Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Platelets Good - Starting Third Round of Chemo

5/25/10: Back on Chemo - Platelete Number Were OK
Started the third round of Chemo today. Back on the Tues, Thurs, Tue Thurs routine.
Sleeping has been getting better lately. I'm not sure if it is due to being off Chemo for two weeks or not. Let's see if this third round of Chemo brings the sleeping problems back.
Doc has told me to set up the consultation appointment for the stem cell transplant. As soon as I get confirmation from United HealthCare that Mayo is "in network" for this work, I will set up the appointment.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Protein Spill Numbers are Great! But, I Wonder??

5/18/10:  The results of the 24-hr Urine Test show that my Protein Spill over a 24-hr period went from 1440 to 72.5. (The good range is 30 to 150) This is after two Chemo cycles. This is great news for my Kidneys. However, it is such a major reduction that I wonder if the test was done right? I will ask Doc to repeat the test next week to see if we get two results in the same ballpark.

Delayed Chemo Series #3 for One Week

5/18/10:  I was supposed to start Chemo series #3 today but my blood test showed that my Platelets were very low and the Doc delayed Chemo for at least one week. The good range for platelets is 140 to 415 and mine were 88. Since Chemo lowers them even more, we had to delay Chemo.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

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

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Second Cycle of Chemo

4/27/10: The second cycle of Chemo will be April 27 and 29, and May 4 and 6. I have not noticed any major negative after effects of the chemo. The minor problems are constepation and interruped sleep. Some nights I only sleep for two hours and others I sleep for an hour, wake up for two and sleep for more later. I have not taken any sleeping pills yet. I don't seem to be very extra tired the next day after these bad nights. The nurse said to get on something if I find that I am very tired after not sleeping for a few days. (Not yet thought) We are going to do another 24-hour uring test on May 12 (after these two cycles are done) to see of the Protien Spill has been reduced by the Chemo.

The Chemo Begins

4/6/10: First Chemo treatment today using Velcade. I get a bag of Aloxi.... for nauesa, a bag of Decadron (a steroid tohelp the Velcade), a push of Velcade and a bag of Saline. I am also on a pill program. Dexamethason: 20mg on Monday. Prochlorper: 10mg every 6 hrs for nausea. (I am not needing this pill so far). Acyclovir: 400mg twice a day to prevent Shingles.
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One cycle of Chemo is about three weeks. During the first two weeks, I go for chemo on Tue, Thurs and Tue, Thurs. Then I have 12 days of rest and start the next cycle on a Tuesday. The first cycle will be 4/6, 4/8. 4/13 and 4/15.

Kidney Doc Says They Are Fine

3/23/10: Took my blood results to Dr P to establish myself with the Kidney Doctor. After review, he said that I do not have any negative kidney indications and that there was nothing he had to do for me at this time. Come back in 6 months for another review. Yea!

Protien Spill in my Urine

2/9/10: The 24-urine test has been completed for the second time. Both results indicated that I was "spilling" 1400 mg of protien in a 24-hour period. This is 100 times normal and MAY lead to Kidney damage down the road. Dr. S2 wants to treat the protien level right away.

Bone Marrow Needle Biopsy

2/3/10: Eileen performed a Needle Biopsy today on my pelvis. Lots of pushing and probing but not really any hurt. The results came back with the terrible words - "evolving into Multiple Myeloma". The bad plasma cells in my blood are at an 11% concentration. Normal is 2% and Myelomas can start forming at 20%. Ugh!

Full Body X-rays

2/2/10: Went for full body xrays today. They took pictures of all of my bones from hear to toe. The Good News is that all of the pictures were clean. There were NO cancer leasions on any of my bones. (This confirms that I am early in this disease.)

It Begins

12/29/09: My yearly physical has shown that my platelets are low for yet another year. Dr. S1 is sending me to the Oncologist for more tests. I will do a 24-Hour Urine test before seeing Dr. S2.