Results of Arkansas Tests

Bottom line:
Both Deb and I are encouraged. It certainly could have been worse! We are staying in Little Rock tonight because the weather is awful for flying home today.

Details:
We arrived early for our appointment with Dr Van Rhee and were soon seen for the typical labs before seeing the Doc. While waiting on Deb's blood pressure to give a reading (always a problem), Vern saw Dr Nair in the hall and waved. He came to greet us and we asked if he was still our Dr, or had we been swapped to Dr Van Rhee. He said he was still our Dr. and would swap that appointment with Van Rhee.

The nurse took us to our examining room and soon Dr Nair came in and began getting an update from Deb and Deb's tests.

For the technically interested, Deb's IGA and Lamda Light Chains are going up but are still within the normal range. Her PET looked worse but her multiple MRIs looked better. Dr Nair said "I'm a bit worried about those climbing markers. The disease is trying to come back."

So, the plan is to increase dosages of chemo upward. Thalomid (Thalidomide)is being replaced with much higher doses of Revlamid. Velcade will now be twice a week. Labs will be sent to Arkansas more often. We are to return in a month and have all the tests we normally have plus another bone marrow and a gene array.

In other words, Deb is about to get her butt kicked by these increased chemos!

The weather made coming home today out of the question. We will look at it in the morning and make a decision. The front causing very low ceilings and visibilities in both Arkansas and the Atlanta areas stretches all the way from Colorado to the Carolinas.

Before he left us, Dr Nair  told us that he will be leaving UAMS in March for private oncology practice. His nurse Gina (Holy Spirit tatto on her wrist) told us she would be retiring when Dr Nair leaves. We will miss them both and wish them well. Nurse Tina who encouraged Deb at her lowest point too another job a while back.