On April 1st I informed people that my wife’s cancer, multiple myeloma, had made a reappearance, that she was no longer considered in remission, and that she would be going back on a full course of chemotherapy to knock it back. The disease is considered manageable but not as of yet curable.
That diagnosis was made on the basis of a PET Scan.
She began her chemo shortly thereafter. So far, even with the steroids she takes with it, she has not yet seen a reoccurring of the diabetes that is often a side affect.
This past week the medical team did a biopsy of her bone marrow. Fortunately there was no evidence there of the multiple myeloma, which means the PET scan probably caught it very early.
As a result, as of now her oncologist is only scheduling 4 months of chemo, not 6.
Sadly, as we knew would happen, she is already beginning to lose her sense of taste — that is one side effect of chemo of almost any kind, except the very low doses of maintenance chemo she has been on since she was originally diagnosed as in remission, after completing her stem cell transplant and having her immune system restored.
She is going to get a second opinion, but we do not expect either the diagnosis or the treatment plan to change.
I will still have to be here to deal with cat litter, which means I cannot take an out of town job this summer.
I am already trying to get the entire house as sanitary as possible to eliminate any possibility of problems while her immune system is suppressed.
As has been the case ever since we found out that first week more than 3 years ago that her disease was multiple myeloma, and not metastatic organ cancer as had been the preliminary diagnosis, we consider ourselves very lucky. Her disease can be managed. She can even under treatment maintain a fairly full life. Her medical insurance covers the vast majority of her treatment expenses. And we have the support of many communities, friends and family, for which we are grateful.
Thanks to all for all.
Peace.