had my CT scan last monday, and went to see my specialist today. My blood count remains normal (Total white 6.3, Hb 12.2, Platelets 329,000). The scan showed that the lesions in my lungs have resolved, alhamdulillah. However, the lesions in the spleen have not improved since the last CT scan. The doc is thinking about having my spleen removed, so we can proceed with the transplant. She said that the spleen will not be functioning for about 2 years after the transplant anyway, so i might as well get it removed. This is to avoid the spleen from being a cause of infection during my transplant.
i don't know what to make of it. I have heard that quite a few people have had their spleen removed, and that you don't really need a spleen. But, there must be a reason why Allah put the spleen in our bodies, right? I asked the doctor if there is any other medication she could give me to improve the condition of my spleen (so I won't have to remove it), but she told me that i've been on voriconazole (antifungal) for quite some time, and if the medication hasn't reached the lesions in the spleen by now, it won't reach them at all. so i guess if i have to get it removed, i will. i'd rather not postpone the stem cell transplant any longer, in case my leukemia relapses.
she said it's a simple procedure, since my spleen is quite small in size, i won't have to have a major operation to take it out. I hope she's right. As of now the decision to have a splenectomy isn't final yet. We'll hear from the clinic when the other specialist comes back from his break sometime next week.
Some info on splenectomy.
adios!
