Update on Jan .. June 5, 2012

June 5, 2012

Cristina asked, but I'll send out to all the above. Hopefully, none of

you will see leukemia in your loved one in adult years.

Yes, the leukemia is back .. at least as discovered by tests on the

severe infection she had in her sinus region that had a lot of BAD white

blood cells. The infection got wiped out by antibiodics, but the mass

with the bad cells was still there, even if they couldn't find anything

in her bone marrow or spinal fluid. Technically this is a sarcoma,

which is a rare recurrence form for leukemia.

Jan is doing great, although we've moved her to living with us rather

than alone in her apartment. She has regular head and neck pain, but

tolerates it well with only occasional medication. She is still

physically active. She took a three mile hike on her own today up in

the local hills. Last Saturday she went biking on friends about six or

so miles round trip to go see " Men in Black - 3 " . Most evenings when

the parking lot next door gets empty, she goes over there and shoots

baskets. She enjoyed going out last week for dinner and to see "

Poppins " as well as going to a birthday lunch for her best friend. Not

much sign of a sick person, but she is aware of what is going on.

Yesterday we completed the radiation treatment to eliminate the mass in

sinus. The doctor says that he is very pleased with the results which

are much as he had expected. From here, the next steps will be revealed

later in the month. We expect some relatively mild form of chemo, not

like the induction she's had multiple times before. We also have

appointment to look at a transplant, but a much lesser one than four

years ago which gave her her brother's blood system. This time they are

talking about lymphocytes which might seek out and destroy the source of

the current leukemia. The feeling is that is is something that has been

in hiding for the past eight years.

Jan is still an amazingly strong person. We are hoping she an stay that

way, but trying to be prepared for whatever comes. At this point, it is

important for us to remember how great the last eight years since her

transplant have been and recognizing the misery that it took to get

through it.

Rick

p.s. Her two brothers (with a contribution from Jan) bought her a HUGE

TV. She is watching episodes from " Texas Ranger " . She got the

full series for Christmas .. something she's wanted, but couldn't manage

to save for.

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