Hi everyone. I've got some really good news to share. We got the results back from Dave's bone marrow extraction and the results show zero multiple myeloma cells!!! When Dave was diagnosed in September, he had 80% presence of multiple myeloma cells. The doctor is waiting back for one more test to determine 100% Dave is in Complete Response, but it looks really good so far. With multiple myeloma, there is no cure at this time so they don't define where Dave is at this point as "remission". But Complete Response would be the "remission" of Multiple Myeloma and is truly the best scenario we can be at!
I know I'm constantly placing my own spirtitual beliefs in this blog, but I believe so much with all my heart that this is by the grace of God. I've prayed every night for this specific outcome, that there would be no cancer in Dave's bone marrow and that is where we are. I know that this is solely by the grace of God and I constantly remind myself to praise him when things are good (like now) and when they are bad. This is our first victory in this fight!!!
I will let you know a definiitve when we get the rest of the tests back, but keep those prayers coming because they are working! So, what is next? This is up to Dave obviously. He is in his 6th round of chemo and is having a rough batch of it. This round has really affected him and he is experiencing a lot of discomfort. I knew it was too good to be true that he was responded that well through 5 rounds with few side affects. But thank you God for giving us that. The doctor did mention he would check with Standford about the necessity of completing these last round due to his extraordinary response to initial therapy so far. From everything I've read, the pain and side affects should end as soon as he completes chemo. So, lets hope that he can end chemo early...
Typically, through my research, patient choose stem cell transplantation after intitial therapy. There are different ideas on this and Dave is looking into it. But, if he choses to go this route, research shows that high rates of Complete Response after induction (which is where he is) often translates into high Complete Response Rates after trasnplantation and prolonged event-free survival.
Treatmentment, pills, chemotherapy, decisions all place a lot of pressure and stress on any indiviidual. Dave has been amazing and we need to continue to pray for Dave strength, hope, will, and spirit to get him in fighting shape for whatever is next. God is good.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Dave Update-January 17, 2011
Hi family and friends, I hope everyone is having a great start to a new year. With a new year, there is a renewed hope and a feeling of a fresh start. For Dave, his new year starts off with tests, tests, and more test. Dave got the results back from his body scan and there was no real changes in his lesions. I give praise to God that there were no additional lesions and his current lesions are about the same. Eventually, I'm hoping that the lesions will shrink. This is our goal. Last Thursday, Dave had his bone marrow tested (See definition of bone marrow biopsy below) and we hope to get the results back soon. His blood count continues to be normal. Of course this is Dave's normal, meaning normal and not unusual for a patient of MM. I pray daily that the bone marrow results show that we a "kicking" butt on those annoying myeloma cells.
Bone marrow biopsy is performed to assess the percentage of myeloma cells in the bone marrow and to determine how much they differ from normal plasma cells. Special testing is done on the bone marrow biopsy sample to assess prognosis based on chromosomal abnormalities.
Dave has been experiencing some body pain due to peripheral neuropathy which we believe is a side affect to one of medications Dave is on called Velcade Dex. Neropathy is the tingling and pain from nerve damaged caused by the side of affect of the drug. Dave has been experiencing this in his knees and legs. The doctors have given him some pain pills to help. Being the super hero that he is, he continues to work and even drove to LA for a work-related training the day of his bone marrow biopsy. Okay, Dave, we know, we know....You are the man!!!
Please keep the prayers coming. Can you read the prayer at the bottom of this blog. This is my specific prayer for Dave and I would love it if you could join in with me....
Bone marrow biopsy is performed to assess the percentage of myeloma cells in the bone marrow and to determine how much they differ from normal plasma cells. Special testing is done on the bone marrow biopsy sample to assess prognosis based on chromosomal abnormalities.
Dave has been experiencing some body pain due to peripheral neuropathy which we believe is a side affect to one of medications Dave is on called Velcade Dex. Neropathy is the tingling and pain from nerve damaged caused by the side of affect of the drug. Dave has been experiencing this in his knees and legs. The doctors have given him some pain pills to help. Being the super hero that he is, he continues to work and even drove to LA for a work-related training the day of his bone marrow biopsy. Okay, Dave, we know, we know....You are the man!!!
Please keep the prayers coming. Can you read the prayer at the bottom of this blog. This is my specific prayer for Dave and I would love it if you could join in with me....
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Dave Update-January 5, 2011
We had a great New Year's Eve and a last night with my baby brother Ben and his family before they headed back to Washington. We listened to music and danced around to Squeeze Box while the kids ran through the house chasing each other. Do you ever have those moments of complete happiness and contentment that you wish you could bottle up? Watching my mom and Dave dance and seeing everyone laughing and enjoying each other was one of those moments for me.
In terms of Dave's health, he has been experiencing some bone pain lately. This is not unusal at all due to the fact that he has (osteolytic) lesions on both legs, both arms, and his scull. 70% of MM patients have lesions. The presence of more than one lesion is why they call this cancer "multiple" myeloma. The unusal part is that Dave hasn't had much bone pain since being diagnosed. Bone pain is a very common symptom and the doctors are putting him on calcuim to strengthen his bones and he will also have a monthly treatment specifically aimed at treating and strengthening his bones.
Monday was a full day at the doctors for Dave. He had his regular chemo treatment, his replacement immunoglobulin therapy treatment, as well as a battery of other tests, including a full skeletal scan to check on his bones. Dave has a full week off until next Thursday when he will have chemo and a bone marrow biopsy. This is very important and is the best overall picture we will get on how the chemo is killing the cancerous plasma cells (myeloma cell) found in his bone marrow. And this is where I need your help. Can you please say a special, specific prayer for Dave that his bone marrow test will come back as showing NO cancer!! We need to see as little myeloma cells as possible to know we are on the right track and ready to make the next move.
Much Love
Jeana
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| Ben, Granpa, Grandma, and Dave (New Year's Eve) |
Happy New Year to family and friends. I can imagine everyone is making some kind of resolution for 2011 and I'm no different. My resolution is to love more, appreciate more, and pray more. My prayer for 2011 is that God will heal Dave's body and provide a loving embrace around Dave, my mom, grandma, and grandpa.
We had a great New Year's Eve and a last night with my baby brother Ben and his family before they headed back to Washington. We listened to music and danced around to Squeeze Box while the kids ran through the house chasing each other. Do you ever have those moments of complete happiness and contentment that you wish you could bottle up? Watching my mom and Dave dance and seeing everyone laughing and enjoying each other was one of those moments for me.
In terms of Dave's health, he has been experiencing some bone pain lately. This is not unusal at all due to the fact that he has (osteolytic) lesions on both legs, both arms, and his scull. 70% of MM patients have lesions. The presence of more than one lesion is why they call this cancer "multiple" myeloma. The unusal part is that Dave hasn't had much bone pain since being diagnosed. Bone pain is a very common symptom and the doctors are putting him on calcuim to strengthen his bones and he will also have a monthly treatment specifically aimed at treating and strengthening his bones.
Monday was a full day at the doctors for Dave. He had his regular chemo treatment, his replacement immunoglobulin therapy treatment, as well as a battery of other tests, including a full skeletal scan to check on his bones. Dave has a full week off until next Thursday when he will have chemo and a bone marrow biopsy. This is very important and is the best overall picture we will get on how the chemo is killing the cancerous plasma cells (myeloma cell) found in his bone marrow. And this is where I need your help. Can you please say a special, specific prayer for Dave that his bone marrow test will come back as showing NO cancer!! We need to see as little myeloma cells as possible to know we are on the right track and ready to make the next move.
Much Love
Jeana
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