Ibrutinib at one year

Just back from my one-year anniversary visit to the National Institutes of Health.

For the most part, I would say everything is still proceeding as in the past... slowly improving.

Two minor exceptions: my white blood cell number (WBC, they call it. White blood cells are, in the vernacular, pus) actually went back up a tiny bit, I suspect in response to my body trying to get rid of the sinus infection.

Also, my immunoglobulin numbers went back down from where they were in December (the wrong direction) but the December numbers were probably artificially inflated a bit by the immunoglobulin infusions in September, October, and November. There is still not much evidence (that I know of) among us human lab rats that this miracle drug---and it is that---patches up one's immune system.

The good news is that my hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers continue to inch slowly upward, and those numbers measure the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood (hence suggest feeling more energetic).

Still seeing no discernible side effects. Just swallow these three little gray battleships every afternoon and keep the CLL at bay.

Pretty groggy today, having gotten up at 3:30 a.m. yesterday and not home until 10:30 p.m., with a two 25-mile drives, two plane trips, two bus rides, six subway cars, and a CT scan in-between---and worth all of that to be in this trial.