Multiple Myeloma

9-25-14

With a nod to my good friends who have no time nor inclination for the details, I have no need for chemo at this time.  Parroting a famous Rabbi, all that follows is just commentary.

I (sans Mary Ann who was at home with a painful hip) walked in to see Dr. Abonour yesterday fully expecting to be put back on a chemo regimen.  I did not expect an improvement in the blood test from August.  There was a slight improvement but my reading continues to be well above normal.  But that is but one of the tests, the Kappa Light Chains Free Ser mg/L which Dr. Abonour explained but which I have already forgotten.  All the other tests were better than good, for example, for anemia, he said I was well above average in the lack thereof for my age.

Consequently, he not only saw no need for chemo, he decided I did not have to return until November, nor to give blood for testing prior to that return.  Then we discussed my golf game - he refused to accept any responsibility for any poor performance on my part.

The fatigue and foot problems continue, but enough said about those.

This is my understanding:  I have MM, always will have, but its under control.  I have no bone pains, well I have some from time-to-time, but they are scattered and quick, for which Dr. Abonour has a smile and asks as he often does, what is your age.

In my immediately preceding post, I said I was not surprised but was disappointed. Yesterday I was not disappointed but was surprised - much better.

My next appointment is 11/19, after which I will post.  For those of you who look at this nonsense more frequently, I will have an interim post late in October, if for no other reason than to report on my golf game.

I also will post within the next week to report on Mary Ann's hip problems.  Those good friends i mentioned in my first paragraph will probably read all of that one.

Whatever will be, will be. 

Multiple Myeloma

9-3-14

Since I said I would not get back here until 9/29. if you are reading this before then, you surely have better things to do, but I thank you for the interest.

I just learned that one of my blood tests is highly elevated, not good news.  Since all else looks good, Dr. Abonour is not now suggesting treatment, but he wants me to return this month rather than wait until October. I will see him on the 29th.

In the meantime, unless I have negative symptoms, like increased fatigue. bone pain, or other problems, the nurse said not to worry.  So, I said I was going to play golf tomorrow and I would worry about my swing rather than symptoms of MM. I'm now wondering if I can live up to that - maybe my score will tell.

A bit disappointing, but I have known from the first that MM is not curable, only treatable, so not a surprise.