This is unbelievable! Remember Barb Davis from Wednesday's post? Her M-spike, or monoclonal protien marker, had gone from practically zero to 6.1 (which is really serious!) in three months. Since Barb had already suffered some liver damage from previous therapies, this was especially devestating news. The liver damage limits her treatment options. I was figuring (and she probably was thinking this too!) that she might only have a year or two to live, maybe less. A transplant that wasn't working. A return of her cancer that was progressing at record breaking speed. Use of the two most successful myeloma therapies contraindicated. Barb was running out of options! HOLD EVERYTHING! It now looks like the lab made a mistake! A second test, drawn out of disbelief and dismay at her Wednesday appointment, has come back showing an M-spike of .01, the same, more expected number from three previous months. UNBELIEVABLE! Pattie and I are so excited and happy for Barb. But in another way, this news is very disturbing! How could the pathologist/lab get this so wrong? What if Barb would have been so distraught that she gone out and quit her job? Or lashed out at friends or family, permanently damaging those relationships? Or worse yet, had attempted to take her own life? This is upsetting on so many levels. I'm not a litigious person, but if something like this happened to me, I might consider suing. At least this story has a happy ending- and reminds us all to double check and varify any and all test results before making treatment decisions. And please, please seek a second opinion whenever you are facing a surgery or any type of serious diagnosis. For now, let's all be happy!
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat & Pattie
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