COMPLETE RESPONSE!

Last week I got a call from Jessica, Dr. Kritz's physician's assistant at the Cancer Center. She faithfully calls with the extended results of my monthly blood work, providing Linda and I with an update on my M spike and  immunofixation level. Since August, when I had my stem cell transplant at Duke, my M spike has been non-detectable. However, there has been a trace protein in my immunofixation measurement which has kept me at a level of VERY GOOD PARTIAL RESPONSE (VGPR).

• (Immunofixation permits the detection and typing of monoclonal antibodies or immunoglobulins in serum or urine. It is of great importance for the diagnosis and monitoring of certain blood related diseases such as myeloma.)

When Jessica called this time, she told us she had good news! There was no longer any trace of the immunofixation protein....I had achieved COMPLETE RESPONSE (CR). Although multiple myeloma is not curable, complete response (or remission) is the best I can achieve, meaning sensitive laboratory tests reveal no myeloma cells in the marrow and no detectable abnormal immunoglobulin in blood and urine!! Here is an article which is very encouraging from the American Society of Clinical Oncology - 2010:

Importance of Achieving a Complete Response in Multiple Myeloma, and the Impact of Novel Agents

By Asher A. Chanan-Khan and Sergio Giralt, From the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY; and the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.


Abstract
The goal of treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) is to improve patients' long-term outcomes. One important factor that has been associated with prolonged progression-free and overall survival is the quality of response to treatment, particularly achievement of a complete response (CR). There is extensive evidence from clinical studies in the transplant setting in first-line MM demonstrating that CR or maximal response post-transplant is significantly associated with prolonged progression-free and overall survival...


I cannot express my thankfulness to our Lord for His unwavering presence in these last sixteen months. He has always been with us, fighting for us even in our darkest hours, and hearing the many many prayers that friends and family have lifted up. Praise Him!

Many thanks to all of you as well, for your love, prayers and support. I could not have achieved this without you!

Here are a couple of pictures contrasting April 2010 and April 2011...what a difference a year makes!

Finally walking after 26 days bedridden



Dancing with my Mom



"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3