Wednesday, October 31, 2007

On Again, Off Again

I was downright giddy after I received a 6:30 pm message from the City of Hope yesterday. A nurse called to squeeze me in to consult with Dr. Raubitschek about radioimmunotherapy. The two-week treatment using wonder-drug Zevalin has become standard procedure for mantle cell lymphoma patients prior to a stem cell transplant at CoH.

I called right back and left a message saying, "YES. I can make a 2 pm appointment on Wednesday." I whipped out my calendar and started counting the days until my 30 days and 30 nights at Hotel Hope. The way I figured it, I wouldn't be roasting a turkey this Thanksgiving but could be cracking crab for our traditional Christmas dinner.

But my giddiness was short-lived. The nurse called back this morning to say that she had jumped the gun. She found out that Dr. Forman and team had decided NOT to include me in the Zevalin trial. I still don't know what will come next, but tomorrow I hope to find out where I'll be eating my turkey dinner.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Haaaang on, Smookie, hang on!" We're hangin' with you! Love you, Suze

Piper Robert said...

...and the saga continues.

Thanks for keeping us updated. You're awesome. Love ya!

Anonymous said...

Hoping and praying, Susan, hoping and praying...

Ann said...

Hang in there, Susan. Your blog is addictive and I find myself checking for updates everyday. As a side note, my husband informed me that my hair post transplant is officially a kewpie do. Who knew?

Ann

Susan C said...

Ann, that makes us members of at least two of the same clubs - the "Hapa sisters" and the "Kewpie Dolls." We should start a band.

Hoping to soon be a member of the post-transplant club too.

Mrs. Duck said...

Good luck today. The Smookie Nation is holding its collective breath and thinking good thoughts!

Anonymous said...

My husband had a stem cell transplant at the COH almost a year ago. They were wonderful. I was not aware that Zevalin is used in conjunction with a stem cell transplant. Is this something new?

Susan C said...

I'm not sure when City of Hope started adding Zevalin as a part of the pre-SCT protocol, but a press release about the efficacy is on the CoH website, dated December 2005.

Here's the link:
http://www.cityofhope.org/Media/ReleasesMedSci/AddingImmunotherapyToChemotherapy12-13-05.htm

Wising your husband many more years in remission.

Anonymous said...

Still hoping and Keeping you included in all praying.God bless......-Andrew