My diagnosis with Cancer
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Last August I went for my annual physical without any trepidation. I had been fatigued , but other than that felt pretty good.
My Primary Care Doc is thorough and knowledgable. After finding me relatively healthy, she ordered the usual panel of blood tests.
Several oddities showed up - anemia and protein in my blood. Also, my total cholesterol was unusually low at 112!
After more testing she recommended I see an Oncologist (specialist in blood disorders) at our local hospital.
Being more than google efficient, Denise and I looked up my symptoms online.
There it was: Multiple Myeloma!
A week later we met with the oncologist and she agreed with our diagnosis. : ( !
She said "You're not supposed to tell me, that's my job".
A bone marrow biopsy taken several days later confirmed this diagnosis.
The oncologist I saw treats all type of cancer. Because we live near a top Cancer Hospital, my wife and I decided that would be best. She agreed and said it was probable that I could get into a "no placebo" treatment study.
We waited a 3+ for an appointment and then met with a young Oncologist, specializing in Multiple Myeloma in October, 2014.
After looking at my bone marrow biopsy & blood test results, he stated I was in stage 2 Multiple Myeloma. I was started on treatment that day with one of three drugs.
We (Denise, my wonderful wife has been at my side through all of this) are now in the fifth cycle of treatment.
As of this date, my blood levels looks good. We take nothing for granted -- we thank God and are more than grateful.
There is no cure for MM, but the drugs and treatments work very well.
With warmer weather coming we will be on our bikes in another month, ready to challenge ourselves with the hills.