I’ve been to the Oncologist for my “three month after the stem cell transplant” visit. The blood tests came back showing my M-Protein is now 0.2. That number has been as high as 1.8 in January, and down to 0.5 after Chemo treatments, before the transplant.
My Oncologist said she wants me to begin taking a daily low dose of Revlimid. She said cancer patients taking this maintenance dosage have longer periods of time between transplants. I asked how many transplants I might look forward to. “Just one more,” she said.
“Bone marrow won’t support more than two. But,” she continued encouragingly, “If you get two or three years from this transplant, and two or three more from the next, there may be new treatments available by that time.”
I found that due to the peripheral neuropathy in my feet, I sleep best with my feet hanging off the bed, toes pointing to the floor. There’s no perceived pressure from the blankets that way, and little discomfort.
I’ve started walking to work again. It hasn’t increased foot pain, so maybe overall it’s good. I’ve added three daily doses of L-Glutamine to my Multi B Complex for the neuropathy.
I’ve been taking it for a week or so, it might be helping a little. I will have a moment here or there when I realize that I have not been aware of pain in my feet for a full minute or more. That’s a (painless) step in the right direction!
I love how encouraging your doctor is – makes all the difference. I am so happy to hear you are doing better. Your positive, faithful attitude impress me so much, Scott. You are a true inspiration for not only surviving a life-threatening disease, but also how to live life. Looking forward to visiting with you Saturday!
Thank you, Diane. I always want my doctor to be honest and not sugar coat anything. I think this doctor is realistic, but sometimes I feel she could tell me more about something, but if I don’t ask the question, maybe the answer can wait. See you soon.
Glad to have an update and to hear things are progressing positively. Prayers for a cure.
Thanks, Linda
Hey Scott, now you are starting to look like me without chemo! Sorry my brother. You are a real man. Blessings on you, Jon
I look like a Pilot? That’s good news!
Hi there (not sure I saw your name on your blog)- I found your blog thru a fellow Myeloma blogger Carole, and browsed around your blog and found you to be a very good writer! We have Myeloma in common and similar treatments and my hubby is a 13 yr prostate cancer survivor. We also have “old” cars in common too 🙂 I wish you well on your Myeloma remission journey! I’ve been thru the standard treatments of Revlimid, Dex steroids, Cytoxan, Melphalan and an auto stem cell transplant too. I reached full remission right after my ASCT and remained on maintenance Revlimid until summer 2012. Myeloma crept back and I was declared out of remission just a few months ago, and now back on treatments. Dex first, more to come… ugh! Anyway, just wanted to stop by and wish you well and let you know I enjoyed reading random entries on your blog. I’ll stop by more often now 🙂 Here’s my blog: http://juliesmyelomamoments.blogspot.com/ Julie
Julie: Thanks for browsing the blog, the kind words, and the encouragement. It appears we have some fun things in common, and some not so fun. Did you see my wife’s VW? Follow the link, “Our Old Web Site” under Blogroll. I’m sure sorry about your MM returning. Maybe later I will ask you if the battle is easier or more difficult the second time around. Good luck to you. Scott