Medical: Neulasta & No lumpsa

Neulasta

I just figured out how it is that Neulasta (which boosts white/immune cell production) can be OK with Lymphoma: because it stimulates stem cells to ripen *into* white blood cells. It does not stimulate white blood cells to grow or divide.

Recall that Estrogen is good for breasts, but too-much-of-a-good-thing with breast cancer, and that Folate (a B vitamin) is good for blood (cures pernicious anemia), but too-much-of-a-good-thing with leukemia. In both cases "good for _____" turns into a corresponding "deadly for _____ cancer"

But Neulasta, (a brand connoting that it is a neutrophil-stimulant that is long lasting (once per chemo cycle)) is "good for [production of neutrophils (white blood cells)]" that is NOT cancer-encouraging, and so does not fit the pattern.

The reason: Neulasta stimulates (cancer-free) stem cells to "ripen" into white blood cells.  

This is also why stem cell transplanting works: take out my stem cells (if they can be assumed "normal") wipe out all blood-cell offspring (including lymphs and leuks) and then put the stem cells back and tell them "ripen real fast"

I will get my blood counts again tomorrow.  Last time, it showed "higher than normal" neutrophils (stimulated by the Neulasta) but still lower than normal lymphocites...which the chemo has reduced somewhat faster than the Neulasta, at least initially, could replace them.

No Lumpsa

For the first time since April of this year, the lump on the cancer side of my neck (the right) is actually smaller than my lymph gland on the left side.  This feels good...I can actually shave on that side (being careful not to nick) in a way that I haven't been able to since maybe June.

I don't want to get over-excited but it is good news. I finally seem to have gotten a "powers of ten" response (maybe a 100x or 1000x reduction) instead of the "division by 3" reduction that I saw in the first rounds of chemo