Maintenance #9

Again I have attended my consultant's clinic and have been prescribed for maintenance cycle number nine.  My platelet count remains stubbornly low, although fortunately above the minimum acceptable for the clinical trial I am on.  I think I conclude that this results from taking the trial drug Ixazomib. 

The other notable observation is that my paraprotein count has risen to 8.  This is still very low for a myeloma patient but the fact that it is slowly rising might suggest that the trial treatment is no longer working.  The other measure, my "free light chains" are very good. When asked, my consultant says that I am in Partial Remission.

It is with some sadness that I mourn the loss of Altoids mints.

Click to enlarge

I have enjoyed these "Curiously Strong Mints" since I was a child.  The Altoids brand was created in the 1780s by Smith and Company.  This later became part of the Callard & Bowser empire in the 19th century.

The mints were once produced in Bridgend in Wales.  More recently production came under the control of Mars Wrigley in their factory in Chattanooga in Tennessee USA.

The mints remain available in the USA but no longer in the UK

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.  

If you think about that, you'll do things differently.

Warren Buffett

Shame on you Mars Wrigley for having no sense of history and for ignoring the wishes of your UK customers.


Keep well
Stephen