One Thing Leads To Another

Last week we trekked to Cleveland Clinic for the usual scans and appointments. This time there's no unqualified "stable" report, I'm sorry to say; rather, there was a tiny bit of growth in 3 lesions. It's not enough to force me off Nexavar, thank goodness, but it's the first that we've seen for over 2 years.

I'm always let in for a battery of standard labwork. Once in a while either Dr. G or Dr. SC will decide to follow one set of results with more investigation. I don't think it's from alarm on their part, but rather a desire to know more completely what's going on with me.

This time, Dr. G zeroed in on MCV (mean cell volume) - my levels indicate that my red blood cells are smaller than the norm. This could be from internal bleeding (on a microscopic level) or from anemia. My money's on anemia, given my history, but I'm undergoing a stool card test just to be sure. If those results are positive I suppose I'll have to go the endoscopy and colonoscopy route.

If negative, I suppose I'll be looking around for tools to boost my iron count. That remedy will be determined by finding something that doesn't interfere with absorption of other medications. Sometimes I feel like we're doing an enormous jigsaw puzzle without having the picture on the box for reference ...

I passed along the sweater I'd made for Dr. G's baby's first birthday. It's only 4 months late; I wasn't finished with it by her birthday, and I forgot to take it to the January appointment. Fortunately I'm certain it's something she'll have to grow into anyway. I'm told that her favorite color is purple - mine too!