Skip to main content

Treatment time nears

Just not for me yet, but rather for Edie.

I knew I shouldn't have gone with Edie to her oncologists appointment last week. (I'm not as superstitious as I once was, but .....) The results of her latest tests, showed a relatively rapid progression of her multiple myeloma.

I just wasn't ready for her oncologist's suggestion she start treatment so soon. She offered two options, Vincristin, Adriamycin and Dexamethasone (VAD) or Thalidomide and Dexamethasone, neither of which sound very appealing, although the latter, seems the least offensive (for lack of a better word).

Adriamycin is very hard on the heart, and for that reason is lifetime dose limited, and Vincristin, I just discovered, can cause irreversible neuropathy, so it looks like we (at least me) are leaning to the Thalidomide + Dexamethasome protocol, not that it doesn't have it's problems, but.....

There just aren't any good options when it comes to deciding on a treatment plan for treating cancer. It's like trying to vote for our political leaders, that is, picking the lesser of two evils.

It wasn't supposed to work out this way. I was the one diagnosed with lymphoma, almost 5 years ago, and Edie was supposed to be the one taking care of me, when it was time for me to start treatment. I just don't understand how this can be? My psyche is not well equipped to handle this turn of events.

So now we're forced with making a decision, sooner than later. I think there is still some time, so we've decided it's best to obtain a second opinion from Dr. Brian Durie at Cedars Sinai hospital in LA, before making a final decision. We are also having cytogenetic testing performed to evaluate for some prognostic factors, which should help in deciding on a treatment decision.

Stay tuned!
Labels:

Comments

Becky said…
I am sorry for the sudden turn of events for Edie. You need to stay focused on remaining healthy so you can take care of her rather than the other way around. No pressure.

Think positive thoughts for Jim today as he's having surgery. His wife has had cancer for years, as you know, and I'm sure she's feeling the same way you are.

Tell Edie I have a picture above the mantle now, as she suggested some time ago. I posted it on my blog. You can show her if you like.
2:19 AM
Anita said…
My father who was 67 at the time took Thalimide and Dex combo and he stayed in remission for approx. 13 months. He did pretty well on the drugs except for the dex. It made his legs swell up. He is going to start Revelmid now. He hasn't had a stem cell transplant yet. His brother is going to have to donate. Take care and I wish you well.

Concernd
7:00 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The results are in

And I am iron deficient, big time. [Which would account for my low hemoglobin] Test Result Ref Range IRON 30 59-158 mcg/dL TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY 231 250-420 mcg/dL IRON SAT 13 20-50 % My Ferritin levels were good, but that could be because Ferritin is also an "acute phase reactant", that is sometimes increased with acute or chronic disease. Folate and B12 levels were also within the normal range. The only problem now is determining what is causing the iron deficiency, which in the case of men, is [very] rare. My oncologist has given me a Globin Fecal test to perform, and has scheduled me for a consultation with a colorectal surgeon to discuss performing a colonoscopy, which could be problematic because of my large spleen. In the mean time, I've decided to start taking an iron supplement, it's only the quantity that is causing me some consternation. I've been told by a very knowledgeable person that to overcome an iron deficiency, I need to be taking 300 mg o...
5 comments
Read more

This is just one of those days

It's one of those days you just want to sit around the house and do absolutely nothing, or watch some movies you have recorded. It might even be a good day to read a book, if you were so inclined, which I am not. As you should be able to see from the view out my bedroom window, it is raining outside. The rain started last night, and hasn't let up since. I can't complain too much though, as this is the rainy season, and we do need the rain. Plus Monday's are typically my day off from exercise, so I will surprise everyone, and not complain. I just feel sorry for anyone who might be visiting from, say Argentina, like a friend of mine (fellow MCLer), who happens to be in Cambria today. He might be a little disappointed. Fortunately the rest of the week, when he will be in LA, will be nice, and the real intent of his trip was to visit his son in Tahoe, who works at one of the ski resorts, and ski, so I know he's not complaining too much either. This weather will actually...
6 comments
Read more

Stop the stupidity!

Rural medical center (in Georgia) suspended from vaccination program after inoculating school district staff. Give me a break! Trying to get kids back to school, while protecting teachers, bus drivers and other staff, is exactly what school districts should be doing. If they have vaccines, give them out. We should be giving out vaccines to all who want them, whenever available. Trying to adhere to rigid guidelines will only result in fewer people getting vaccines, resulting in the discarding of precious vaccines, and less protection for everyone. Of course we should be giving first priority to healthcare workers, and any other essential public service employees, such as policeman, fireman, etc. first, but when they're not around to receive shots, or refuse shots, then give them to anyone willing to take them. What I would have objected to is the medical center trying to capitalize on the pandemic to make a profit, from giving vaccines to people far down the list of recipients, but ...
Post a Comment
Read more