Lower Dose - The leg cramps are gone.

It has been three months since my dosage was lowered from 25mg to 15mg. Good news - blood tests show that the drug is continuing to fight the cancel cells although a little slower than the 25's, and the bad leg cramps have gone away 95%. I will continnue on this dose, have a blood test every two months, and visit with Doc in Oct when we return to PHX.

Started Chemo Treatments Again

About 2 years after my stem cell transplant, the "numbers" were increasing past the point where Doc was worried about kidney damage. He wanted me to go on a chemo routine. There were a couple of drug choices that included IV's and Pills. We chose the pill type because that would allow us to go away for the summer. IV's would require us to stay in Surprise and go in for weekly treatment.
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So, I started on Revlimid and Dexamethozone (spelling?). Twenty-one days "on" and 7 days "off". Many problems with muscle cramps until we got the dosage adjusted. Now, it's tolerable. I got the good word in early April. The numbers are down and the dosage can stay the same for the summer -  it is OK for us to pack up the RV and get out of Dodge!
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We plan to hit the road about 5/1. bye

More Treatment May be Coming

Here is some interesting news. We went to the cancer doctor on 3/12 to review
the results of my March blood test. From our last discussion with him, we fully expected
to find another increase in the protien in my urine and to be started on a new round of chemo
using pills.
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Well to our surprise, all of the indicators being monitored went DOWN! He could not
explain this and decided to wait for an April test to see which direction things are going.
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Either the February spike UP or the March spike DOWN is a fluke and we have to decide
which before starting chemo.
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It still appears that we will be able to get away for the summer - he said that the
chemo pills can be perscribed even if I am on the road. I will have to go in for
more frequent blood tests to make sure that there are no (or limited) side effects.

Still Waiting Until October

My monthly blood tests are "stable". They are not without issues, but they are stable and Doc is still saying that we can wait until the 10/18 appointment. So, that's the plan. Going back to Phoenix during the first week of October. bye

Good News and Bad News

Hi - I'm back after a summer delay.
The blood tests continue once a month or so. At first, the rate of increase was alarming. Then it slowed, and even turned down for a month. The Doc said that it is common to oscillate a little. The good news is that he feels I can wait until October to see him, and I do not have to come back to Phoenix early. So, we are staying in Jackson, WY into September and will go back to Phx then. The bad news is that there is cancer activity, and I will have to have more Chemo soon. bye.

New Blood Test Results Not the Best....

My Cancer is a more active than we had hoped. Instead of going for a blood test every three months to monitor the levels, I have to go every month now. Doc wants to see how fast things are changing to determine when additional treatments will be needed. The next test is mid-May. Oh well!

Going Away for the Summer

Sorry for the silent period since December. That's indication of how well things are going.
I have been going for my blood tests every two months and the results so far are very good. The Doc says that the cancer is not in full remission, but the activity level is so low that treatment is not recommended at this time. In fact, we are going to change the blood test timing to every three months, and we are going to get back on our summer RV schedule. This year, we have arranged for a job in Jackson Wyoming. We will work three days a week in exchange for the campsite and services. We will work in the office taking reservations. I have my last blood test scheduled for 4/13 before we leave. I will post more then. bye George