Ron had an ECP treatment yesterday afternoon. He has one more scheduled in a month. The ECP Clinic is now housed in the new hospital on 8th floor directly above the BMT Clinic. These treatments are a result of a study that Ron is a part of. ECP helps to bring harmony to the immune system; his new immune system, which is a result of the bone marrow transplant, caused graft versus host disease affecting his skin primarily and early on, his digestive system. Studies have shown that patients who have GVHD have lower percentage of relapse of leukemia, so a little GVHD is good. Ron has had more than "a little." it is believed that not only is the immune system attacking the host but also any remaining leukemia cells. Eventually, the body accepts the new immune system and GVHD resolves. Ron is getting closer to this point as he is weaned off steroids and immuno-suppressant meds.
We are planning our next overnight trip from Ann Arbor! We are going to my sister's for the Super Bowl. They live about 2 hours from Ann Arbor. It is exciting making plans to be near home; we only live about 10 minutes apart. We will drop off some items that we are no longer using here and check the house and yard. We only plan to be gone about 24 hours. I can give Ron his IVs before we go Sunday and after we return on Monday. I am just hoping that the snow we have seen so little of this warm winter will not arrive to spoil our plans.
This will be a quiet day. As a result of the treatment and having spent several hours at the hospital, Ron always sleeps even more on the day after ECP. (Plus we just had to watch the Buckeyes game and then the Spartans get Izzo's 400th win.)
Love, Ron & Jan
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment