Molecular Remission

I had my regular visit with my oncologist at Dana-Farber. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the latest results of my most recent blood test. For those of you keeping notes at home, my original PCR value at diagnosis almost 2 years ago was 34.5%.

The PCR test is defined as the following from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Website:

The short name for a lab test called "polymerase chain reaction," a very sensitive test that can measure the presence of a blood cancer cell marker in the blood.

This meant that at diagnosis 34.5% of my blood cells showed the presence of the BCR-ABL cancer gene that produces CML. My previous reading in October 2007 showed that this number had dropped to 0.02%. This was more than a 3-log (or three fold) reduction since diagnosis.

As of December 2007 when my blood was last drawn, the number had dropped even further to 0.0038%. This is another 10-fold reduction. In total, that means a 4-log reduction since diagnosis. Although my wife thinks it is funny that I focus on these numbers, it helps to think of this in context. Otherwise, these numbers are meaningless. When you have cancer, numbers mean everything.

Upon meeting with my doctor today and reviewing the numbers, he said that he would consider me in Molecular Remission. This was essentially the last stage of remission and a huge relief. I have included a definition of molecular remission below.

Molecular response
A treatment response is called a complete molecular remission if no leukemia cells in the blood and/or marrow can be detected by PCR.

Needless to say, this is great news and I am still processing what this means. In the meantime, I can relax a little and enjoy life.