Chromosomes and chromatic abberations

 Dr. Mansoor, hematologist, came in this morning to give us the latest update. He said that the lab work from the bone marrow biopsy has progressed enough that he is convinced that what I have is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (ALM). Within ALM, he said there are a number of sub-types, ranging from Standard to Aggressive. What we are waiting on currently is to know where on that spectrum my particular brand of ALM resides. Apparently, if I understood correctly, that standing is dependent upon which chromosomes are affected by the mutations that are causing my cells to go crazy. Finally, knowing which chromosome(s) are affected dictates which chemotherapeutic agents will be effective. 

He expects to have enough information by late tomorrow to make that determination; and then it's off to the races. The good news, according to Dr. Mansoor, is that other than my ALM, I am very healthy, and he can "throw everything he's got at me." Now to be fair, he also mentioned other treatment modalities that could come into play, including bone marrow transplants, but those decisions are down the road a piece. He also told us that sometimes more information from the biopsy can trickle in over the course of several weeks, which could require tweaking the treatment plan.

Going back to his comment about how well I am, other than the ALM, all of my labs outside of blood work are coming back right smack in the middle of the normal range for every one of them. This gives me a good deal of peace, because having cancer (and this is my second go-round, including colo-rectal cancer in 1996) makes you not trust your body. At least in this case, I can narrow that down to not trusting my bone marrow, which accounts for about 4% of body weight. So, listen up body: I just don't trust 4% of you!

Some of the more visible results of this kind of problem are right there, front and center for everyone to see. The extreme lack of platelets in my blood stream means that all I have to do is think about a bruise, and it is mine. (I don't know why I couldn't have some condition where all I had to do was think about, say, a fine wine, or a Lamborghini...Oh, well.)

Here's a lovely little number on my right forearm. As you can see it is just blotchy enough to be repellent without going all the way to disgusting.

This example on my left elbow brings out the black in "black and blue," while balancing it nicely with more of the reddish tones. 

 

Here we have something a little more subtle that I like to call "Buckshot Wound." 

And last, but not least, my personal favorite, "Mushroom Cloud." 

Oh, wait, I think those were the pictures I took the morning after the night I got drunk and went to the tattoo school. Unbeknownst to me, they had sent me to the freshman class lab. 

I promise, I promise: I will cease and desist with the disgusting pictures. Do come back again.