Intro

Hi, I'm currently 58 and was diagnosed with MM in February 2006.  It was quite a shock at the time, as I have had lupus for over 30 years and thought I was dealing with enough.  I was seen by my local oncologist two days after diagnosis and was referred to UAMS (Unniversity of Arkansas Medical Services).  The past two years have been a challenging and eye-opening experience. 

I was seen by Dr. Barlogie at UAMS, dx'd with stage 3 MM and had 23 lesions, one of which came through my skull and two more were starting to break through at the time.  It was pretty scary.  My course of treatment has been chemo and two stem cell transplants.  I was very ill after the second transplant and had to forego the second course of chemo.  Last year I was hospitalized for pneumonia and then sepsis because of my compromised immune system.  I am on maintenance therapy right now with Velcade/Dex weekly and have been CANCER FREE for two years(since the first transplant)!

I go to UAMS every four months for a check-up and see my local oncologist, who follows Dr. Barlogie's protocol.  We didn't think I was going to make it for a while (from the chemo) and if asked now 'would I do this again' the answer would be yes.  Because every month, every year I survive, better treatment or a cure might be closer.  I am forever grateful that my oncologist referred me to UAMS when I asked her if any place specialized in MM.  I believe it is probably the best in the world.

So I'm taking one day at a time and hope you all are also.

LoisA

Good Evening LoisA;

Welcome to this wonderful site!

And what an inspiring message to announce your presence!

Good to have here.

Take care;

Kevin

From Anna,

Hi LoisA, Welcome to our group. I am so glad you are in remission. Dad was in remission for about 5 years. He's not any more.  He's on Revlimid and a steriod.  A low dose. This is he's 5th time on this chemo. He has also had 2 stem cell transplants.  He had done Thalidomide and Velcade chemo's in the past.  He has had MM for 10 years.

 How did they find your MM?  Dad had nose bleeds.

Your friend,

Anna 

From Anna,

Hi again Lois, Forgot to tell you that Sam Walton of Walmart Stores died of MM and he gave money for the start of the hospital in AR that you went to.

Your friend,

Anna 

Hi Anna,

Just hearing that your dad has survived 10 yrs is encouraging.  When I was first diagnosed, my dr gave me maybe 3-5 years.  That's when I asked if any place specialized in MM and went to AR.  Well, it's been almost 2 1/2 yrs since dx.

My diagnosis came as a result of a fractured vertebra.  The surgeon who fixed the fracture also did a biopsy and it came back with the MM dx.  He did the biopsy because an MRI showed there might be 'something' there, even though a bone scan didn't show anything.  I am forever grateful to this surgeon.  I probably would have found out some time during the next couple of months because of the lesion that came through my skull.  I had this bump on my head and was in the process of seeing my dermatologist for it.  My first MRI after diagnosis, however, did not include my skull (even though it was supposed to be a total body mri).  I had to go back so they could do the head and they found 3 lesions in my skull, one of which came through and the other two were on their way!

The week I started chemo in AR, Dr. B told me that the bump would melt away the first day.  I thought he was dreaming.  Sure enough, by the end of that first day I could not feel the bump and I had this hole in my head.  So now I have an excuse as to where my sense has gone!  Right through the hole.  I still have an indentation where the lesion was.

So, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Lois

From Anna,

Hi Lois, It was so good to hear back from you.  Sounds like things are going ok right now.

Your friend,

 Anna