[WestwardHo]

Enough already!

by WestwardHo on Fri Jul 15, 2016 10:27 pm

I am a 72 year old widow. I raised a severely disabled daughter secondary to meningitis at 3 months of age. I had a mastectomy in 1998.

I was a 40 year smoker but quit over 15 years ago. I was diagnosed with COPD while going thru the breast cancer thing. My pulmonologist ordered some IgA, IgG, and IgM blood tests and referred me back to my oncologist / hematologist, who said I had MGUS. She followed me with quarterly blood work and exams, which became twice-a-year, then last year she said levels were staying consistent and I didn't need to come back for a year.

Last evening she called and said my labs indicated my IgA was sky high and I needed a bone marrow biopsy on my scheduled appointment on Wednesday the 20th.

Shortly after my mastectomy, I met and eventually married my wonderful husband, who was diagnosed less than two years after our marriage with ALS. I took care of him with all my heart, energy, and spirit as the disease described as the worst death in medicine took his life last October. I became an expert on ALS and fought the VA for his care needs as the VA believes its service connected. He called me his dragon slayer.

Because his care was exhausting, I and my primary put down my weight loss, very severe bronchitis in February and March, and loss of appetite, to stress and she said celiac indicated by one of my blood tests. A special diet helped and after my husband died and I rested, the celiac symptoms way lessened. I finally feel like I was getting on my feet and going forward! My attitude was one of great joy and gratitude because I had him in my life, even for a short time. I actually ordered a tiny travel trailer so I can go off on trips by myself. I'm to pick it up at the end of August.

Then this. My father had a lobe removed from lung cancer, but survived very well for another 25 years. My brother passed from metastasized prostate cancer at age 62. My paternal grand­parents both had cancer.

I don't know all the lingo and medical terms used here yet, you all seem to understand it so well.

I'm scared to death of the bone marrow biopsy (I picked that one up already), but my doc said she's had two and is expert and will use pain meds.

Sherry

[NStewart]

Re: Enough already!

by NStewart on Sun Jul 17, 2016 2:23 pm

WestwardHo,

Although it seems that some people / families deal with more challenges in their lives than anyone should have to deal with, it sounds like you have managed to live a good life in spite of it. Yes, this does throw another roadblock your way, but try to see it as another bump to go over / through / around, whatever. Since you have been reading the forum, you have learned that many of us are continuing to live our lives as fully as we can.

The bone marrow biopsy isn't fun, but it doesn't last very long. A few seconds of pain and then it's over. Would I look forward to having another? Not in the least! But, if it helped to diagnose what was happening to me, I would submit again.

Learn as much as you can. Ask lots of questions here and of your oncologist. Get a second opinion from a myeloma specialist after all of your current testing is complete and the results are in. Don't give up the plan of being able to travel in your new travel trailer.

All the best to you,
Nancy in Phila

[moonscape]

Re: Enough already!

by moonscape on Sun Jul 17, 2016 6:31 pm

Sherry,

Your 'enough' subject is entirely appropriate! I'll refrain from the cliches about strength, what we can handle, and all the rest of it. You know those by now You're one strong cookie. That will serve you well.

Unlike you, I had no cancer in my family, and my myeloma came as a blow. Cancer? It still seems surreal. I found my way here and was intimidated by how fluent folks were in this foreign language. Although that's still true, at least I can navigate the terminology now. It will happen more quickly than you imagine - just keep reading.

Bone marrow biopsy. I'm an extreme needle-phobe. Not just a little, so I understand. It's actually fairly quick, and from my reading the more expert the person who does it (mine was a nurse who does them all day long), the better. I got a lot of numbing and tranquilizer, and it was over before I expected.

Very sorry for the reason you joined us, but glad you did.