reason it's just hitting me hard.  I realize I'm just walking around holding my breath, tip-toeing through life.  While we told Dr. Al at our last appointment we were waiting for the other shoe to drop, and he told us there isn't another shoe right now, I'm terrified of the other shoe.  WHAT IF Andy just stops responding to treatment?  WHAT IF Andy's cancer learns a new trick and does something we didn't expect?  WHAT IF we get surprised like we were surprised on October 30th?  

I know. I know I can't live the WHAT IF game.  But sometimes.  Sometimes you just can't help it.  It amazes me every single day that Andy is the one with cancer and yet he is MY calm in the storm.  I rely on him for strength and support.  I wish every single day that he wouldn't be going through this.  But he continues to amaze me and I continue to be so so proud of him!

Prayer warriors...you know what to do!