Lucky #13

Day 13.

Today was a day filled with a lot of good news.  This was an appointment I had been waiting for for a week now.  Dr. Sarriera was back from vacation.  We first talked with Abby, Dr. Sarriera's Senior Nurse Practitioner.  She is truly someone you want in your court to fight this battle.  Had several questions that she answered with a lot of confidence and knowledge.  And not while watching the clock to hurry on to another patient.  Dr. Sarriera came in bearing good news and happy reports.  First, he examined the lump on my head to find it has really shrank/shrunk.   Very impressed with that.  Will be a permanent depression there but it shrank so I don't care.

And more good news told us by Abby and Sarriera.  The X-ray skeleton survey showed only the lesions in the skull and no where else.  No indication of height loss.  MRI showed myeloma deposits (no bone lesions, abnormal bone marrow) in neck vertebrae and mid back, no evidence of tumors.  Bulging disk but normal, age related.  No signs of risks for fractures.

Discussed stem sell transplant.  2 to 3 years ago it was a given of therapy.  Need to evaluate me after several treatment  weeks of 2 on and 1 off.  Decision will be made then.  This can be down at three different hospitals.  Need to get an evaluation appointment set with the hospital we choose to get things in order and ready to go if this something I have to do.  Takes a few weeks to get ready for the transplant.  

And now I have a week off from the chemo injections and meds except the 10 treatment plan steroids and vitamins.  Will start taking Revlimid again (this is the chemo pill I got the reaction from) but in a smaller dosage and my Velcade (chemo injection) next Friday.  That will start round 2 of my treatment plan.

Multiple myeloma had at one time a 2 year survival rate but now in the double digits because of all the new drugs and research.

Good news, lots of prayers, positive thoughts from all you sure makes me smile.  Thanks.

Quote:

Don't look back.  You're not going that way.