Good evening all,

 

Dad has done well after his first round of chemotherapy, although the first week post-treatment proved easier than the second week. He's currently dealing with a severe rash over a large part of his body which is quite uncomfortable. The Benadryl has taken the edge off, so hopefully that improves rapidly. He is also feeling a little more lethargic this week, which he was told to expect.

 

On the upside there are several positive developments. He seems to have responded very well to his first chemotherapy treatment. The swelling in his neck reduced greatly as did the tightness in his belly. So the signs point towards positive benefits from his treatment. In addition, his biopsy came back with a final result. He does indeed have Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, but he has a mutation of it called wild-type. 

 

My understanding is that this isn't necessarily good or bad in regards to the cancer itself, but it is good in that that mutation is more susceptible to treatment by the pill only option, IMBRUVICA. Without covid 19 in the mix, the best course of therapy may be to continue with chemotherapy. However with his serious risk of infection, the doctor feels that switching to this pill would be better at this time. If the pill doesn't work or stops working, there is always chemotherapy to fall back on.

 

So, I wish he was feeling as well as he did last week, but hopefully in another few days he will be feeling better and can transition over to the pill.

 

Thank you so much for all your thoughts wishes and prayers!

Mel