Six Week Numbers

 Sabine has been now six weeks without chemotherapy. The "cancer numbers," though not zero (as we continue to hope and pray for) have not risen too dramatically. When we stopped the chemo she was at 26 (normal free lambda light chain range is 5.7-26.3).

Now the blood test revealed that it had risen to 42. My prediction is that Dr Sheehan will not take action and wait until the 12 weeks without chemo are completed. The next test in 6 weeks will tell us the rate of the increase and dictate our next steps.

In the meantime, Sabine is enjoying the summer by being active -- exercising for about an hour each day, kayaking, cycling and, after seeing "The Jersey Boys" in Milwaukee this week, humming all those great songs from the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons -- "C'mon Marianne, Ragdoll, Silence is Golden, Bye Bye Baby, and Can't Take My Eyes Off of You..."

Lazy Summer (so far)

Here we are at the mid-point. The summer off -- no chemotherapy for Sabine.  Tweleve whole weeks! Now it's at the half-way point and today Sabine goes for a blood test to check and see what the cancer has been doing (or, hopefully, NOT doing!). It has now been six weeks without chemotherapy and this coming week we will know what has been going on in Sabine's blood... and what our next step is...

Nevertheless, it has been a hot, but nice summer. We have been exercising daily, kayaking the Rock River, tandem cycling in Penninsula State Park in Door County and attending the American Players Theater in nearby Spring Gree.

Son Michael came for a few days and went cycling with me. It's been 28 years since we went cycling together. Nostalgia.

And in less than a month, the Couper side of the family is getting together on the Mississippi River at Lansing, IA, to do some serious houseboating!

Carpe diem!