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Platelets and a Relay for Life

Sorry folks. I’ve been away from my blog for far too long.

I have a lot of information to get you caught up on.

I recently had another scan to assess the size of the tumor on my liver and a second bone marrow biopsy. Because of the long stretch without chemo, I was not surprised when the scan showed the tumor had grown from about 1.5 centimeters in width to about 2.5 centimeters. That means it’s about an inch wide.

My second bone marrow biopsy in just a couple months revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

So, we’re back to dealing with the platelets, which I blogged about in great detail with my last posting. Because the tumor on the liver has grown at such a slow rate, and because it has been as large as 4.1 centimeters in width, my doctors and I have put that rascal on the back burner to deal with the platelet situation.

Despite numerous shots of a drug called “N-plate,” my number is still too low to receive chemotherapy. In fact, last week the count had crashed all the way to 6,000. Dr. Green, my oncologist, ordered a platelet transfusion.

The Monday transfusion pushed the number all the way up to 19,000, still far below where I need to be to receive chemotherapy.

We will now wait a few days to find out if my body is going to eat up the platelets like Pac-man or if my body will return to some sort of normalcy and begin producing platelets on its own.

Dr. Green has actually lowered the standard for when I will be able to take chemo. The original target number was a platelet count of 75,000. We would be more than happy right now to hit 50,000.

We’ve also had discussions about possible worst-case scenarios, one of which involves surgery to remove my spleen. Dear God, I hope the platelet counts can rise.

On a much lighter note, I’d like to say a few things about the Janesville Relay For Life. I was in tough shape last year and unable to participate.

This year, I threw my all into helping the WCLO/Janesville Gazette team. Our team did a pretty good job raising money.

I even tried my darndest to win the title of “Mr. Relay.” I put on a dress and in nearly full drag, my alter ego “Lady Marmalade” raised about $85 in 30 minutes as I vamped around the relay site. I really felt like a diva, waving a pink boa and “soliciting” donations. Putting on a dress seems kinda crazy, but it was quite fun.

A big thanks goes out to all of the people who tuned into the “Stan Milam Show” last Friday on WCLO. I was fortunate enough to be substituting for Stan, who was on vacation. With the blessings of Station Manager Mike O’Brien and Program Director Tim Bremel, we turned the entire show into a day for cancer awareness and a way to raise money for the relay.

In just a few short hours, listeners dropped almost $900 into the collection box in the building lobby. One check in particular moved me to tears.

I would like to thank everyone who donated money. I wish I could have been in the lobby all day offering hugs and personal thanks to all of those who dug down even though Janesville finds itself in the throes of economic hardship.

As for the relay itself, it was, despite the crummy weather, quite the emotional event.

The most emotional moment for me, and many of the participants, is the survivor walk. I took a lap around the Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds arm-in-arm with my father and sister, both cancer survivors.

Six of the seven members of our family have been diagnosed with cancer. My father had two different cancers simultaneously while my brother battled two different cancers 18 years apart. The McPoland family has an unbeaten record against cancer. If I can win my fight, we can keep our record perfect. I hate to end this on a downer, but I would like everyone out there to say a prayer for my brother, Jim. About one week after being declared cancer-free for the second time in his life, he suffered a major stroke. The right side of his body is paralyzed, but he has been making incredible strides.

It’s another bump in the road for a family that must be riding on the best shock absorbers around, because we’ve certainly hit every bump.

Everybody keep fighting.

We’ll see you soon.