Bloodwork results from the last trip to Charleston are mixed. CEA measures my body’s response to general cancer cell activity. That is down 23% from the last measure in April. (Down is good.) Calcitonin measures the activity level of cancer cells specific to the thyroid. Now it is up 8% versus April’s measure. (Up is not good; we want it to go down.)
The last seven months summarized:
2-4-08 vs 12-27-07 CEA ↓15% Calcitonin ↑11%
3-28-08 vs 2-4-08 CEA ↑ 13% Calcitonin ↓ 32%
4-25-08 vs 1-31-08 CEA ↓ 12% Calcitonin ↓ 50%
7-21-08 vs 4-25-08 CEA ↓ 23% Calcitonin ↑ 8%
Analysis: CEA is trending downward. Results fall within a range of 11 percentage points for each of the last three periods framed by four measurements over a span of seven months. Three (75%) were down.
Calcitonin, conversely, is moving laterally: two up, two down in a range of 42 points. The two measures showing the greatest change (32 and 50%) are both down, a total of 82 percentage points during a six month period. By comparison, an 8% rise in the most recent three month measure is only 10% of the previous 6 month decline. This view puts the current increase relative to the historic changes in perspective. The momentum of the trend is still favorable despite a small “adjustment” as the Wall Street analysts are fond of saying in a different context.
Applying financial analysis tools to interpret results of a blood test may be a stretch. My training in financial analysis assists (warps, some might say) me to look at an imminently threatening situation more objectively. The interpretation: the illness continues in retreat.
Let’s cheer retreat and focus on continued positive trends! Thank you for your invaluable support and good cheer.
*Copyright 1999 Warner Bros.
Copyright 2008
www.lindalater.blogspot.com
Posted August 17, 2008
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