I was diagnosed and started treatment at the age of 62. I am now 64. I expect to live to 90 years old. It is just my goal. Of course I have to work at it. Swim, walk, bike, weights, etc., keep up my treatments, eat properly, and above all, make sure that I am happy everyday. Now, that is hard to do if you are in pain and don't know what to expect. Set your goal to 90 to 100 years, and fight to win. Your daily physical activities will determine your future outlook.
Still, I have to recognize what time of the day it is. 64 years old. I could go out of here at any time, but I am looking forward to making it to 90. In addition, I made another goal, that if I make it to 85 years old and am threatened with an operation, no one will cut on me. The operation won't add another 100 years to my life. No pace makers, no artificial devices, no respirators. Nothing artificial inside my body. I will just go out of here and be thankful for my experiences,
For the young and restless who are diagnosed with myeloma, fight and win – that is all you can do. Keep a happy outlook and be determined to be happy everyday. You do that by asking yourself one question: What have I done to make myself happy today?
Ladies out there, don't worry about hair loss, breast problems, other cancer types, there are thousands of guys out there who will love you everyday, from sun up to sun down, regardless of your condition. They are out there. I am one of them.
Forums
Re: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myeloma diagnosis?
Hi FingersCrossed,
I was diagnosed with high risk disease 4 years ago in my early 40's. I just bought an annuity to make up for some "lost time" with respect to retirement savings. I plan on enjoying those annuity payments!
Mark
I was diagnosed with high risk disease 4 years ago in my early 40's. I just bought an annuity to make up for some "lost time" with respect to retirement savings. I plan on enjoying those annuity payments!
Mark
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Mark11
Re: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myeloma diagnosis?
Mark,
Now that is truly putting one's money where one's mouth is. I would feel absolutely tortured on my death bed if I knew I had not at least broke even on an annuity investment
Now that is truly putting one's money where one's mouth is. I would feel absolutely tortured on my death bed if I knew I had not at least broke even on an annuity investment
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myeloma diagnosis?
To me, life is always a long game on a short field. My feeling – after a diagnosis two and half years ago, one SCT, and continuing Revlimid / dex.and Zometa therapy – is that "How long?" is not the best question to be asking.
How well one can reduce treatment side effects, the difficulty of the disease itself, and the depleted energy, both physical and emotional, may be much more important. If one can be successful in living life expecting a good outcome and with an enhanced ability to participate in whatever makes life meaningful, for you, then whatever amount of time obtained may be enough. It will have to be enough, anyway, so I suggest a focus on making now better, not how much less you may get!
Cancer can be a growing experience for the soul. If done well, it may propel one into the space that affords learning and wisdom rather than fear, anxiety and loss. Wisdom may reduce the need for an accurate marker on time granted and instead allow a focus on how well one lives. I think of cancer as the equivalent of a "two minute warning" and, in most games, two minutes can be enough.
Rodger
How well one can reduce treatment side effects, the difficulty of the disease itself, and the depleted energy, both physical and emotional, may be much more important. If one can be successful in living life expecting a good outcome and with an enhanced ability to participate in whatever makes life meaningful, for you, then whatever amount of time obtained may be enough. It will have to be enough, anyway, so I suggest a focus on making now better, not how much less you may get!
Cancer can be a growing experience for the soul. If done well, it may propel one into the space that affords learning and wisdom rather than fear, anxiety and loss. Wisdom may reduce the need for an accurate marker on time granted and instead allow a focus on how well one lives. I think of cancer as the equivalent of a "two minute warning" and, in most games, two minutes can be enough.
Rodger
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rodger
Re: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myeloma diagnosis?
LOL, Multibilly
Rodger, you are right, and it comes down to exactly what you said
"Wisdom may reduce the need for an accurate marker on time granted and instead allow a focus on how well one lives."
Rodger, you are right, and it comes down to exactly what you said
"Wisdom may reduce the need for an accurate marker on time granted and instead allow a focus on how well one lives."
Re: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myeloma diagnosis?
Very well said, Rodger!
Personally, I'm going under the assumption that I'm not going to make it to 80. But I do plan to make 70, and I plan to enjoy my life until then – fatigue, etc, permitting. As some of you know, I hiked in Zion and Bryce National Parks with my daughter and sister this past spring. Then my lambda light chains shot up, so I lost this past summer to treatment. Now I'm planning for the next trip, including taking my daughter on a well-earned vacation somewhere warm and sunny this winter. And then maybe off to trek around New Mexico in the spring.
The point is, we have to keep living and keep planning.
Dana A
Personally, I'm going under the assumption that I'm not going to make it to 80. But I do plan to make 70, and I plan to enjoy my life until then – fatigue, etc, permitting. As some of you know, I hiked in Zion and Bryce National Parks with my daughter and sister this past spring. Then my lambda light chains shot up, so I lost this past summer to treatment. Now I'm planning for the next trip, including taking my daughter on a well-earned vacation somewhere warm and sunny this winter. And then maybe off to trek around New Mexico in the spring.
The point is, we have to keep living and keep planning.
Dana A
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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: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myelom
So for me with a partial response after two autologous transplants, the future does not look so good.
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MichaelKevinWalsh - Name: Michael Kevin Walsh
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 8, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myelom
Hi Michael.
Whew, that would be depressing. I am sorry to hear 2 auto transplants didn't give very good response. I didn't have a remission after my only auto SCT, but I am following a very low carb diet and that seems to be prolonging my remission so far. I also take Revlimid and have started taking a few more vitamins. It is a bit over 2 years since my SCT (27 months).
Whew, that would be depressing. I am sorry to hear 2 auto transplants didn't give very good response. I didn't have a remission after my only auto SCT, but I am following a very low carb diet and that seems to be prolonging my remission so far. I also take Revlimid and have started taking a few more vitamins. It is a bit over 2 years since my SCT (27 months).
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myelom
I'm sorry, Michael. Are you taking one of the available drugs as maintenance? While a complete remission is the most desirable, being able to stay in a steady state partial remission is also good.
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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: Is normal life expectancy possible after multiple myelom
Good evening Dan in Phoenix.
Great news on your 27 years living with Multiple Myeloma. My mom was diagnosed in 2004 at age 59 and for over 11 years she is still here. She was diagnosed at stage 4, with a 6 to 12 month life expectancy. She was treated with Thalidamide and Decadron for over 3 years and went into full remission, but fell out of remission last year, She has restarted chemo, being on Revlimid and Decadron.
Do you mind sharing any special herbs/ supplements that you take or any special activities that you use that you believe may have contributed to your years of success. Any other good advice you can give to those living with multiple myeloma? Also, if you don't mind sharing, who is your Oncologist in Little Rock?
Thanks.
Sam.
Great news on your 27 years living with Multiple Myeloma. My mom was diagnosed in 2004 at age 59 and for over 11 years she is still here. She was diagnosed at stage 4, with a 6 to 12 month life expectancy. She was treated with Thalidamide and Decadron for over 3 years and went into full remission, but fell out of remission last year, She has restarted chemo, being on Revlimid and Decadron.
Do you mind sharing any special herbs/ supplements that you take or any special activities that you use that you believe may have contributed to your years of success. Any other good advice you can give to those living with multiple myeloma? Also, if you don't mind sharing, who is your Oncologist in Little Rock?
Thanks.
Sam.
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Sam242