Went to the Oncologist yesterday to get the genetic test results. Remember back in our last episode we were hoping for an error on Chromosome 5 because that was the most treatable. It came back clear, which means there are no chromosomal abnormalities at all, at least those associated with MDL. This is also good news. Heidi was classified as intermediate risk. The large number of blasts is a high risk attribute, but the lack of chromosomal damage contributes a low risk, which averages out to intermediate. Sounds good, huh?
The treatment plan for this is four months of injected chemotherapy. This is, as I said before, not your father's chemotherapy. It's outpatient stuff that doesn't result in hair loss, nausea, weight loss, etc. The stem cell transplant still looms on the horizon, but not too bad for the first part.
Then they took another blood sample to measure her blood counts. Her red blood count was 8.9, higher than any other measurement so far. Further good news!
Am I making it too obvious what's coming?
The white cell count takes longer so we didn't get the results till later in the day. It tripled in 2 weeks. Not good. The doc looked at the cells under the scope and thought there were more leukemic cells than before. He thinks the MDS may have transformed into full leukemia. We always knew that could happen, but certainly didn't expect it to happen in 2 weeks. Before even starting treatment. Before even fully absorbing the change in diagnosis from AML to MDS.
Heidi went in this morning to get more bone marrow extracted. The doc couldn't get a good sample the first try so Heidi ended up with hole numbers 3 and 4 in the back of her pelvis. To ensure a good sample, the doc drilled extra deep the second time. They wrote her a prescription for percoset this time.
They're hoping to get the bone marrow results tomorrow (Friday). If the doc is right and it's full-blown leukemia, the outpatient treatment plan goes out the window. And back through the door comes the full-blown 30-day hospital stay chemotherapy. But we have to wait for the results.
So she's gone from tired to heart disease to leukemia to MDS and now possibly back to leukemia. Yes, definitely a roller-coaster.
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