Tuesday Update and Doctor Report

I'm sorry to say, but Jackie went back in the hospital this morning. She felt bad on Monday and was very sick this morning. They are uncertain why she is sick, but they feel she might have a blood infection. They will be giving her broad spectrum antibiotics by IV. It is also possible she is having side effects from the sudden stoppage of the Prednisone steroid and and a fever caused by one of the other medicines. They need her to be completely well before beginning her trip back to OK. Hopefully this will be in just a few days. She is really ready to get home!

The doctor received the results of Jackie's FISH test. This test give the chromosomal abnormality that exits and is what creates CLL. Jackie has an 11q chromosomal deletion? What does this mean? It puts her in a much higher risk category. A 53q deletion would have been worse a 13q deletion better. If we have 4 categories of risk the 11q is a number 2 or 3 with a 53q being a 4.

What does this mean? It means that in all probability she will require a stem cell transplant in the next year or two. A stem cell transplant is less dangerous than it once was, but still a very aggressive treatment. You receive high doses of chemo as well as moderate (it used to be high) doses of radiation. You are in strict isolation while this takes place and there can be lots of complications. This kills off all the "bad" cells and you are given a small blood-type transfusion of new stem cells. The cells then begin to make normal types of blood. Of course the entire process is more complicated than this, but you get the general idea. The good news is that for people who endure the process there is a better than 50% cure rate.

The current course of action is to continue the chemo treatments and try to get her into a stable phase. She will probably stay in a stable phase for a shorter period of time than people with, say a 13q deletion. Upon relapse they would begin the transplant. The prognosis improves for people who are younger and generally healthy. Jackie is considered very young to have this disease. Most people are in their mid to late 60s before they discover the problem.

The good news today was that much of her blood counts had returned to normal or near normal levels. Her hemoglobin has rebounded nicely. Her white count was still elevated but not nearly as bad as it was a few days ago. The elevation would be caused by an infection. Her platelets were lowered to 18 from 37 two days ago. Still good considering she has had no transfusions and no Prednisone to "prop up" the count. The doctor was pleased with the recent tests.

So...we don't know when we will be leaving Rochester. Hopefully it will be within 3-4 days. I'll keep you posted. If you wish to call her you can reach her on her cell phone at 918 530 0124. I also wanted to remind everyone to not send any flowers. They don't allow them on her floor.



Until later....

Bruce