11.5.08 Chris' doc visit

Well people, though this blog is still not anywhere near what I want it to be, I figure there is no better time than the present to start using it for its purpose, so here we go. I met with Dr. Gamal this morning and while the news isn't stellar, it is not dismal by any means. No matter what, GOD is good all the time. As most of you know, last month we increased my dosage of Gleevec from 400mg to 600mg. You may remember that with CML patients, there are 3 stages of remission. Stage 1 is the hematological response which we achieved right at the 3 month benchmark. Stage 2 is what we are working towards which is the cytogenic response. The process of approaching cytogenic response is managed by way of the PHISH test. The PHISH test measures what percentage of my cells are actually considered to be cancerous. Last month I had improved from 15% to 4% which is encouraging, however we are past the 6 month benchmark for 0%, thus the increase in dosage. As of today I have been at the increased dosage for about a month and the numbers from the most recent PHISH test show 4% still cancerous. It appears that the Gleevec may have plateaued, but we need to be sure. So the process from here is to continue on the 600mg dose for one more month. Depending on the results from the next PHISH test, we will either stay the course (if the numbers improve to 0%) or we will increase to 800mg (which Dr. Gamal is not partial to) or switch to a different medication called Sprycell. Sprycell approaches CML in the same way as Gleevec, however it attacks different mutations. You may recall that the CML mutation I have is the most rare type. That being said, Dr. Gamal believes I will respond well to the Sprycell but, "We don't want to burn any bridges with Gleevec because once you switch from it we will never go back to it."

It is so important to us that each of you know how much your prayers are felt and appreciated. Please continue to pray for GOD to work in our lives, and the lives of others through this process. We love you all!

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3.8-11