Mutliple Myeloma

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“Multiple myeloma (from Greek myelo-, bone marrow), also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler’s disease (after Otto Kahler), is a cancerof plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for producing antibodies.[1] In multiple myeloma, collections of abnormal plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow, where they interfere with the production of normal blood cells. Most cases of myeloma also feature the production of a paraprotein—an abnormal antibody which can cause kidney problems. Bone lesions and hypercalcemia (high calcium levels) are also often encountered.[1]

Myeloma is diagnosed with blood tests (serum protein electrophoresis, serum free kappa/lambda light chain assay), bone marrow examination, urine protein electrophoresis, and X-rays of commonly involved bones. Myeloma is generally thought to be treatable but incurable. Remissions may be induced with steroids, chemotherapy, proteasome inhibitors (e.g. bortezomib), immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) such as thalidomide orlenalidomide, and stem cell transplants. Radiation therapy is sometimes used to reduce pain from bone lesions.[1]

Myeloma develops in 1–4 per 100,000 people per year. It is more common in men, and for unknown reasons is twice as common in African-Americans as it is in European-Americans. With conventional treatment, median survival is 3–4 years, which may be extended to 5–7 years or longer with advanced treatments. Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematological malignancy in the U.S. (after non-Hodgkin lymphoma), and constitutes 1% of all cancers.[1]”   

You can find more on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_myeloma

Goals Accomplished

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I was able to go to the Neil Diamond Concert on June 16, and it was really awesome.  He sang all his classics and it was healing for me.  I could feel my sister, Maria, there with me the whole time.  The seats were awesome and I forgot all of my aches and pains and danced and sang all night.  I am really pleased that I could experience that again.

I also went to Savannah, GA for 5 days to see my two children, Julie and Mike.  This was something I never thought I could accomplish really.  But I did it and it was a great visit, although everyone had to make adjustments to make it work.  I know it is really a stressful time for all of us, but we do our best to make the best of the situation.  I am hopeful that my family will be ok as I go through the most difficult parts of this treatment.  I hope they can focus on the important things in their lives, and let all the rest go.  We shall see.

A Setback

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Well, things were going ok, I guess.  The dexamethasone does a number on your body–your all jacked up for 4 days.  I took the second 10-pill dose of dexamethasone on Monday and I have been battling an ear/sinus infection since then.  I finally had to give in and call the dr. today because as I walked around a store I knew that I was in trouble.  I was weak and coughing like crazy.  So here s how it goes–they put me on Zithromax but now I stop the chemo–revlimid and dexamethasone–for the 5 days that I am on the Z pack.  I am pissed because I really wanted to move through this treatment quickly.  I have  daughter who is having a baby and a son who is getting married.  I am feeling pretty angry about this.

I still have the goal of going to see the Neil Diamond Concert on Saturday night.   I paid $1000 for the tickets and I believe this will be the last time he will tour because he is old now.  I feel like crap right now, and hopefully the meds will work.