Cowgirl Up!!! ... Does Horse Poop Cause Cancer??

Sunday, December 30, 2012

3 years ago today I was diagnosed with CANCER

3 years ago: 12-30-2009 
Around 11-11:30am

Jim and I were at Kaiser Hematology/Oncology
Receiving earth-stopping news:

 That my 1st bone marrow biopsy on 12-18-2009
Revealed I had high-risk (of course!) Myeloma (who?) blood (what!) cancer (what the?#%$#@+*!!)

 Today --> 12-30-2012 I am in Remission :)

 I've survived countless rounds of oral pill form Revlimid chemo paired with powerful steroids, several rounds of several types of high dose IV chemo, an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant, an entire month of hospitalization in isolation, losing my hair, months of recovery, and almost 2 years of follow up maintenance Revlimid chemo... not to mention what I have been through psychologically... and here I am...  a full 3 years later... grateful to be writing this blog and reporting that I am still winning and dominating Myeloma!

 For a quickie re-cap of my cancer story, please see my blog entries from December 2010 and December 2011 (and of course all the entries in between if you really want all the details :)

 My recent 12-14-12 blood test results indicated many close to "normal" results.
Although Myeloma still renders me "immune compromised", I'm feeling pretty good overall. Tried still, some neuropathy still, never really "normal", but very grateful for my "new normal"!

 I have been off maintenance Revlimid chemo since June 2012 and time will tell how long my body can fight off the cancer cells that are destined to return... at sometime... since as of 2012 there is no medical cure for Multiple Myeloma... 
                                       
                   A Big Thank You to everyone for 3 years of support 
                               and encouragement since 12-30-2009  ♥

Thanksgiving birthday 2012

I am so blessed and lucky to be alive
and surrounded by love, life and fun  ♥

Cheers to 2013 

and Happy New Year to all my
Blog Buddies 
♥



Live happy, live well, and make a difference somewhere, somehow, with someone or something as often as you can!


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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

12-12-12

Just had to do a post on 12-12-12 as I don't think I will have another date like this in my lifetime...
I'm enjoying numbers and number patterns in a way I never did before all my blood tests!

My 3 year Myeloma diagnosis anniversary is coming up later this month 12-30-12
And my monthly cancer status check is in 2 days on 12-14-12
Numerically ironic, since my first Hematology appt, prior to diagnosis, was on 12-14-09

I may have some good news regarding some of my CBCs ... more to come after 12-14-12

But the last few weeks have been emotional for me-
Several deaths, much sadness, much personal reflection
They are gone... I am here

Bittersweet move from my office since 1994 to a new temporary office for 2 years, until the new building is completed. Hopefully remission holds for me and I have the chance to move again, into the new Admin/Student Services building in 2015

I have a mighty fine new view indeed! 
Counting my blessings
and thanking my colleagues
 for picking an office with such an amazing view of the campus,
as I was too ill to come in that day to pick my new home away from home.


Additionally 
Grateful for all my fur-kids:
2 (of my 4) beautiful doggies
that lift my spirits,
make me laugh and smile:
Paws and Abbie 

Life is so fleeting
And each day brings so many surprises and challenges
Who knew I would have the label of cancer survivor on 12-12-12
I used to think I would live forever
Now I live one day at a time, 
one oncology appointment at a time,
from blood tests to blood tests
I am here... so many are not...
I am so very grateful
yet still so shocked...
I have terminal cancer...


 12-12-12 Today
 12-13-12  Tomorrow
 12-14-12 We'll see 


Live happy, live well, and make a difference somewhere, somehow, with someone or something as often as you can!



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Monday, December 3, 2012

Hoof prints and still Winning!

Hi Everyone-

Thank you for your continued interest in my Remission status and blog updates! Your support means the world to me!

As of late summer 2012, I officially graduated from monthly Oncology checks to every 2 months.
Next blood tests and cancer status check is Dec 14. I'll post my medical update soon after my appt.

In the meantime, occasionally... very occasionally I get this view ~ 
The very best view in the house
My house of oak trees, soft dirt, rich scents of wild weeds, 
deer in the distance, birds chatting and chirping, 
squirrels and lizards darting about...
and my most favorite sound of all ... 
4 hoofs effortlessly trotting beneath me :)


Take that Myeloma!  Seems to me, this month... I am winning!


Live happy, live well, and make a difference somewhere, somehow, with someone or something as often as you can!

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My Story... How my MM was diagnosed

October/November/December 2009...

Most of my life I was VERY presumptuous about being healthy, taking my (mostly) GOOD health for granted...
I was committed to annual check-ups for all of us, and so late October 2009, my daughter and I went for our annual and very routine physicals.

Surprise, surprise... my routine blood tests revealed extreme Anemia, significant White and Red Cell issues, low Platelets, and a variety of other CBC red flags! I was (stupidly) not worried when my GP doc left repeated phone messages to contact him, and when we did speak, I (stupidly) requested postponement of his referral appointment to the Hematology Dept until the end of the Fall academic term.

Arriving for my first appointment Dec 14, 2009, I was confronted with the check-in sign that read: "Hematology/Oncology"... What? Nooooo! not me... I must be in the WRONG place! And so my diagnosis journey began with vials and vials of blood drawn "stat", urgent Dr consultations, a surprise and painful Bone Marrow Biopsy, a full body Skeletal Scan, more blood tests stat, and then on 12.30.2009... THE revealing meeting... the "huh-what" moment ... the confirmation diagnosis that I, Julie, have CANCER!!!

Happy New Year to me, I just learned a new vocabulary word:
Multiple Myeloma!!! MM, Multiple Mye-what-loma!!!

January - June 2010

My medical metamorphosis began.
I read, and read, and read and researched and researched MM. I trusted my expert Oncology/Hematology team's plan and began my "New Normal" as a cancer patient.
My treatment plan was developed to include powerful Dexemthesone steroids paired with Revlimid chemotherapy, with the plan to be hospitalized for an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant July 2010.

I began living "one day at a time" like never before.
Jim was a wreck. Alissa and Scott were stunned; family and friends shocked.

Me... Cowgirl Up! I got back in the saddle and knew I was in for the ride of my life!
I did well on my initial pill-form Revlimid Chemo, "roid-rage" Dex Steroids and other supportive meds. I am forever deeply grateful and appreciative for all the love and support from everyone in my personal and professional life! I thank all of you for working along with me, and allowing me to continue to lead a semi "normal" life!
YOU have helped save my life!

My treatment trail ride forks to City of Hope hospital as I will saddle up beginning June 9, 2010 for a new rodeo called an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant!
Ye-Ha, let the adventure begin!

Chemical Warfare...

January 2010 - May 2010:
My initial chemo regimen:

Pill form Chemo= Revlimid (10mg, 15mg capsules)
Pill form Dexamethasone Steroids (40 mg, 4 days on, 4 days off!
Omeprazole for steroid acid reflux
Mepron (looks like yellow finger paint) Anti-fungal, Anti-viral, etc for my very compromised immune system
B-12
.81 Aspirin to prevent DVT, Revlimid complications
Allopurinol- keeping the kidneys healthy
Acyclovir- anti-Shingles, anti-viral

June 2010:
High dose IV Cytoxan chemo
Neupogen to build up stem cells for Apheresis, stem cell harvest, which was very successful, as City of Hope was able to collect 9.5 million of my own stem cells

July 2010 Hospitalization:
Two days of high dose Melphalan chemo
Then July 5, 2010 = my Autologous Stem Cell transplant infusion!

And you can read my whole story from that point forward in this blog!


What is multiple myeloma?

What is multiple myeloma?

Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other areas of the body. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see What Is Cancer?

Multiple myeloma is a cancer formed by malignant plasma cells. Normal plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system.

The immune system is made up of several types of cells that work together to fight infections and other diseases. Lymphocytes (lymph cells) are the main cell type of the immune system. The major types of lymphocytes are T cells and B cells.

When B cells respond to an infection, they mature and change into plasma cells. Plasma cells make the antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) that help the body attack and kill germs. Lymphocytes are in many areas of the body, such as lymph nodes, the bone marrow, the intestines, and the bloodstream. Plasma cells, however, are mainly found in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside some hollow bones. In addition to plasma cells, normal bone marrow has cells that make the different normal blood cells.

When plasma cells become cancerous and grow out of control, they can produce a tumor called a plasmacytoma. These tumors generally develop in a bone, but they are also rarely found in other tissues. If someone has only a single plasma cell tumor, the disease is called an isolated (or solitary) plasmacytoma. If someone has more than one plasmacytoma, they have multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is characterized by several features, including:

Low blood counts

In multiple myeloma, the overgrowth of plasma cells in the bone marrow can crowd out normal blood-forming cells, leading to low blood counts. This can cause anemia – a shortage of red blood cells. People with anemia become pale, weak, and fatigued. Multiple myeloma can also cause the level of platelets in the blood to become low (called thrombocytopenia). This can lead to increased bleeding and bruising. Another condition that can develop is leukopenia – a shortage of normal white blood cells. This can lead to problems fighting infections.

Bone and calcium problems

Myeloma cells also interfere with cells that help keep the bones strong. Bones are constantly being remade to keep them strong. Two major kinds of bone cells normally work together to keep bones healthy and strong. The cells that lay down new bone are called osteoblasts. The cells that break down old bone are called osteoclasts. Myeloma cells make a substance that tells the osteoclasts to speed up dissolving the bone. Since the osteoblasts do not get a signal to put down new bone, old bone is broken down without new bone to replace it. This makes the bones weak and they break easily. Fractured bones are a major problem in people with myeloma. This increase in bone break-down can also raise calcium levels in the blood. (Problems caused by high calcium levels are discussed in the section “How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?”)

Infections

Abnormal plasma cells do not protect the body from infections. As mentioned before, normal plasma cells produce antibodies that attack germs. For example, if you developed pneumonia, normal plasma cells would produce antibodies aimed at the specific bacteria that were causing the illness. These antibodies help the body attack and kill the bacteria. In multiple myeloma, the myeloma cells crowd out the normal plasma cells, so that antibodies to fight the infection can’t be made. The antibody made by the myeloma cells does not help fight infections. That’s because the myeloma cells are just many copies of the same plasma cell – all making copies of the same exact (or monoclonal) antibody.

Kidney problems

The antibody made by myeloma cells can harm the kidneys. This can lead to kidney damage and even kidney failure.