Diagnosis

This is one of my promised catch-up posts.. Here’s how it all went down. This is a long read, so you might want to make some popcorn, put on your happy pants, open a bottle of wine, light a candle, or whatever works for you..

My Treatment Plan

“Typical” treatment for standard-risk Multiple Myeloma is usually as follows:

1. Induction — This is usually a triplet of chemotherapy drugs taken for 4–6 cycles intended to get to a quick remission (there are multiple types of remission, not all created equal)

Stem Cell Transplant Day -3

I was a bit light-headed and lethargic last week. Feeling ok, though. My hemoglobin has gotten up to 11.8 as of today — still low, but up from the stem cell harvest.

The real fun starts this week.

Stem cells are in the bag… And I’m in remission!

Stem Cell Transplant — Day 90!

I had my 90 day check-in with the doctor today, and here’s where we’re at. As a reminder, there are three types of “remission” in Multiple Myeloma (give or take, and this evolves over time).

1. Complete Response (CR). This is what I achieved in June…

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Hi folks!

I had another bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday, August 30. This was my third one, and I think they are getting worse (because I know what’s coming and the anticipation is getting to me). This is where they drill into my pelvis and extract bone marrow. There are…

Don’t google the statistics

When most people find out about someone having Multiple Myeloma or any other type of cancer or disease they immediately google “survival rates.” I mean, that’s what I did.. :)

I won’t link to any of those sites, but you can easily find them. The published…

Stem Cell Transplant Day 15

Sorry for the delayed update. Been feeling a bit ‘meh.’

Day +12

WBC: 5.1 (Neutrophils: 4.03)

Hemoglobin: 9.8

Platelets: 39

March 2019 update

Lots to update here:

Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) result came back at 43ppm. That’s an increase…