Live Blogging

Hey all -- since today is going to be my last treatment until October, thought I would sign on and put everyone in the seat with me today :) It is now 9:10 and I have been here since 7:50. The fun part of the day actually.. they start the IV access line and draw a couple tubes of blood, today however they had to draw five additional tubes to type me for the potential of a bone marrow transplant (more on that later). Since today is Mandy's first day of school, my brother is here with me today. I have not seen the doctor or anything as of yet, but will update everyone once things get moving here.

Ok... I'll save the PET scan results for Mandy to write about (she does a much better job than I do explaining everything), but it is now 10:50 and I have spoken to the doc and just got my first med started. First up Epratuzumab ... this is a very small bag that runs in in about 1/2 hour. So what else.. my brother is sitting here eating Wendys and talking on the phone at the same time. Who says that boy can't multi-task. Check back again shortly ... will let you know more.

Lots of visitors today. Had Momma Bear, Dusty, Pastor Dave and his wife Vicki. One of the nurses asked if it was my birthday, to which my brother said "nope he is just liked :)". Treatment is now over and once again seems to have went without any hitches (other than just pure grogginess from the Benadryl).

For those that can't wait for Mandy --- the PET scan results were positive. A quick back note about PET scans -- Dr. Blum had said early on a PET scan with Follicular lymphoma is not a very good indicator. PET scans show tumor activity and since FL is a very slow growing cancer it can take a while for a PET scan to show any reduction in activity. The CT scan (which is scheduled for October) will tell more about how this treatment is working. With that said, the PET scan today did show a reduction in activity. YEAAAAHHHHHH!!! A PET gives an SUV score. The report today showed almost every node had been reduced by at least 2 SUV points from the prior PET scan. She was very encouraged with the results and really didn't want to read too much into this. A key point she made about the PET scan, I can be in complete remission and still show activity in a PET scan. Dr. Blum is a very encouraging person and was more wanting to talk about Mandy and Marshall and D-Day (Delivery Day). I think she is just as excited as we are that the little guy is coming.