"Shane Boyce's Notes" blog update:
Chemo is working too well at killing my internal cells. I had a low white blood cell count this morning so this week's chemo was cancelled. A borderline count is "1.5" I was down at "1.0" (This may be referring to my neutrophil count and not my total white blood cell count. I don't have the printout to compare, only my memory of what the pharmacist told me.). Last week was "1.51" or near there so they treated me anyway. But this week's 1.0 was too low. So I have this week off.
Next week was a regularly scheduled "break" so I won't be receiving chemo next week either. The week after that treatment will continue as normal (provided my counts are recovered). So treatment will continue two Tuesdays from today (Mar 29th is today).
I continue to have no symptoms attributable to the chemotherapy. Most are still post-surgery symptoms (digestive problems and occasional migraine) and maybe extra fatigue from having tumors in my liver. That's all.
Here's a web page that talks about blood cells and counts. I'm not sure how these numbers relate to the "1.5" and "1.0" above, but it is still an interesting read.
Regards,
Shane Boyce
Short Executive Status (Summary) -- Blog is below
Active Tumors:
» 5+ liver tumors -- largest is 7 cm by 5.2 cm (70 x 52 mm), Gold tracers inserted Nov 21 for CyberKnife x-ray 3D movement tracking. Thu Dec 1st,2011, CyberKnife planning. Dec 16th, treatment 1/3 done to whole liver. Dec 19th, treatment 2/3 done to whole liver. Dec 21st, treatment 3 failed, couldn't get tracer alignment. Dec 22nd, treatment 2.5/3 done using 2 of 4 tracers. Final 0.5 treatment was to be done Tue Dec 27th. Cancelled due to complications and hospitalization.
» 12 lung tumors -- largest is 8 mm in size (0.8 cm)
» 1 lymph node tumor -- near left renal vein & artery of left kidney (1.4 cm). Nov 14th: Ultrasound done of both kidneys and bladder area, all 3 areas are cancer free.
» 3rd-8th brain tumors -- 6 new brain tumors. Sizes all less than 5mm(0.5cm). Some as small as 2mm(0.2cm). Full brain radiation or CyberKnife TBD in Jan after 2nd MRI to see speed of growth.
Inactive Tumors:
» 2nd brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife Sep 29/2011, 5 mm in size (0.5 cm).
» 1st brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife May/2011, was 20 mm in size (2 cm). Nov 21st, still showing brain tissue swelling, but not active.
» Original Esophogeal Cancer tumor (source of everything) -- Surgically removed June/2010 by 3-field Esophogectomy. Was roughly large egg sized.
[ Note: 2.54 cm = 25.4mm = 1 inch ]
Link to 34 surgery June 2010 pictures and some post surgery shots.
» 5+ liver tumors -- largest is 7 cm by 5.2 cm (70 x 52 mm), Gold tracers inserted Nov 21 for CyberKnife x-ray 3D movement tracking. Thu Dec 1st,2011, CyberKnife planning. Dec 16th, treatment 1/3 done to whole liver. Dec 19th, treatment 2/3 done to whole liver. Dec 21st, treatment 3 failed, couldn't get tracer alignment. Dec 22nd, treatment 2.5/3 done using 2 of 4 tracers. Final 0.5 treatment was to be done Tue Dec 27th. Cancelled due to complications and hospitalization.
» 12 lung tumors -- largest is 8 mm in size (0.8 cm)
» 1 lymph node tumor -- near left renal vein & artery of left kidney (1.4 cm). Nov 14th: Ultrasound done of both kidneys and bladder area, all 3 areas are cancer free.
» 3rd-8th brain tumors -- 6 new brain tumors. Sizes all less than 5mm(0.5cm). Some as small as 2mm(0.2cm). Full brain radiation or CyberKnife TBD in Jan after 2nd MRI to see speed of growth.
Inactive Tumors:
» 2nd brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife Sep 29/2011, 5 mm in size (0.5 cm).
» 1st brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife May/2011, was 20 mm in size (2 cm). Nov 21st, still showing brain tissue swelling, but not active.
» Original Esophogeal Cancer tumor (source of everything) -- Surgically removed June/2010 by 3-field Esophogectomy. Was roughly large egg sized.
[ Note: 2.54 cm = 25.4mm = 1 inch ]
 | 5 pictures included in album | ||
| 2011_11_16, Shane in BIG CHAIR |
Link to 34 surgery June 2010 pictures and some post surgery shots.
Latest Picture
Shane - 2011_11_27, Photo Shoot lighting prep
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Just to clarify, neutrophils are a type of White Blood Cell (WBC). The normal immune system has many types of WBC. The neutrophils are the main white blood cell defense against infections, and are, along with the cancer cells, killed by the chemotherapy.
ReplyDelete(*Warning* very technical language ahead)
The lab technician (not the pharmacist, Shane) was probably referring to the Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC). ANC is not measured directly. It is derived by multiplying the WBC count times the percent of neutrophils in the differential WBC count. The percent of neutrophils consists of the segmented (fully mature) neutrophils) + the bands (almost mature neutrophils). The normal range for the ANC = 1.5 to 8.0 (1,500 to 8,000/mm3).
So, Shane's neutrophil count today was 1.0 - too low to continue chemotherapy. The longer the neutrophil level remains low, the greater the chance of getting an infection with potentially serious results.
Chemotherapy will have to be delayed until Shane's body can produce more neutrophils. Otherwise, a lower dosage may have to be given, resulting in the treatment being less effective.
It's much harder to treat Shane as every occurrence of potential infection saps his strength and greatly affects his total quality of life.
That means you're under quarantine, dude! Aren't you glad you married a smart wife?
OK, dammit, you're right, Shane. It's the PHARMACIST who calls your number in the waiting room to talk about your blood work results and chemotherapy side effects before you have your treatment.
ReplyDeletethanks for the link...I found it very informative. I often wondered what all the numbers meant, now I know. I bookmarked it for the future. Take care Shane....you too Kaye!
ReplyDelete