My Adventures with Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Platelets Trending Down Again

2/14/16 – At my Friday, February 12^th appointment my platelets were down to 18. With recent check-ups I have gone from 67 to 59 to 26 t0 18. Certainly things are not moving in the right direction. It would seem that my 4 Rituxan treatments have not worked as expected. Also although getting cross matched platelets and IVIG does increase my platelet count the results are short lived. The jury is still out on whether the NPlate shots are effective. I have had 4 shots at this point but it can take as many as 6 to 8 shots to take effect. The one adjustment we did do to my meds is we replaced my steroid of prednisone with dexamethasone. If the NPlate and dexamethasone doesn’t work we will probably start talking about a splenectomy.

I’ll be back to the cancer center on Monday, February 15^th for another check-up and a possible platelet infusion.

Today is a very special day on a couple of counts. It’s Valentine’s Day, a day I need to give very special thanks to my wife Sue and daughters Jill and Alli for being so supportive to me. I truly love my girls very much.

Today is also the first Sunday of Lent. The Psalm of the day carries a main theme of: FAITH in the lordship of Jesus gives us all HOPE for salvation. How great it is that today’s focus is Faith, Hope and Love. May this day be a very special one for you and your loved ones.