Thursday, August 15, 2013

Day of Celebration for Dr. Matt


I have chosen to play my cancer card in the transparency of an Internet blog – accessible to anyone in the world. Was this a good decision for me or not?

There are days that this decision has cost me unnecessary stress, when desperate people believe that I can cure their loved one because I happen to have a blog on leukemia. When I explain to them that I am a cancer patient in a clinical trial, trying to share my experience with others, so that other patients can become more informed about the decisions in their life, it does not always matter. When I explain to them that YES, I have a doctoral degree – a Ph.D., not an M.D. -- so I can help with cerebral research matters, not medical matters, it does not seem to matter to them. My heart goes out to them.

This, however, is a good day. I am dedicating today as a celebration day for my blood brother Dr. Matt, who is also 17p deleted – the poor prognosis guys and gals. After one year on ibrutinib, his white blood count remains in the normal range, and his bone marrow biopsy shows no evidence of cancer. The flow cytometry blood test indicates that leukemic-type cells in the blood stream have gone from 100% to 2.4%. So he is as close to remission as he can be. He is “happier than a pig in slop” (his words). LOL. I celebrate his life!