Most cancers Outcomes Are Again… – Kristin Sterk

Yesterday at my routine Monday, Wednesday, Friday appointment on the most cancers clinic, we met with my PA to debate unwanted effects and check outcomes.

We had been ready to listen to again about my inversion 16 check end result, to see if that quantity is lastly zero once more. Final June, we discovered that the CBF – core binding issue (PCR) check, that detects the kind of AML that I had, was constructive. The factor is, I had a superb handful of PCR exams previous to that, that had been unfavorable, however there should have been one little measly cell in there, that took over and I relapsed. So in all actuality, I had but to be most cancers free, exterior of being most cancers free earlier than I used to be identified.

We knew that the proportion of donor cells that I presently have is sort of excessive, which is precisely what they need to see. Like I common 99.69%! So we knew that the donor’s cells had been engrafting and that Lord-willing, they’re doing what they’re speculated to be doing. However we actually gained’t know if it’s deemed a “profitable” transplant till no less than a yr from now.

This PCR check although, was the primary since having gone by means of my bone marrow transplant, so I’ve been very curious to see what it will come again as. I used to be making ready myself for the worst, since we haven’t had a transparent PCR check since final February, when my final one was. So yesterday, as we had been assembly with my PA, I remembered that I nonetheless hadn’t heard the outcomes of that check that was accomplished a few weeks in the past. I shortly requested as I remembered, and he or she stated she wished to inform me in particular person. Oh boy…

Properly, that quantity got here again at ZERO. ZILCH. NADA. NOTHING. NO lively leukemia cells had been detected! We’re again at ZERO! I began crying when she informed me that, because it had been a LONG time since we had been informed information like that. It appeared as if each check end result since June, solely reconfirmed a relapse and issues had been solely getting worse. We’re cautiously optimistic since we all know that this implies there can nonetheless be a cell hanging out in there that may finally take over, however we simply pray these donor cells eat that nasty most cancers IF there’s, and that my new immune system will battle it.

I’m as soon as once more, CANCER FREE. It makes me cry simply typing that as a result of there are such a lot of feelings tied to these phrases! It has been a LONG yr and a half. Which within the grand scheme, isn’t that lengthy. However I believe when it was sophisticated by my coronary heart situation, it simply looks like we’ve been coping with well being points for a really very long time.

Now I’m not out of the woods but. That is simply one of many PCR exams I might be having. I’ll have one other at Day 60, Day 100, 6 months, and many others. That is the primary of them, but it surely’s a superb one. We all know issues can change drastically in a heartbeat. Let our life be a sworn statement to that! However for now, we simply reward God for this reward. We reward Him for His therapeutic hand up to now. We pray that this most cancers will keep away for good and that if there’s even only one cell left, that God would eradicate it from my physique. It’s all in His palms and so we depart it in His palms. He has been devoted to us previously and might be devoted to us sooner or later too.

However boy are we able to take a breather from well being points for a short while! My physique remains to be therapeutic from the BMT, however we’re grateful for the therapeutic God has already given it. We see weekly progress and we simply pray He continues to guard my physique from an infection and sustains it as we journey alongside.

Thanks on your prayers as we proceed to stroll this journey!