[Canuck Bob]

Sharing my birthday.

by Canuck Bob on Fri Jan 04, 2013 5:23 pm

Hello to everyone,

I have been absent for awhile due to having my life back.

The newly diagnosed and their questions brought back many memories. I just turned 59 and on my 57 birthday I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

My route included the dreaded Dex (turned me into a rabid grizzly bear) and Velcade, ASCT, and now includes a very good partial response that my Doctor classes as remission. My M-spike is there but very small and I am on Revlimid and Zometa for the duration I suspect. My family got through it and we are more loving and mature family for the experience. We are now skilled with dealing with the frustration of uncertainty that cancer always brings.

The early days for multiple myeloma warriors and care givers is very stressful. My heart goes out to everyone dealing with this disease but specially to the newbies. I'm sharing this to let you know there is hope and your not alone.

This forum, and Carol and the SAMMS (Southern Alberta multiple myeloma Society) group carried me while we came to terms with cancer.

I have one piece of advice. Stay off the internet for info unless it is this site, an accredited multiple myeloma Association, or a trusted support group. My early google searches produced nothing but wrong info, erroneous life expectancy threads, silly advice, and feelings of despair. When I landed here things improved day 1. At my first SAMMS meeting I met a fine gal diagnosed 20 years ago!