MDS: More on Blood Counts

Following up on my posting of this week's blood count, my ever-astute spouse has discovered the following reference on MedicineNet, which explains blood counts.

Meanwhile, for those who prefer not to follow the link, here are a couple of paragraphs that offer a succinct review/explanation of platelet and hemoglobin counts.

Platelet count:

• The calculated number of platelets in a volume of blood, usually expressed as platelets per cubic millimeter (cmm) of whole blood.
• Platelets are not complete cells, but actually fragments of cytoplasm (part of a cell without its nucleus or the body of a cell) from a cell found in the bone marrow called a megakaryocyte.
• Platelets play a vital role in blood clotting.
• Normal range varies slightly between laboratories but is in the range of 150,000 to 400,000/ cmm (150 to 400 x 109/liter).

Hemoglobin count:

• Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.
• Hemoglobin is made up of four connected protein molecules (globulin chains).
• Each globulin chain contains the heme molecule, embedded in which is iron that transports the oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• Normal hemoglobin count for middle age males: 12.4-14.9 gm/dl.

So, we can see that this week's counts (165,000 and 12.4) are low-normal. A very encouraging sign. Indeed, the 165,000 platelet count is as high as my numbers have ever been—going back even to before this MDS adventure began.

Even though I keep involuntarily remembering that, while the Vidaza is raising the counts, it isn't a cure but a form of maintenance.

Still, for the present, it's all good.