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

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Caution: Boring Post Ahead

Hello 7.27.17


Indeed, life is always full of surprises.The minute we think we can predict what's next, life throws us an unexpected twist, a curve ball, a fork in the road, or decisions we didn't expect. Each day I wake up, look around, and giggle that I am still here. So grateful, often surprised, always wondering what's next.

Had my Darzalex 6 hour infusion last Tuesday July 18. Fortunately, all is pretty routine now on infusion days. I take 20mg Dex steroids when I "force" myself to get up around 7am. Hydrate, figure out what my "GI biology" is planning, and get on the freeway between 9-9:30. By the time I arrive at the chemo lab, the steroids have kicked in a bit, and I feel pretty good. Such irony to arrive at a chemo treatment lab feeling ok and spirited, and "not looking like a cancer patient". Almost always I meet up with "regulars" there, and secure a chair or bed by someone I know, or off in a corner so I can hibernate and read for the day, or until the bag o' Benadryl tries to knock me out.

 Here I am towards the end of the day,
looking blurry from all the meds.
Note the "200" turbo infusion speed.
We start the Darzalex at 100, then 150 then 200, 
as I'm on week #15, and all's going well. 

Met with my Dr prior to my infusion, and all my labs look awesome! See my 7.17.17 post for all my lab details. Since I seem to be doing ok, I "jokingly" said to my Dr that perhaps if I was ok enough to travel, perhaps I could take a handful of Zarxio injections with me to keep my immune system strong. Really, I was just joking, but she quickly agreed and liked the idea. So perhaps a trip may be in our future... just have to get Jim's leg better... I always marvel at all the amazing medications that heal us and help our chemistry be ok. I had so little health problems prior to 2008, 2009, that I just didn't realize all the meds out there, ready to "fix us up"! Thank goodness Darzalex, Pomalyst and Dex steroids are currently my magical elixir! 



And that's my short and sweet update. Lest you think all is glitter rainbows and unicorns, I of course have a list of side effects, crash days, blah days, swollen days, GI days, but I rebound on my Darza week off, and I'm beginning to accept invitations to fun events occasionally. I don't understand this life, and will never stop questioning why, how come, why me, how'd this happen. But I move forward daily, often in awe of how close I have come to "not being here", but reveling in how ok I am this month. I always think about myeloma eating me up from the inside out, and marvel at the powerful treatments fighting my cellular battle. It's mind boggling knowing it's these meds, continuous for 7 years now, responsible for keeping me alive, month to month. I reflect on my "hole in my head" lytic lesion of the left side, and external hard tumor on my right side. Crazy stuff right?!  But I am here, and I do what I can do, when I can, and most importantly, I count my blessings daily. Heck, how many terminal cancer patients on a triplet chemo cocktail can boast they go from the chemo lab to the horse arena, to toss hay and rake up "road apples" :)) 

My backyard view the other day! 
 Thanks for checking in. 
Hoping for good news and happiness in your life always


Ps, 7 years ago tomorrow, July 28, I was finally released from City of Hope hospital, surviving my 2010 Stem Cell Transplant! Here's my post from back then.


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


Monday, July 17, 2017

Darza, Pom, Dex... I loooove You!

Hello 7.17.17
Great News :))
You won't believe my IgA stats!

And to think, where I was 7 years ago today...
Here's a walk down memory lane... I wasn't feeling too chipper 7 years ago TODAY, trying to recover from my stem cell transplant and my septic infected Hickman catheter site... 

(Be right back ... GI sabotage lol...)

Hello Everyone-
As always, so much happens between posts, but I'll let the pictures do the talking this time. (You can click on the screen shots for a larger view)

 Wow! Look how low my IgA is!
Go Darzalex, Pomalyst, Dex steroids

I know it's hard for some people to "see" me
and hear me speak of how "serious" my situation is
But Numbers Don't Lie, right!
Bad, Worse, Bad, Better, Better, Wow now :))

Even my IgG is rebounding
After my SCT, my IgG and IgM were always super low...
but a "strange thing" has happened with Darzalez.
I recall reading an about an IgG component...
I'll find the article link...

Look how Darza has affected my myeloma type
I used to only be IgA
Now I see an IgG component
 IgA only ^

And look below
I've joined another "sorority"

 I'll be asking my Dr about this tomorrow at my appointment
And for any of you myeloma "experts" reading this, 
please comment and let me know your thoughts...

Now I remember where I read about
"As Darzalex is an IgG monoclonal antibody, it can be detected on tests used for the clinical monitoring of M protein and may impact the determination of complete response and of disease progression in some patients with IgG myeloma" 

Yippee!! M Protein is still
"undetectable"-
reads as "Abnormal", 
but not a measurable numerical value!
A few months ago, it was over 3.4

But... after 21 days of Pomalyst
my WBCs plummet, I become Neutropenic,
so it's Zarxio to the rescue!
I'm such a pro now at grabbing a bit of belly chub
and in goes the shots with no problem

So today was my hubby Jim's all day adventure with his doctor's regarding his previous blood clots in his legs issue. Been a tough battle for him, as his veins have died a slow death from years of damage, and he has terrible swelling, DVT, and now "venous ulcers" on one leg from the swelling, and blood flow issues. So incredibly painful for him, and he's used to being so active and on his feet all the time, and that only exacerbates it. Getting old just stinks! So we spent the early day getting a Vascular Ultrasound and seeing a Vascular Surgeon. Bottom line for poor Jim: compression stockings, elevate the leg, and the home health care nurse comes 2 times a week to wrap the wound. It's like an "Assisted Living Facility" around here, but we both stuff our symptoms and get outside and take care of all the creatures we are responsible for, even when we don't feel well. I wonder what a "cement, suburban" life would be like lol... just being responsible for ourselves... oh well, we'll make it work, as all our animals are a part of our life for their entire life. 


After leaving all the appointments today, we were hungry, so knowing I would be at the Chem Lab all day tomorrow, we brought home delish deli food. Not sure what happened to me, but for the first time in a very long time, my GI was not happy, and I spent some time in the bathroom late today, tonight, reminiscent of the Revlimid "volcanic" days! (Remember those stories? And this one?) Still have an unsettled stomach, but we'll see what the rest of the night brings. Hopefully nothing, so I can get it together early tomorrow morning, take my 20mg steroids (as Darza pre meds), get to the lab to take my blood tests, in time for my Dr appointment, then all day Darza IV infusion. 

Good news is, I felt pretty good this month. Must be those awesome IgA stats! Just processing all the changes in my life (retirement pushed some buttons), accepting where Jim and I are health-wise and our lack of the "golden years options". Sshheessh, and I'm so "young" to be dealing with all this.... Anyway, my goals are to begin going through all my "stuff" (still haven't fully unloaded my office boxes yet), meet up with friends when I feel ok, and take a few local "day trips" when we are feeling ok. Always so much to process. Amazing how life continually throws us curves and forks in the road. My goal is simplicity, less is more, and most important, feeling ok, and just being happy every day. I am thrilled beyond thrilled Darza Pom Dex is currently my "magic elixir", and I hope beyond hope this triplet cocktail can outsmart myeloma for many many months to come. But I am a realist, and live month to month, blood test to blood test, and know myeloma is super stealth, and treatment changes are inevitable.  

I didn't even tell you the funny story about me trying to buzz my little doggie, and learned being a dog groomer is really hard, skilled work, that I absolutely do not possess! And Domino the attack rooster still trying to attack me thru the fence, but I outsmart him by going out to collect the eggs at night, after he and the girls are roosting for the night, as I dodge the rat-family... And did I mention, I had a nail in my tire, ...  so many more life adventures. But I have a life, and for that, so incredibly grateful!

My loyal, dear friend Kathy and I finally met up for a Frappucino!
I cancel on her, more than I see her-
  
And today, while waiting to see Jim's Vascular surgeon, I saw Karen, our amazing Chemo Lab volunteer. So nice to get out and about once in a while, and feel "normal" ha ha! 


Thanks for checking in and following my silly story. Hoping your life is filled with rewarding adventures, good health (or livable health), and all that makes you happy and fulfilled! Cheers to 7.17.17. 


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



Friday, July 7, 2017

New Chapter, New Identity... Same Life, Same Challenges

7.7.17


Surprise! Did you see I posted a few days ago?
Be sure to scroll down to my other posts, as I reflected on my 7 year Stem Cell Transplant anniversary, on 2 very symbolic days for me:
July 2, I was admitted to City of Hope to begin my first (and only) Stem Cell Transplant
July 5, the day my own stemmies were infused back to me, restarting and regenerating my chemo and myeloma ravaged body.

Yes, 7 years of myeloma invasion this 2017. Happy 7 year SCT anniversary-birthday to me. On one hand I marvel I am still here. On the other, "of course I am", I whisper to myself. I must be. I have to be.

Moving forward, I had my 14th Darzalex infusion this past Monday, and I'm doing ok. I tend to "crash" on day 3, 4, 5, 6. Combo crash from Dex steroids and Darza, while the Pomalyst side effects carry on for the entire month lol. It starts with extreme fatigue, feeling bloated from Dex (I think), then light headaches, dizziness and achy skin. I stay close to home on these days, as I never know what my GI side effects might be, but fortunately, nothing like the extreme surprise volcanic reactions I had from Revlimid, and infrequently, Kyprolis. It's interesting the "bargaining" we do regarding side effects. There are days I wish I could "go", then other days, wishing I would stop "going". Days where I am so achy, I don't know if it's side effects, or I'm getting a bug. Not sure which is worse. Then the numbness and tingling from the Neuropathy. And the fatigue, the absolute lack of "helium", is just so debilitating.

I'll take my myeloma marker labs next week, and know my status on Tues July 18, which is also my 15th Darza infusion. Will be interesting to see my numbers, as my infusion schedule is off several days, due to all my retirement events end of June. I do worry with the every other week Darza protocol, as I am skeptical about the monthly protocol coming my way in the future. But the years of research trials and studies determined the infusion schedule, so we'll see how it affects me personally. I just wish for treatment consistency... but that's not myeloma's reality. Myeloma's reality is continual treatments, successes, refractory, new treatments, refractory, repeat, repeat, repeat...

And so... I've been "retired" for a week now... certainly not the "retirement" I thought my retirement would be. I've let go of a lot of plans and dreams... I accept. It is what it is. Always reminding myself: "you can't control the things you can't control Julie"... I remain so grateful for all the good things in my life, past and present, and for this 7 year anniversary that almost wasn't... 

Maybe one day...



Maybe one day...

 Thanks for reading and caring. Hoping your summer is full of fun and happy times! 

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

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

7th SCT Anniversary! Thank You My Little 2010 Stemmies

7.5.2017

Wow, can it be? Yes, 7 years ago today I received my own Stem Cells back, in hopes of revitalizing and regenerating my system after months of intensive chemotherapy, with the hope of finally pummeling myeloma outta my universe.

It was mid morning July 5, 2010, with not much fanfare or dramatics, my nurses came in to my hospital room, checked my vitals, checked my IV's, hung a few new bags of "magic potions", (probably hydration, anti nausea meds, etc, can't recall...), and let me know my Stem Cells would be arriving at any time. I was still in a daze about this whole myeloma cancer situation, not to mention being a hospital inpatient, that I just "went along for the ride", nodding my head and agreeing to whatever the professionals said would be the next event. I always felt like I was an imposter, or my diagnosis was a mistake, or I was participating in some sort of "professional in-service" workshop, as it was, and still is, so difficult for me to fully relate to, and accept my illness status.


But catheter lines connected to my main arteries, tubes coming out of my chest, IV bags galore infused into my body 24/7, nurses and doctors rushing in and out of my IN-patient hospital room, all confirmed my reality: That I have a very serious illness called cancer, specifically myeloma, I'm really sick, I'll be sick forever, but this Stem Cell Transplant infusion process will buy me time. How much time, I didn't know back then. No one knew. No one knows now. But here I am, 7 years later! Treatment seems to be an oxymoron: "Precision Guessing" lol.

And the door opens. A quiet, reserved young lady wheels in an ice chest, says hello and that she is here to deliver my Stem Cells!


Didn't seem like a big deal to me. No bells and whistles. No band playing. No wild partying or revelry. Hubby Jim and Daughter Alissa were on their way, but it was just me, the Cyrogenic Lab Tech delivery lady and my Nurse Susan. Back then I just had my little "Razor" flip phone for a camera, and I had only taken a few pictures up to that point. I wasn't as connected on social media or this blog that long, so I wasn't taking a zillion pictures or selfies back then. But I stopped her and said, "wait, please let me get a picture of you holding my stemmies"! She obliged, but shyly. Click, there they were. Saved forever in just one blurry picture. Nurse Susan came and hung the bag, connecting my 5 million stemmies to my Hickman Catheter, and off my stemmies flowed, infused back into by body. No pain, no drama, so very undramatic. Me of course thinking, "ok, so what's the big deal to a Stem Cell Transplant"? "This is so very anticlimactic", I thought. But I soon came to find out exactly WHAT the BIG deal was to this whole process. It's not the actual stem cell INFUSION process itself, it's what the 2 days (prior) of HIGH DOSE MELPHALAN CHEMO, does to one's body. THAT is THE BIG DEAL.

 Fortunately, Jim and Alissa made in, 
just as my stemmies were almost all infused.

And so the days passed. First few days after infusion I felt ok. Then slowly not ok. I was moved from the 6th floor to the 5th floor. I remember so many medical professionals coming in to see me. I called it the "Parade of Professionals". Nurses, Doctors, Social Services, Occupational Therapists, Exercise Therapists, LVNs, RNs, Dieticians, cleaning staff, on and on and on. Seriously, never a dull moment. I was so exhausted. My phone would ring. I had so little energy to answer and chat. I got so I couldn't talk. Too physically weak. Too emotionally drained and affected. Everything became an effort. Getting to my little bathroom, just steps away from my bed, like a marathon challenge. I tried to hydrate and eat a bit, but I was so cautious, as I didn't want to be sick. I began keeping the TV on 24/7. I needed "noise", needed distraction from my own thoughts and feelings. I was going down hill. My immune system was crashing. I felt awful. I developed a fever. My Hickman Catheter became infected, septic. Doctors and Nurses determined it was so infected it had to be removed. And fast. So fast, they sent a Surgeon in to my room to perform "bedside surgery". I remember "seeing the light"... thinking this is it... I'm outta here... I'm going... but I woke up hours later, no catheter, many worried faces, multiple bags of IV antibiotics flowing, into an IV now in my arm. Catheter gone. I then understood what the stem cell transplant BIG DEAL was. It's the chemo CRASH! My immune system was now Neutropenic. Nadir had happened. Melphalan had killed most everything. Good and Bad. My body now has to rebuild me back to health... if I am going to make it... The plan: my stem cells to the rescue. Regenerate my immune system, give me strength, give me power to fight, give me my life back. 

 My view all of July 2010

Although my stay was difficult, 
I had the best of care, with the best professionals
and I will always be indebted to the COH SCT staff!

Yes, my whole month at City of Hope Hospital was one of my most challenging events of my life. I think more emotionally, than physically. Slowly my body healed. Engraftment happened. Slowly my immune system rallied and built back up. Slowly I learned patience. Slowly I learned I was not in control any more. Slowly I began to accept I had terminal cancer, and I would never ever be who I was, before diagnosis. Slowly my body healed. But I was told, my ticket out of the hospital was accepting a new port for my IV meds. See, after my Hickman "blew up" due to the extreme infection (probably due in part to me being allergic to the bandages, and not keeping it properly covered initially), I was terrified to accept another implanted port. But my nurses and doctors let me know, no port, no going home. My ticket to freedom was accepting a Picc line, port-a-cath, a little port installed in my upper arm, to allow home health care nurses to come and help me administer antibiotics, for weeks, months? I accepted. I accepted the port on July 26, 2010.

 Here I was, back then, with my super cool
home IV antibiotic "bag in a bottle" infusion apparatus 

 Late Wednesday, July 28th, I was released from the hospital, and my family brought me home. I cried the whole way home. I cried from relief. I cried from pure exhaustion. I cried because I never thought I would get out of the hospital alive. I cried because I felt the sun in my face, and the wind in what little hair I had left. I cried because I had held in so many emotions for so long, and they just poured out. I cried because I knew there was now hope that I could be "Julie" again. Just Julie. Not Julie the sick hospital inpatient, battling for her life, but Julie, breathing in life, exhaling illness and inhaling sunshine, nature, scented roses and whispering pine trees, horses swishing tails on moonlit nights, and I could once again, laugh with my family, friends and colleagues. 

 And here I am, 7 years later, so lucky to be here
doing all the little things I never thought I'd be able to do,
back during those long, painful days and nights in the hospital...
7 years later... wow! 
Happy 7th SCT to me :))


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



 

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Admission Day: 7 Years Ago Today

7.2.2017

7 years ago today, 7.2.2010, I was admitted to City of Hope hospital to begin my first (and only) Stem Cell Transplant process. Oh was I naive and full of "Whaaateverrrr"..., "I'll be just fine, and do just fine, and this isn't a big deal" attitude... Ha! did I learn differently throughout the 4 weeks I was there! Here's a quick pictorial of my first days as an inpatient:

Hello City of Hope hospital:
My home all of July 2010
I started out on the 6th floor, then was moved to the 5th floor
when my Hickman Catheter became really infected and septic, 
But that's a story itself!

July 2, 2010
Here we are are in "Admitting", looking like we're off on a cruise,
except for hubby Jim, he was pretty traumatized with my situation

July 3, 2010
Hello killer Melphalan chemo, Day #1
Let the 2nd phase pummeling of myeloma begin,
prior to infusion of my stemmies

July 4th, 2010
My sweet nurses escorting me to the Fireworks viewing area.
Still clueless me, always having an "out of body experience", 
I remember feeling so out of place, 
feeling like I was impersonating a patient. 
I still had fluffy hair and make up on lol

July 4th, 2010
Melphalan Day #2
Fireworks outside, and
"fireworks" to come on my insides...
but little did I know that at this time!

My first few days of hospitalization were rather uneventful. But that of course, was before the "expected" "Neutropenic, Nadir crash". So weird being an inpatient, as I just couldn't grasp how "sick" I really was, and what Myeloma had done to me. My 5 months of Revlimid and Dexamethasone, and one day of IV Cytoxan had brought my cancer involvement down from 67% to 10% and the plan was for Melphalan to finish the job, with my own stem cells eventually regenerating my system. Sure I had plenty of crazy side effects during my initial treatment, but my life was still somewhat "normal"... Oh what a humbling adventure my hospital stay became, and I sure had my "reality adjustment" in the days, weeks to come..  I'll tell you more on July 5th, my 7th SCT anniversary...

True story... I really did have many fears, 
but I always focused on the positive,
hoped for the best,
took one day at a time,
and was very careful to follow exactly 
what my Drs and Nurses told me to do. 
I just can't believe it's been 7 years...
and I can't believe everything I have been through
in the last 7 years... 
But here I am, so lucky, so grateful, to still be telling my story!


To Be Continued :))


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



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.