PCI-32765 monotherapy Clinical Trial end of Cycle One 5th week

[Guest guest]

I squeezed in an Atlatl competition between week 4 & 5. On

Friday I felt great but Sat. morning at 2:00am I was

awakened by irregular and rapid heart beat staying with me

for 12hrs. The red and irritated eyes issue came back

plaguing my throwing accuracy for the rest of the tournament

in spite of the great time enjoyed. The tournament was

highlighted by the sighting of a large black bear swimming

up river from our target range and a just maturing bald

eagle who few in close to check out prospects for a fish

breakfast.

The heart issue is interesting since it is one of the side

effects carefully monitored when on PCI. This is only the

third episode I have ever experienced, two of which while on

PCI. The first happened after two nights following my first

cycle of RF in '09 so who can say whether it is age or PCI

specific drug related? Uncertainty surounds the seriousness

of these episodes and my naturally low heart rate but I am

pestered at the to pursue this with a local

cardiologist.

Morning of appointment is begun by my customary walk and

exploration along the Olentangy River bike/hiking path.

Energy is excellent and the imposing mechanical toad that

squatted on the pathway the previous week has leaped to the

upper bridge leaving the wooden barricades easily passed

through. I am thinking about what TX course to consider

should I ever be kicked off PCI but refocus on the perfect

day and guttural croaking of the wetland frogs in full voice

before the light of dawn.

Monitoring went well and for the third week now, my

creatinine has declined and my GFR (Glomerular Filtration

Rate) has slightly gone up - all good. PCI appears to be

preventing the cancer from " contaminating " my kidneys. Yeah!

WBC continues to rise (as expected) and now is 61k up from

23k at Trial start. RBC, Hgb & Hematocrit all slightly down

from values at Trial's start. Platelets bounce around in the

low 100s currently 110. I am told that a quicker appointment

has been scheduled at my local cardiology clinic the day

after my return but I am OK to continue on to cycle 2 as I

am handed my new bag of PCI capsules & diary.

We got a chance to meet briefly with two List members and

spouses which is tricky due to different scheduling.

To celebrate my making it through Cycle 1 in better shape

than when I entered, we visited the lin Conservatory

before heading home, which has a unique mix of plant

environments suffused with the spectacular hot glass art of

Dale Chihuly. The live butterfly exhibit was a constant if

not fleeting experience of visual discovery as the

butterflies emerged and disappeared among tropical foliage.

For me CLL must never be confined to the numbers and insults

we endure from the cancer and the drugs. I only wish that

the good energy I have regained through this phase of TX

could be shared among those of you less fortunate.

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