Well I am celebrating!!! Went to Yale New Haven Similow Cancer Center to meet with a Myeloma specialist, Dr. Cooper. What an incredible facility where peace and harmony prevail. I can see why so many cancer patients recover given the beauty of what most cancer facilities like to communicate. You want to go there for the relaxation and joy. Meeting with the doctor was an experience. You first meet with the nurse who asks you at least 40 questions about your condition and its evolution taking tons of notes. Then you meet with a cancer fellow (a doctor studying this specialty) and another 40+ questions. Then the doctor enters and I can't tell you how great he was. His actual first words out of his mouth were: " you have mad a miraculous recovery!" "Your numbers have risen faster than anyone I have seen with minimal treatment and time." I actually wanted to hug this cute doctor! (but the fellow was in the room...just kidding about the hug). He spent an incredible amount of time explaining what Myeloma was and how it affect the bone marrow and why the reaction you have is what it is. He always explained in detail what each drug did. I felt I was taking an Organic Chemistry class again, but at least I now understand Myeloma. So the STEM cell transplant isn't needed and he feels I should just keep up with my minimal regimen and they will monitor the progress weekly. I am now in maintenance...on my way to total remission. they don't use that terms until several weeks of progressive improvement or stabilization in the "safe zone".
The other good news is that they have several new drugs and treatment to treat Myeloma long term and working toward a total remission or cure. so it looks like I need to keep on this course and wait for a year for new state of the art drugs to be approved.
Thank to everyone for reading this and I will keep you abreast on the next chapter, if you choose to read the "Journey!"
Love to all and stay tuned!
xoxo
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ReplyDeleteMy last comment had a few typos, so here we go again: Hooray and hallelujah. I knew you could lick this thing! Or at least beat it into submission.
ReplyDeleteAunt Marilyn, this is great news and we continue to keep you in our prayers. I admire your inner strength and willingness to share your story. I feel like I have such a better understanding of what your experiencing and the facts do not get lost in translation especially after my mom gets a hold of them. Stay strong Brett Jen Avery and will
ReplyDeleteI'm sending up offerings to the gods of state-of-the-art drug approvals. How fortunate we are to be living in today's workd!
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