In the midpoint of my treatment journey, a pivotal moment arrived—time for a PET scan and blood tests to assess the treatment’s efficacy.
Remarkably, the conspicuous lumps that once resided in my pelvic area and beneath my right jaw seemed to have vanished or, at the very least, significantly diminished to the point of imperceptibility.
Quoting the summary from my PET scan findings, it read, “significant treatment response with nearly resolved lymphadenopathy with minimal residual activity.” In simpler terms, post the initial trio of treatments, the PET scan detected minimal activity, marking an excellent “clinical response.”
The CBC blood test, a reliable indicator of my body’s internal dynamics, delivered insights. My platelet count now stood at 79, well below the expected range of 150-425. Simultaneously, red cell and hemoglobin counts also dipped below the norm, offering a plausible explanation for my prevailing low energy levels. While these results were within the anticipated spectrum, I hadn’t fully grasped that to embark on the fourth treatment round, a minimum platelet count of 75 was imperative—barely making the cut by a margin of 5 (lol).
Armed with a completed PET scan and blood tests aligning with the criteria for initiating the in-patient treatment cycles, I made my way to the hospital. Prior to my hospital visit, Dr. Rajguru sensitized me to the escalating challenges awaiting in the final three rounds—more demanding on my body than before. We delved into the likelihood of post-treatment transfusions, primarily for platelets and potentially other blood components.
It was at this juncture that the temporal nature of platelets came into focus, with a useful lifespan of 1-3 days. Driven by this awareness, I would soon document the unfolding narrative of my concluding three rounds, with the transfusion dynamics playing a pivotal role in my journey.