Sunday, 11:00 PM
High-Level Journal Summary: My 61st Hematology Report, as reported by date-appropriate Vincent Price. Compared to numbers from last time, the high-level results are as follows:
• White Blood Cell count is down 32 places and is LOW, as almost always.
• Neutrophils count is down 32 places and is barely NORMAL.
• Platelet count is down 37 places and is barely NORMAL.
• Hematocrit measurement is up 22 places and is NORMAL.
• Overall Hematology Report is down 32 places.
These overall numbers are basically right in the middle of the pack for all my hematology reports to date, with the one exception being my Platelet level which is the 5th lowest reading ever. Even so, this Platelet count is still normal (at the lowest possible number to still be considered normal).
All in all, these are solid numbers considering that chemotherapy was started two years ago on 10/31/05. Amazing.
Countdowns:
1.) Day 28 of 28 in my 26th 5/23 Temodar chemotherapy cycle.
2.) Get another hematology report on 10/29/07. 30 minutes after I left the lab today, I got a phone call about the lab work that had been done since then. Apparently, my CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) from today revealed a critically high Calcium level. We need to verify if this was a mistake when taking my blood sample or if this is indeed a real Calcium issue. If my Calcium level is critically high, then immediate medical action will need to be taken. A doctor's appointment has already been set up in case this is the situation.
2007 Seizure Activity:
1.) Last Simple Partial Seizure, or SPS, was today. At 4:15 AM, I was suddenly awaken by a very strong SPS. I made more noise than I ever recall making during a seizure. I drooled all over my bed and made loud noises until this SPS went away. Just an extremely strong SPS. Wow. I stayed in bed the entire time (where it was safe) and I was aware of what was going on. I did not take any Ativan emergency anti-seizure medication since this SPS ended right around the one-minute mark (I think). However, I did need to sleep on the other side of the bed after this SPS. I soaked my sheets with drool. That is sort of gross, but what an appropriate start to the week of Halloween.
2.) In 2007, I have had 71 SPS's in 301 days. This is an average of 1 SPS every 4.2 days.
Actual Journal: Now that Halloween is approaching, remember this face?
Yes.
That's right.
Vincent Price.
Many stories surround his face...his travels...his...voice. His distinctive voice. That eerie calmness in the midst of the most horrific scenes from those black & white films of the 1950's. Yes, that is but one way to describe Mr. Vincent Price and his 6'4" frame in all his distinctive horror films such as...this!
In this Halloween spirit, imagine the rest of this online journal entry being read by Vincent Price himself. Imagine his hauntingly calm and knowing voice starting NOW.
Blood numbers
These partial hematology results are compared to data since the start of Cycle 1 of chemo. White Blood Cells (WBC), Neutrophils (NEU), Platelets (PLT), and Hematocrit (HCT) are the critical counts because they could stop Temodar chemotherapy treatment if they are too low.
The "expected range" for WBC is 4.60 - 10.2 THOUS/MCL. This range is what normal people NOT on chemo would be expected to have if randomly tested. Today, the WBC count was 3.19 THOUS/MCL, which is down 32 places in two weeks. This reading is LOW, as almost always.
The "expected range" for NEU is 2.00 - 6.90 K/uL. This range is what normal people NOT on chemo would be expected to have if randomly tested. Today, the NEU count was 2.09 K/uL, which is down 32 places in two weeks. This reading is barely NORMAL.
The "expected range" for PLT is 142 - 424 K/uL. This range is what normal people NOT on chemo would be expected to have if randomly tested. Today, the PLT count was 142 K/uL, which is down 37 places in two weeks. This reading is barely NORMAL.
The "expected range" for HCT is 37.7 - 53.7 %. This range is what normal people NOT on chemo would be expected to have if randomly tested. Today, the HCT measurement was 39.8 %, which is up 22 places compared to two weeks ago. This reading is NORMAL.
Final thoughts from Vincent Price**
I must say, I have seen the most horrible, the most gruesome, the most detesting of all realms. Or...so I thought.
But watching that brain surgery video by Dr. Patrick Joseph Kelly is certainly much better than anything that could have been dreamed up back in my day. That, my friends, is a journey into the great unknown...the thing that will someday be a thing of the ancient past, as this mystery of brain cancer is someday...in some way...solved.
** Once again, added for the dark humor relief that somehow seems so necessary (at times) in the world of brain cancer.
