Back to LA

This is me saying no to cancer!

I just got back into LA from a restful weekend in the Bay Area watching movies and hanging out with old friends. Tomorrow I’m headed back at the UCLA Medical Center bright and early in the morning to do a second bone marrow biopsy and some CT/PET scans. These tests will determine the staging of lymphoma and if it has spread to any other vital areas of my body. In many ways, it is sort of a second, more definitive diagnosis that will enable my hematologist and other pathologists to work together on a course of action.

Believe it or not, I used to be really afraid of getting the bone marrow biopsy done. I had heard that it was quite a “medieval” procedure, in the sense that there’s nothing civilized about removing/extracting a small amount of your bone, fluids, and cells with a giant needle (yikes!) But when I first got it done last week, it was surprisingly relatively pain-free. I’m not sure if it was the distractions I brought in with me … chewing gum and listening to Boyz II Men crooning their sensational ’90s hits through my ipod. Dr. Rosove guides me through each step he takes with the procedure so that I can mentally anticipate the pain ahead. There’s a dull sensation at the end of the procedure similar to getting a minor toothache except it’s on your hip bone or like a bee sting that will go away in 24 hours. As a result, I’m no longer afraid of the notorious bone marrow biopsy. If yany of you should need to get it done in the future (which by the way, I hope you never do!!), don’t worry, you’ll be okay! 

My recent CBC (Complete Blood Count):

White Blood Count – 1.5 k/uL (normal range is 4.1-10.9 k/uL)

Red Blood Count – 2.28 m/uL (normal range is 4.2-6.3 m/uL)

Hemoglobin – 6.3 g/dL (normal range is 12-18 g/dL)

Platelets – 142 k/uL (normal range is 140-440 k/uL)

They are definitely very low, but I’m doing fine so far. In fact, I appear healthy and well-rested with no major symptoms that are usually expected. No swelling lymph nodes. No headaches despite the anemia. No dizziness. Nothing.  

So many of my closest friends in LA are leaving this week for the post-graduate real world!  I hope I get a chance to see them before they go off and become great successes. 

Until then … much love,

J

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