I will update this page after each treatment.
My myeloma
It’s nearly a year since I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (incurable bone marrow blood cancer) so let me give you all a summary of what treatments I’ve received so far and how my life has had to change.
As soon as I was diagnosed, I started receiving chemotherapy treatment by way of weekly injections, and daily tablets. This lasted 16 weeks, also during this time I received bone strengthening treatment which was an injection once every three months.
The treatment so far was to get the myeloma under control, once this was achieved, and because I’m fit and healthy, I was eligible to have a bone marrow transplant. My own bone marrow was harvested by connecting me to a machine for 6 hours where my blood was taken from me into the machine which extracted the bone marrow, put it in a medical pouch and the blood put back into me. Once enough bone marrow was collected, I was allowed to go home. I then had about 3 weeks of no treatment. I was then admitted to hospital to get me ready for the next treatment which was on New Year’s Eve was to give me a dose the most powerful chemotherapy available to totally kill off my immune system, this included all inoculations I’ve ever received. The next day I received my bone marrow back by way of a drip. I was now at my most vulnerable and I had no immune system at all, any infection, bug or virus would have been life threatening for me. I made good progress and was allowed home after 2 weeks, still extremely vulnerable as the bone marrow which was transplanted back to me was slowly building up my red and white blood cells. My immune system will always be at approximately 20% for the rest of my life. To be safe, I can no longer mix with groups indoors, attend indoor functions, share car journeys, basically anything where I can catch a virus, infection, bug or anything dangerous to a human. As soon as my blood cells reached a certain level, chemotherapy started again, this was again weekly injections with daily tablets, this lasted for 8 weeks. I have just finished this round of treatment. Next for me is a trial for remission. I have had various tests done such as bone marrow biopsy, ECG, so many blood tests and urine test. I am now waiting for the results to then decide the next treatment.
My life has changed, my immune system is basically so low that it’s nearly nonexistent. Fatigue and weakness plays a large part of daily life. If I want to go on holiday abroad, I have to inform my consultant and my clinical nursing team months in advance so they can plan all medication, write letters for the airline staff and for doctors in the country I’m going to so they are aware of what I’m going through.
I will update this page after each treatment.