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Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
I'm 54 yrs old. I was diagnosed 3 years ago. That first year felt completely hopeless, then I got a stem cell transplant and I returned to a somewhat normal life. Facing death was a real wake up call to stop putting off all the things I'd been wanting to do. I've accomplished more in the last 2 years than I ever have! Not only that, my doctor has elderly multiple myeloma patients who've had the disease for nearly 20 years. If I've learned anything, it's that every day is a gift. Enjoy life!
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Danny A.
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
When my husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last year, I was comforted by a verse in a poem I read in a brochure about cancer. The author was not named. Translated into English, the verse would be something like this:
"What lies ahead of us?
The rest of life –
not more and not less
I repeat: not less
The rest of life –
as for all others."
"What lies ahead of us?
The rest of life –
not more and not less
I repeat: not less
The rest of life –
as for all others."
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
I read this post and replies with great interest as I have just received word I am out of remission 
I was diagnosed NewYears Eve 2009 and went thru the typical treatments (Rev, Cytoxan, Melphalan Auto-SCT) and was very fortunate to reach CR after my ASCT July 2010. I recovered, returned to life and work and (naively) thought I was out of the woods (thought I would be different and get remission for life LOL!) My current M-spike is .68 (I still don't understand all the Myeloma stats), and I will be meeting with my oncology Dr tomorrow and SCT Dr in Sept to determine my next steps. So yes, at this time, I am feeling quite "mortal", but not yet "terminal", and as country singer Tim McGraw's song goes.... "Live Like You Were Dying"... I try to be ridiculously optimistic and happy 
I was diagnosed NewYears Eve 2009 and went thru the typical treatments (Rev, Cytoxan, Melphalan Auto-SCT) and was very fortunate to reach CR after my ASCT July 2010. I recovered, returned to life and work and (naively) thought I was out of the woods (thought I would be different and get remission for life LOL!) My current M-spike is .68 (I still don't understand all the Myeloma stats), and I will be meeting with my oncology Dr tomorrow and SCT Dr in Sept to determine my next steps. So yes, at this time, I am feeling quite "mortal", but not yet "terminal", and as country singer Tim McGraw's song goes.... "Live Like You Were Dying"... I try to be ridiculously optimistic and happy -
Julie MM - Name: Julie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec 30, 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 50
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
sorry to read that Julie
My timeline is very similar to yours. diagnosed January 2010, treatment then stem cell transplant in June 2010, and have been in remission and back to "normal" since then. My next follow up is September and I have been having some symptoms that make a bit concerned my multiple myeloma is coming back.
My timeline is very similar to yours. diagnosed January 2010, treatment then stem cell transplant in June 2010, and have been in remission and back to "normal" since then. My next follow up is September and I have been having some symptoms that make a bit concerned my multiple myeloma is coming back.
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Lys 2012
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
JulieViz wrote:
> I read this post and replies with great interest as I have just received
> word I am out of remission I was diagnosed NewYears Eve 2009 and went
> thru the typical treatments (Rev, Cytoxan, Melphalan Auto-SCT) and was very
> fortunate to reach CR after my ASCT July 2010. I recovered, returned to
> life and work and (naively) thought I was out of the woods (thought I would
> be different and get remission for life LOL!) My current M-spike is .68 (I
> still don't understand all the Myeloma stats), and I will be meeting with
> my oncology Dr tomorrow and SCT Dr in Sept to determine my next steps. So
> yes, at this time, I am feeling quite "mortal", but not yet
> "terminal", and as country singer Tim McGraw's song goes....
> "Live Like You Were Dying"... I try to be ridiculously optimistic
> and happy
How did your doctor visit go? Hope you're doing good!
> I read this post and replies with great interest as I have just received
> word I am out of remission
I was diagnosed NewYears Eve 2009 and went> thru the typical treatments (Rev, Cytoxan, Melphalan Auto-SCT) and was very
> fortunate to reach CR after my ASCT July 2010. I recovered, returned to
> life and work and (naively) thought I was out of the woods (thought I would
> be different and get remission for life LOL!) My current M-spike is .68 (I
> still don't understand all the Myeloma stats), and I will be meeting with
> my oncology Dr tomorrow and SCT Dr in Sept to determine my next steps. So
> yes, at this time, I am feeling quite "mortal", but not yet
> "terminal", and as country singer Tim McGraw's song goes....
> "Live Like You Were Dying"... I try to be ridiculously optimistic
> and happy
How did your doctor visit go? Hope you're doing good!
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
Tara51494 summed up my feeling very well. When I was first diagnosed, in stage 3, in 2009, I was told that the statistics said I'd have maybe 2 - 5 years -- but the statistics were woefully out of date and based on a more senior population. For those of us who are younger and in better health and able to take the newer drugs and STC, the prognosis is much better. I spend my days living, not thinking about dying. I've planned for it -- e.g., made sure my will is up to date and set up a trust -- but I'm not planning on dying for a long time. Besides, I promised my daughter that I'd live to see my grandchildren and promised my sister I'd be around for her for a long time.
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
I suppose for me the diagnoses wasn't as hard as it is for others. I lost my sister to multiple myeloma 14 years earlier and knew all about the disease from that standpoint. For me however the fact that I had been diagnosed with lung cancer 8years earlier with a bonus CLL diagnoses from the lung cancer tests. 6 years earlier it was prostate cancer and the a skin cancer did temper it somewhat.
When I was first diagnosed with lung cancer i swept the web looking for life expectancies and came to realize that they are averages, the same ones that dictate whether you will die in a car accident or have a heart attack on a golf course, just averages, odds, etc. but no indication as to where you lie in the average.
My life expectancy was much better than my sisters, and anyone diagnosed 5 years from now will likely have an even longer life expectancy than those of us fighting it now. Is the cure in a lab right now? Who knows, but it is possible.
When I was first diagnosed with lung cancer i swept the web looking for life expectancies and came to realize that they are averages, the same ones that dictate whether you will die in a car accident or have a heart attack on a golf course, just averages, odds, etc. but no indication as to where you lie in the average.
My life expectancy was much better than my sisters, and anyone diagnosed 5 years from now will likely have an even longer life expectancy than those of us fighting it now. Is the cure in a lab right now? Who knows, but it is possible.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
Hello Fellow tribesmen and tribeswomen,
Diagnosed in August, 2013. I consider myself a survivor. I finished my auto stem cell treatment in March, 2014 and I am now on Revlimid. I live in Canada and I am blessed that all of our treatments are covered here, As for multiple myeloma being terminal or not, that is behind me now. It is very apparent that my sentiment is shared by many people who went through the same experience, Love life, enjoy the things you used to pass by casually and most importantly,look at people with a different pinacular, O will keep enjoying my life and plugging in until a cure is here or until I pass over to my father's side, In the meanwhile, Cuba, here I come,
Love you all,
Wael . .
Diagnosed in August, 2013. I consider myself a survivor. I finished my auto stem cell treatment in March, 2014 and I am now on Revlimid. I live in Canada and I am blessed that all of our treatments are covered here, As for multiple myeloma being terminal or not, that is behind me now. It is very apparent that my sentiment is shared by many people who went through the same experience, Love life, enjoy the things you used to pass by casually and most importantly,look at people with a different pinacular, O will keep enjoying my life and plugging in until a cure is here or until I pass over to my father's side, In the meanwhile, Cuba, here I come,
Love you all,
Wael . .
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
I was diagnosed in December of 2002 after my brother died from multiple myeloma 5 weeks after being diagnosed with Stage 4 with a rare form of it. He had just turned 50. I lost my Dad to cancer 9 months later. We have had it closely watched at the University of Kentucky and last April it was advanced to Stage 1 after a bone marrow biopsy.
Since then, my light bearing chains have gone up again. I return the first part of September to see if I start treatment, which will lead me to my own bone marrow transplant.
This is something that is passed more from sibling to sibling. If you have a sibling with it, please get checked.
Since then, my light bearing chains have gone up again. I return the first part of September to see if I start treatment, which will lead me to my own bone marrow transplant.
This is something that is passed more from sibling to sibling. If you have a sibling with it, please get checked.
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Coloradogirl
Re: So in the end, is multiple myeloma considered fatal?
I have read all the posts on this topic with great interest as my fears and expectations depend so much on my blood counts and consequent emotions.
I really do need a 'reality' check at times to accept and live in the moment as much as I can.This website does just that ... gives me a reality check to
1)To thank God I feel OK most days, and
2) Remember that my darling Dad went to work one day and just never came home because a truck took him out.
We have no guarantees whether we have a terminal illness or not! But sometimes it is so hard to remember the truth of that. I often prefer to just go into my girl-cave and hide
Thank you all so much for helping me x
I really do need a 'reality' check at times to accept and live in the moment as much as I can.This website does just that ... gives me a reality check to
1)To thank God I feel OK most days, and
2) Remember that my darling Dad went to work one day and just never came home because a truck took him out.
We have no guarantees whether we have a terminal illness or not! But sometimes it is so hard to remember the truth of that. I often prefer to just go into my girl-cave and hide
Thank you all so much for helping me x
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sunnybrisbane - Name: Shirley R-M
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 70
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