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Health update

Published on 24 Comments on Health update

This month brings more good news. It's sort of trivial, but that's never stopped me before.

In January I told you that my cancer levels had dropped to a level that qualified as a "complete" response. But there's an even better category labeled a "stringent complete" response that has to do with something called the serum free light chain ratio. This is the ratio of kappa and lambda light chains, and this month mine was both measurable and normal:

Now, it so happens that the latest medical thinking on this matter is that the free light chain ratio doesn't actually matter very much. But it matters a little bit, and that's good enough for me.

In other news, my immunoglobulin levels are starting to recover. My IgM level is now normal and my IgG level appears to have bottomed out and is (just barely) starting to turn up. This is good for two reasons. First, immunoglobulins are better known as antibodies, and having a normal level of antibodies is an excellent thing. Second, the fact that they're recovering suggests that the CAR-T might finally be finishing up. Obviously I'm glad it kept working long enough to kill off lots of cancer cells, but I'd also like it to eventually call it quits so that I can recover from the procedure and start to feel better.

That's the latest. No big changes, but basically all good news.

24 thoughts on “Health update”

  1. KawSunflower

    So very happy to see this post & hope that you, Marian & both the cats are celebrating in some special manner! Hope that this treatment available to many others & works as well for them.

  2. Talphon

    It's been months of ugly news and doldrums. Glad to see something unequivocally good. I've been relying on your blog to help keep perspective. So don't go anywhere.

  4. dspcole

    Very good to hear. With so much bad news out there this is a breath of fresh air. Good job Kevin.
    PS is that ratio adjusted for inflation?

  19. dashavingo

    Very happy to hear good news on your health Kevin. When you read a great blogger for as many years as I have you, it’s bit like a one sided friendship. But I do wish you well nonetheless!

    Andrew

  22. go-grizzlies

    I get what Andrew is saying about one-sided. I feel greedy BUT also grateful every time I read one of your posts or stare at one of your photos and am so glad about this bright health news. You are a jolly force (even when you're not feeling so great), a great role model, a national treasure!!

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