For those who are inclined to read deeply in the med literature, here is link to a study on the above protocol,
RITUXIMAB IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH DOSE METHYLPREDNISOLONE FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA(Topline: study found 96% overall response rate, 33 months median progression free survival and is particularly good for those with myelosuppression, that would be me!)
With the euphoria I had two episodes the last two days of rampant self-indulgence. On Monday I was on train playing with laptop and remembered to look up Princeton hockey game we had been talking about going to, was to be this coming Saturday. Upon reminding Cynthia, she reminded me of my commitment to see dying friend and/or her going to see nephew post-op, Damn I lost my "others " focus so soon. After Alabama trounced Notre Dame for national championship I thought to spend upwards of $30 on a champ ball hat, but with my usual self-indulgence in control I almost hit purchase submit button, but then I remembered the need to fight for gun control here in our insane society so that money would be better spent as contribution.to one of the groups ramping up thats fight....
But on another note one of my co-workers has launched a pay it forward project within our company to sign up folks for the bone marrow donors registry. She has asked me to the poster boy ("old man" seems better) and had me write the introductory blurb to the mailings See below, what do y'all think?
I have had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (most common adult leukemia) since 1997, and have been treated with both chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies 5 separate times as my disease went in and out of remission. All these potent drugs that kill leukemia cells have put me back in remission for sometimes years, sometimes months, but have also wreaked havoc on my normal bone marrow’s ability to make healthy red and white blood cells and platelets. I have needed transfusions of both platelets and red blood cells on almost a weekly basis for over a year. I am currently on my 6th treatment protocol; it is too early to know how it is working. There are few options left except for drugs in development in clinical trials so my doctor and I are beginning to think it is time to consider a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. As I have no available related donors, I will need to turn to the donor registry to find a well matched donor to have a chance at a cure, or at least to have a chance to enjoy at least a few more years of life...
Change the type of leukemia or blood disorder and the details in the above and you could be hearing from one of thousands of others who may need transplants for disease cure or control, we all need your help!
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