Category: My lymphoma and related medical stuff

Yesterday I got the results of both my biopsy of two weeks ago and last Friday’s blood count. First the counts – my white blood cell count (CBC) is a little low at 3.1 (normal is 4-11). Red cells (RBC’s) a little low at 3.98 (normal 4.2-5.6) Hemaglobin is 12 (normal 13-17) My platelets are…

Here’s an article from Forbes online, about an unfortunate possible side effect which may have come from Rituxan use. Update — Analysts Downplay Rituxan Worries – Forbes.com The Food and Drug Administration warned health care professionals on Monday that two patients treated with the drug Rituxan for an off-label condition died after developing a fatal…

I haven’t seen the results of my CBC from the past Friday – MSK will fax me the results tomorrow, In the meantime I am back on the antibiotic Levaquin for my sinus issue, and as a bonus I got what I’m sure was a viral infection that manifested itself last night – achy, intermittently…

This is from the AP as published online by aol. Breast Cancer Rates Fell Dramatically in 2003 – AOL News Breast cancer rates plunged an unprecedented 7 percent in 2003, the year after millions of women stopped taking menopause hormones when a study showed the pills raise the risk of tumors.

I (or we, since Brigid went) had my appointment Friday morning with Dr. Virginia Klimek, a hematologist at Sloan Kettering with a strong interest in Myelo-Displasia Syndrome (MDS). My history of low white cell counts since my chemotherapy has Dr. Zelenetz concerned I am at heightened risk of developing this very serious (and rare) bone…

We will be seeing a hematologist at Sloan Kettering tomorrow morning to get some more information on my low white count and the ramifications.

The Washington Times has a good brief article on the new fears that drug-coated stents (the little coil that’s put into coronary arteries to keep them open) are not as safe as originally believed. Drug-coated stents might raise risk of blood clots – Nation/Politics – insider.washingtontimes.com Doctors think these stents may raise the risk of…

As per my previous posts, I went to Manhattan to see the lymphoma guru Dr. Zelenetz two days ago. He had all the results of the bone marrow biopsy done four weeks ago. The results are that I have some bone marrow abnormalities – specifically a hypocellular condition. Evidently about 25% of bone marrow should…

Tomorrow afternoon I have an appointment in New York with the lymphoma Guru, Dr. Zelenetz. All the results are in from my bone marrow biopsy, so perhaps they’ll be an answer to why my white blood cell count has been so stubbornly low. I’d also like to know about my seemingly chronic cough, which got…

Here’s a Wall Street Journal article that AOL is featuring, so you don’t have to be an online suscriber to the Journal to access it. Interested in slowing down your loss of brain function as you age? The evidence is piling up that you do it through physical exercise (mainly aerobic) rather than mental gymnastics.…