Sunday, 11:05 PM
High-Level Journal Summary: Another study of my hematology reports, all in graphic format. This last month covers 8 total blood samples, and it swings from highest readings to nearly the lowest ever. To add to the drama, this happened in only 5 days in some cases.
As I look at this information from a layman's perspective, it tells me to conduct especially conservative behavior while actually taking the IV-based chemotherapy of Carboplatin + VP-16. I need to be accurate and verify this personal conclusion with my hematologist, but these graphs seem to answer this conclusion all by themselves.
Countdowns:
1.) Day 20 of 28 in Cycle 6 of Carboplatin + VP-16 chemotherapy.
2008 Seizure Activity:
1.) Last Simple Partial Seizure, or SPS, was 7 days ago. I went to Dr. Patel's office today (Sunday) and got copies of complete hematology reports from 8/14/08. I was going to do this on Monday morning, but I knew it would be much less hectic to do so today. I learned that my last Sodium count was 136 mmol/L, which is in the normal range. Raising my Sodium level with each meal seems to be helping with this result.
2.) In 2008, I have had 76 SPS's in 230 days. This is an average of 1 SPS every 3.0 days.
Website Updates:
Appropriate responses to the rest of the Messages on Page 204 are now complete. I am finally caught up with all Message responses.
Actual Journal: I am tired this evening. I needed to take the time to look at the last 8 hematology reports in my overall graphic format. It always takes a little time to update the charts, but it is so powerful in its visual message that I value doing so. Here are the updates charts from the past month. This includes my 7/30/08 hospitalization, when blood samples were taken for 3 straight days. They moved around significantly during this short period of time.
Here are the new dates where Complete Blood Counts (CBC's) and Complete Metabolic Panels (CMP's) were taken:
• 7/18/08: (Day 19, cycle 5 of chemo)
• 7/25/08: (Day 26, cycle 5 of chemo)
• 7/28/08: (Day 29, cycle 5 of chemo)
• 7/30/08: (Day 2, cycle 6 of chemo)
• 7/31/08: (Day 3, cycle 6 of chemo)
• 8/1/08: (Day 4, cycle 6 of chemo)
• 8/4/08: (Day 7, cycle 6 of chemo)
• 8/14/08: (Day 17, cycle 6 of chemo).
Blood numbers
These partial hematology results are compared to data since the start of Cycle 1 of Temodar chemo. White Blood Cells (WBC), Neutrophils (NEU), Platelets (PLT), and Hematocrit (HCT) are the critical counts for me.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Interpreting all this data
When looking at all this data, it could take a lot of work to fully understand. In looking at the numbers for each item, there was a different item which jumped out at me.
1.) White Blood Cells (WBC)
On 7/30/08, when I was admitted to the hospital, my WBC count was the highest it had ever been. By 8/4/08, it was the 2nd lowest out of all hematology reports. That it can switch that much in a short period of time is startling.
2.) Neutrophils (NEU)
On 7/30/08, when I was admitted to the hospital, my NEU count was also the highest it had ever been, just like with my WBC count. By 8/4/08, it was the 4th lowest out of all hematology reports. My NEU count can also change that rapidly.
3.) Platelets (PLT)
These numbers continue to be relatively stable, all things considered. This is excellent news. I even had readings which were next to the highest ever to date.
4.) Hematocrit (HCT)
This is a level that is of concern. These numbers are low. They are not going to stop IV-based chemotherapy from proceeding, but they are being watched closely. The graph shows just how much they have dropped since Carboplatin + VP16 chemotherapy began.
Final thought
I can see that there is not much room for error if we can make it to Cycle 7 and Cycle 8 of Carboplatin + VP-16 chemotherapy. Seeing how quickly these counts can change say things to me that there is risk in things changing quickly.
For me, this translates to conservative behavior during the days of drug taking. I really want to get through that part of the cycle without being hospitalized like this last time. I need to verify this information with my hematologist/local oncologist, Dr. Dipti Patel. But I think this would be a simple nod of the head from her.
