Big Picture Summary for my Family and Friends

5/11/10 - I am adding a Big Picture Summary here because I have sent emails to Family and Friends directing them to this blog and I want one posting that they can read to get up to date.
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What Is Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer formed by malignant plasma cells.

Plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system. They make the antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) that help the body attack and kill germs. When plasma cells become cancerous and grow out of control, they can produce a tumor called a plasmacytoma. When many plasma cell tumors are found throughout the bones, it is called multiple myeloma.

In multiple myeloma, the overgrowth of plasma cells in the bone marrow can crowd out the normal blood-forming cells. This can cause anemia -- a shortage of red blood cells. Anemia causes people to become pale, weak, and fatigued. Another condition that can be seen is leukopenia -- a shortage of normal white blood cells. This can lead to difficulty fighting infections.

The abnormal plasma cells do not protect the body from infections. For example, if you developed pneumonia, normal plasma cells would produce antibodies that specifically attack and kill the bacteria that were causing the illness. The myeloma cells crowd out the normal plasma cells, so that the antibodies to fight the infection aren't made. The antibody made by the myeloma cells does not help fight infections.

The myeloma cells also react with the cells that help keep the bones strong. There are 2 major kinds of bone cells that normally work together to keep bones healthy and strong; cells that lay down new bone and cells that break down old bone. Myeloma cells make a substance that tells the break-down cells to speed up the dissolving of bone. Since the other cells do not get a signal to put down new bone, old bone is broken down without new bone to replace it. This makes the bones weak and they break easily. Fractured bones are a major problem in people with myeloma.

I have only been in this cancer world for 6 weeks. I honestly do not know the answer to "How Long Do I Have To Live?" at this time. I do know that we found this early in the development of the cancer. I do not have any of the symtoms discussed. I have the low white blood count and the extra protien in my urine. I did have full body x-ays and they did NOT find any cancer growths on any of my bones.

The treatment plan we have started is Chemo Therapy. I will go for four "cycles" of Chemo. (Two weeks ON and one week OFF is one cycle) which will end some time in July. I will be evaluated for a bone marrow transplant (called a stem-cell transplant) in June which will determine what happens for the rest of the summer. Multiple Myelome CANNOT be cured. It can be reduced or even put into remission - but it is not cured, it can come back at any time and it usually does from what I have read.

So, stay tuned. As I learn new stuff, I will communicate with you. I have started a Blog to record my thoughts and progress.
You can see it here: http://jesterjournal.blogspot.com/
In there, I am trying to share my feelings and conditions.

bye for now,
George