thyroid

Good News Again

Stable:
Since April of 2016 my treatment regimen has been Pomalyst (pomalidomide) and Darzalex (daratumumab), with dexamethasone in the early months.  That combination brought my IgG and M-Spike down to the lowest levels seen since diagnosis 14 y…

New study could pressure VA to expand Agent Orange benefits

Four-ship formation on a defoliation spray run.                                         U.S. Air Force photo

A new study has found a close relationship between Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War and high blood pressure, a conclusion that could lead the Department of Veterans Affairs to dramatically expand the number of veterans eligible for compensation.

The study, published last week by VA researchers in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, found a higher rate of hypertension among members of the Army Chemical Corps who handled Agent Orange during the war compared to those who didn’t. Corps members who served in Vietnam but did not spray the chemicals also had a higher rate of hypertension than their peers who served outside Vietnam.

Both results were statistically significant and add to a body of evidence linking Agent Orange exposure and hypertension.

The findings come 41 years after the close of the Vietnam War and decades since the last supplies of Agent Orange were incinerated. Since then, veterans have become increasingly distrustful of the VA. They maintain that their exposure to Agent Orange, which contained the toxic chemical dioxin, has harmed their health and has been passed on to their children.

A VA working group has been studying the latest scientific literature since March to determine whether any illnesses should be added to the agency’s list of diseases for which vets are automatically entitled to compensation if they served in Vietnam. Specifically, the group has been looking at new evidence linking bladder cancer, underactive thyroid, Parkinson’s-like symptoms and hypertension to Agent Orange exposure.

The VA had been expected to announce its decision this year, but officials now say that will be left to the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

“For this administration, the deadline for proposing new rules for potential new presumptions [of service connection to herbicide] has passed, and this will become work for the new administration to take to completion,” VA officials said in a written statement first reported last week in Stars and Stripes.

Hypertension is the most common ailment among veterans seeking health care at the VA. It is one of the most common ailments among older adults generally.

The study released last week found the prevalence of hypertension among members of the Army Chemical Corps to be higher than among other aging veterans. Although most of the Agent Orange used in Vietnam was sprayed from Air Force planes, the Army Chemical Corps also sprayed the herbicide from hand sprayers and helicopters.

LINK

Cycle 4 Week 1 Day 1 Carfilzomib/Dex and Day 1/21 Revlimid 10 mg – January 30 2013

Drove to St. Luke’s Hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho this morning for my monthly visit with Dr. Padavanija and the beginning of Cycle 4 Carfilzomib/Dex. Roads were dry and the 135 mile drive pleasant.

Waiting for my appointment at St. Luke’s Hospital January 30 2013.

Dr. Padavanija had just talked with Dr. Clay Smith at UCH (Aurora, Colorado) via telephone, so we were all on the same page.

Remember, during my last Cycle 3, we HELD carfilzomib (27 metered square) and cytoxin (500 mg) for low counts, so I have not had any chemo since 9 Jan 2013. However, I continued to take Cycle 3 Revlimid 10 mg finishing 22 Jan 2013.

History of Carfilzomib/Dex/Cytoxan/Revlimid USE (Each Cycle consists of 3 weeks (2 times per wk) followed by a rest week).
Cycle 1: Start 10 Oct 2012 with Revlimid 10 mg (1/21).
Cycle 2: Start 27 Nov 2012 with Revlimid 10 mg (1/21).
Cycle 3: Start 2 Jan 2012 with Revlimid 10 mg (1/21). Added Cytoxan 500 mg. HELD Carfilzomib and Cytoxan Week 3 of Cycle 3 for low counts and continued Revlimid 10 mg
Cycle 4: Start 30 Jan 2013 with Revlimid 10 mg (1/21). HELD Cytoxan until counts recover
My 30 Jan 2012 CBC results: WBC 2.2 (norms 4.5-11) slightly up , ANC 1.44 (norms 1.9-8.8) up , Hg 8.9 (norms 12-16) slightly down, Platelets 141 (norms 140-440) -woohoo normal), LDH 583 (St. Luke’s norms 313-618) normal. 
Here is a chart looking at the values overtime.
Since my Hg remains low at 8.9 with an elevated MCV (mean corpuscular volume or the average size of a red blood cell) at 102.5, Dr. Padavanija drew a B12 and thyroid levels. I don’t have those results yet. My Chem Panel was normal except of a slightly low Potassium (K at 3.4) and I was advised to eat more banana and potato).

Dr. Padavanija was in a agreement with conscious sedation for my next bone marrow biopsy and has scheduled it for 20 Feb 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Twin Falls, Idaho – YEA! At least I never have to look at that torture anymore.
Dr. Padavanija looked at the neck incision for my Bard Power Port which was placed 20 Dec 2013 and a stitch seems to be working itself out.
I also had a skull x-ray of the small hard lesion growing on my forehead and an x-ray of my left hip which hurts only when I lie on that side (results pending).
On to the Infusion Center where I was pleasantly surprised that they had ordered and obtained the un-foam padded Huber needle for my Bard Power Port along with plain tegaderm vs the tegaderm impregnated with white film which my skin reacts to. I’ve been putting Emla Cream (deadens the area they put this sorta big needle in to) on my port site and it works great for me.
I received my monthly dose of Aredia 30 mg. I remembered to take Claritin and a plain Tylenol with it, so I’m hoping I have few, if any, side effects this month.
Stayed at the motel in Twin Falls and woke in the night with an Aredia headache all over my head. I drank more water and went back to sleep. Returned to St. Luke’s Hospital Infusion Center for my 2nd day of carfilzomid/dex. RN Vicki was able to get me in and out in less than an hour, which I am always appreciative of because of the 2 1/2 hour drive home to Mackay.
Was home by noon and went to get Kemmer at Ron’s. Stopped at Ivies (grocery store) wearing my mask. I always try to go while the children are still in school to avoid their potential germs.
Came home and walked Kemmer 0.54 miles around the neighborhood. Not much of a walk, but I was tired.

Stable Again

June 2, 2011

I’m still on the pomalidomide drug study at Mayo Clinic, and the cancer markers seem stable after the 42nd 28-day cycle. IgG is down a little, M-spike up a little, and Lambda light chains are down. Par for the course. I take just 2 mg o…