Hello to everyone,
I am a 68 year old male, retired from the Air Force and a state job. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, in my T7 vetebrae on November 19, 2015. What a shock to your brain being told of a very life changing event. I started 250 centigrays of radiation the next week - total of 15 treatments over 2 and one half weeks. Since the disease was affecting my spine, the radiation was to shrink the growth and prevent paralysis. The radiologist said that they had shrunk the spot. I still have pain in the back, but doubt if much can be done to stop it.
I was put on dexamethasone 4 mg daily while in the hospital for a bone biopsy. I also started a Zometa IV 4 mg drip monthly the following week after being released from the hospital. The dex was especially tough since it was killing my sleep, which even temazepam (Restoril) would not help, and it was making me irritable. I am now in the process of reducing my intake of Dex and will complete it on December 26th. I am scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy on January 20th. My oncologist is optimistic that all is well.
Then another set back occurred on December 15th. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I am trying to take all this in stride. The biggest life changing for my wife and I will be to return to our former state so she will be closer to family. There is a large oncology population with 40 minutes that I can access. I am hoping after the bone marrow biopsy that I have a better idea of what stage I am in so we can plan out what we must do in the future.
I have a friend who survived breast cancer and is now fighting lung cancer. She has said, it is not a fast process on treatment, so you just have to have faith and patience because it is a process that happens over a long period, not instantly like we hope.
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TheQuill - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Recently Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma
I'm sorry that you are going through so much right now. It's not bad enough to be diagnosed with myeloma and to have radiation, but then to be diagnosed with diabetes, too. One of my first thoughts when I read about the diabetes is that it could possibly be a result of the dex that you apparently are continuing to take. Make sure that your glucose levels and A1C levels are checked after you complete taking the daily dex. They may gradually move into the normal range if the dex is the culprit.
If you begin treatment for myeloma after all of the testing that you will have along with the bone marrow biopsy, the pain in your back should begin to diminish. It may also begin to diminish sooner since you've had the lesion in your back radiated. Things do get better. And, as your friend has told you, it takes time for everything to work.
Is there a reason why the bone marrow biopsy isn't scheduled until Jan 20? That seems a long time if there already is evidence of myeloma in the bone biopsy of T7. It would seem that it should be done sooner so that you can get the results sooner and start treatment sooner, if needed.
One of the things that I suggest that you do is that you look for a myeloma specialist near where you are now and near where you will be moving. It is important to have a specialist overseeing your care even if you continue with your regular follow-up with an oncologist who doesn't specialize in treating mostly people with myeloma. Specialists will coordinate care through the local oncologist so that you don't need to see the specialist frequently if s/he is a distance from where you live.
All the best to you as you begin this new journey,
Nancy in Phila
If you begin treatment for myeloma after all of the testing that you will have along with the bone marrow biopsy, the pain in your back should begin to diminish. It may also begin to diminish sooner since you've had the lesion in your back radiated. Things do get better. And, as your friend has told you, it takes time for everything to work.
Is there a reason why the bone marrow biopsy isn't scheduled until Jan 20? That seems a long time if there already is evidence of myeloma in the bone biopsy of T7. It would seem that it should be done sooner so that you can get the results sooner and start treatment sooner, if needed.
One of the things that I suggest that you do is that you look for a myeloma specialist near where you are now and near where you will be moving. It is important to have a specialist overseeing your care even if you continue with your regular follow-up with an oncologist who doesn't specialize in treating mostly people with myeloma. Specialists will coordinate care through the local oncologist so that you don't need to see the specialist frequently if s/he is a distance from where you live.
All the best to you as you begin this new journey,
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Recently Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma
Thanks Nancy for the encouraging words.
I do not know why the oncologist/hematologist is waiting a month for the treatment. I know he is doing the bone marrow biopsy in conjunction with the day I get my Zometa IV. I thought it was just a time to do all at the same time. You are right about the dex being a contributor to the diabetes, at least that is what my doctor and the oncologist said. What concerns me is my mother was T2 so I am a good candidate to get it.
I am fighting to get a handle on what to eat for the diabetes and how to eat just the good stuff, but it is tough. I hope to get a better feel for what I am doing the next week, so I can ask my primary physician who is also my cardiologist how to manage it. I have given up some foods, and I am a atrial fibrillation patient on warfarin (Coumadin) which limits my diet choices.
I do not know why the oncologist/hematologist is waiting a month for the treatment. I know he is doing the bone marrow biopsy in conjunction with the day I get my Zometa IV. I thought it was just a time to do all at the same time. You are right about the dex being a contributor to the diabetes, at least that is what my doctor and the oncologist said. What concerns me is my mother was T2 so I am a good candidate to get it.
I am fighting to get a handle on what to eat for the diabetes and how to eat just the good stuff, but it is tough. I hope to get a better feel for what I am doing the next week, so I can ask my primary physician who is also my cardiologist how to manage it. I have given up some foods, and I am a atrial fibrillation patient on warfarin (Coumadin) which limits my diet choices.
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TheQuill - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma
I am sorry you have been given this diagnosis. My husband was just diagnosed a week ago and it is hard to take in. He sees the hematologist/oncologist on January 7th. Until then we are in a wait and hold pattern. That was the first appointment we could get with the holidays and all. Good luck to you and I am sure we will see each others post in the months to come.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Dogmom,
I know what you are going through. I was a wreck the first two weeks after being diagnosed with myeloma. What does not help is the waiting for the tests that you must go through. Luckily I was given radiation as soon as possible as I was released from the hospital. Be patient and ask plenty of questions to the oncologist, but remember each test gives an answer to bring you closer to what the road ahead will be.
I am hoping I can relocate and return to some normal living while I go through my treatments. Only time will tell how well we will do.
Good Luck and I will try to keep the road to recovery posted.
I know what you are going through. I was a wreck the first two weeks after being diagnosed with myeloma. What does not help is the waiting for the tests that you must go through. Luckily I was given radiation as soon as possible as I was released from the hospital. Be patient and ask plenty of questions to the oncologist, but remember each test gives an answer to bring you closer to what the road ahead will be.
I am hoping I can relocate and return to some normal living while I go through my treatments. Only time will tell how well we will do.
Good Luck and I will try to keep the road to recovery posted.
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TheQuill - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma
TheQuill, to be honest, don't expect much in knowing the results of the tests. Also, don't get hung up on what stage you're at as that's more significant for solid tumor cancers.
The most important questions are how will you respond to treatment and what will be the side effects. Unfortunately, no one knows for sure, not even your doctors. I responded very quickly to my initial chemo. Others don't and may eventually switch to a different chemo drug. I also had side effects from dex, but slept like a baby even when I was taking a total of 160 mg every 8 days in the first month.
I go to a cancer care centre for treatment and to see my hematologist. The centre offers a number of free services, including access to a dietitian.
The most important questions are how will you respond to treatment and what will be the side effects. Unfortunately, no one knows for sure, not even your doctors. I responded very quickly to my initial chemo. Others don't and may eventually switch to a different chemo drug. I also had side effects from dex, but slept like a baby even when I was taking a total of 160 mg every 8 days in the first month.
I go to a cancer care centre for treatment and to see my hematologist. The centre offers a number of free services, including access to a dietitian.
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cdnirene - Name: Irene S
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: Recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma
I just had my bone marrow biopsy, January 6, 2016. The oncologist was able to get a good sample and said he should have the results by January 15 when I get my monthly Zometa IV drip.
I have been fighting a bad cough and cold for ten days, which has not been a pleasant experience with the other aches that I have with the back cancer.
As everyone says, it is a wait-and-see game that we have to go through waiting on test results.
I am hoping for the best, so the next step can begin.
I have been fighting a bad cough and cold for ten days, which has not been a pleasant experience with the other aches that I have with the back cancer.
As everyone says, it is a wait-and-see game that we have to go through waiting on test results.
I am hoping for the best, so the next step can begin.
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TheQuill - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma
I'm glad that you got your biopsy sooner than January 20. You still have to wait for the results, but at least you'll have them prior to February. Hopefully you can then start treatment based on what is found in the biopsy.
All the best for beginning treatment that helps you with your pain,
Nancy in Phila
All the best for beginning treatment that helps you with your pain,
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma
My bone marrow biopsy showed that the multiple myeloma is not in my bone marrow at this time. I am to continue the monthly Zometa drip and have a CT in six months to check the status of the myeloma. Otherwise it is a waiting game to see where it will spread over the next year. I am lucky for the time being and praise Jesus for my good fortune.
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TheQuill - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
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