I sat and stared at my blood work results with a quizzical look on my face. My PA, who has been with me since the beginning…even through a change of doctors, smiled and said, “That’s what normal looks like!”
It’s been a LONG TIME since I’ve seen those numbers! I didn’t even know how to respond. But as cautiously exciting as it was, there were still more tests to perform before we could start throwing a party! Next up was my CT and Bone Marrow Biopsy. My 37th! These tests would reveal the in depth results of what’s going on in my bone marrow and throughout my body. I have been on this AVO clinical trial for nine months now, and it was time to see just how well it was working.
When you have cancer, you get used to waiting. Waiting to see, waiting to go, waiting to hear, waiting to decide…just waiting. So as such, we had to wait for results. We’re used to waiting.
But you also learn to be proactive, to take charge of your health and wellness plan. So you communicate. You ask. You participate. You research. You stay ahead of the game.
So when I saw that my results were starting to come in on My Chart (online), I sent a message to my team to help with the interpretation. I can read and understand lab work all day long, but those BMB’s still throw me for a loop!
Shortly, I got a message from that same PA that my percentage of cancer burden in my bone marrow before starting the trial had been at 92%! That is pretty significant. It is now, after only nine months on the trial, at 15%!!! WooHoo!!! Now, this does not mean that I am in remission or in MRD (minimal residual disease) yet. BUT it does mean that I am ON MY WAY!!!!! The next CT and BMB check will be at month 14. If at that time I am not down to MRD, they will add the “O” of the AVO portion of the trial. Currently, I am taking Acalabrutinib and Venetoclax. Obinutuzumab is next on the list, if necessary to get me to MRD.
CLL patients are never really considered “cured” like many cancer patients are. There is always this little tiny bit left…. I don’t ever get to ring the bell. BUT, these new immunotherapies are providing longer lasting remissions giving those of us with high risk CLL the chance at a much longer life. I’ll take that any day of the week!
The Lord has seen fit to use the prayers of many and the hands and wisdom of those at MD Anderson to continue to buy me time until this new protocol was created.
God’s never early, never late, but always on time… God’s perfect timing does two things: It grows our faith as we are forced to wait and trust in God and it makes certain that He, and He alone, gets the glory and praise for pulling us through.
“My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave.” Psalm 31:15
Be silent, Cancer.
