I finished my stem cell transplant in August of 2006.  As I mentioned in my last article, once engrafting of the stem cells takes place, most of the nasty symptoms from the transplant resolve fairly quickly. The lingering symptom was fatigue.

On the bright side, I was home, the worst of the treatment was over, and I was going to make the best of it.

Everyone said, “Don’t fight the fatigue, listen to your body.”  This is true.  If you need to nap, nap. Your body has been through hell and …

After three months of induction chemotherapy with vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and dexamethasone (Decadron), I was ready for my stem cell transplant.

From the time I was diagnosed, all I kept hearing about was the stem cell transplant.  It seemed like the holy grail of treatment, and even as a physician I was somewhat mystified by the process.

Since I was fairly young (47) and otherwise in good health, there was no question that I was going to get a stem cell transplant.

The stem cell transplant used in the …

In my first column last month, I discussed my initial diagnosis of multiple myeloma as well as my decision to have treatment close to home and to go with a less aggressive approach.  Once this decision was made, it was time to move forward.

I was anxious to get going with treatment: get treated, go into remission, and be done with this whole thing, or so I thought.   I know, I read all about myeloma being incurable, but deep down I felt I could be different.

At the time I was …

In March of 2006, I was 47 years old and thought I was on top of my game. I had a busy, thriving Ear, Nose, and Throat medical practice and a great wife and two kids, one in 8th grade and one in 5th. I was compulsively physically active, with a rigorous workout schedule. But something was not right.

Every Saturday morning, I worked out with a group of friends and began to notice that I was becoming short of breath more easily. Friends who I could usually outrun were blowing …