Blood counts still climbing.

The haematology nurse just phoned to tell me the results of today's blood test. They show that my counts are still improving.

Platelets are up to 37 from 11 two weeks ago. (normal range 150-400)
Haemoglobin is 124 up from less than 100 (normal 130-175)
White cells are now 3.8 up from 0.63 (normal range 4-11)
Neutrophils are now 1.5 up from 0.1 (normal range 1.9-7.5)

My platelet count will never be back in the normal range, It's hovered down around 30-45 for years now.
It's a legacy of the stem cell transplant and poor marrow.

However the other counts are rocketing up in leaps and bounds percentage-wise.
The white cells and neutrophils mean I have a better first line defence against infection and the higher haemoglobin equates to more energy as more oxygen is able to be carried to the muscles.

I still have this really debilitating cough though, kinda hoped it would go with the chemo.
Perhaps it will when I finally get on the Adcetris. When ever that will be.

I guess I'll know more after my appointment next Friday.

..Ron

We have new blood!

Finally after more than 6 months of blood transfusions I have started producing my own blood faster than it gets used up. My blood counts today are higher than they have been in ages, and all done under their own steam.

Last Wednesday I went into the Blood & Cancer day ward and was given a unit of platelets and two units of whole blood.
I'd been making no new blood of my own due to both the Hodgkin's infiltration of my bone marrow and the myelosuppressive (suppresses bone marrow and therefore production of blood)  nature of the chemotherapy.
The plan was to give me a big enough top up to get me through till today, a period of seven days, so I could visit family in Christchurch.

The doctors did not want me to travel as my neutrophil count was almost zero, at 0.1 This left me with almost no protection from infection and at risk of neutropenic sepsis and fever.
They wrote me a covering letter to give to the doctors at Christchurch hospital outlining my illness's and stating that I was traveling against their advice. They were concerned I'd pick up a rogue bug on the airplane and have no defence against it.

Well personally I've never been one for shying away from doing something just because it might kill me. Heck if I didn't do anything for fear of dying, I might as well not get off the couch.
So as you can imagine I am very, very pleased to find out that not only was I not at great risk while visiting my sister and family, I was actually producing new blood cells as I sat on said couch and watched New Zealand win the rugby world cup! Awesome :)

I did of course take precautions while away. I wore a surgical mask on the plane and avoided possible sources of infection such as raw food and contact with pets.

I next have chemo on Friday 4th November so I will have a good chance to raise my blood counts further and build up a bit of a reserve before they are wiped out again. However I'm sure that they will then return even stronger again after that.

Cheers!   ...Ron