Rescue and Remission

Hello May, 2012

Remission is still my status, paired with Revlimid chemo 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off
"So far, so good"... as my wonderful Oncologist Dr Lee always says
I continue to experience all kinds of side-effects, and I am re-evaluating my "new normal" as it's not so comfortably "normal"... but no cancer whining here, as we have happy rescue news!!!

Look who Molly "sent" us:

Meet Abbie!

(sporting Molly's collar)

Rescued from the mean streets of LA

By the wonderful New Leash On Life Rescue Shelter

Here's Abbie, arriving HOME

Goodbye dirty City life

Hello, Country living!

Thank you sweet Ashley

for Abbie's ride home :)

Abbie meeting the gang!

Bet she's processing her good luck

and how she escaped "doggie death-row"

for a permanent stay at "Visneyland" !

Yiippeee!!!

3 of my new pals:

Paws, Hanna and me Abbie

Death row rescues we are!

Hanna and Abbie celebrating life and happiness at "Visneyland"

Hanna's one year anniversary!

Abbie's one week anniversary!

Thank you New Leash on Life for the amazing rescue work you do!

Saving precious lives, giving doggies a chance at a new life.

Thank you beautiful Molly for sending us your little angel

Your spirit lives on forever with us...

Cancer Won

R I P our beautiful Molly

October 2002 - March 28, 2012

Stupid, useless Cancer

July 2003, just 9 months old
Shelter rescue Molly

We're her third owner

Lucky us!

2011

Beautiful, loyal girl

cancerous tumor just beginning to show
on her beautiful head

Look at the tennis ball size bump

hate you cancer :'(

Early 2012

hate you even more cancer :'(

Horrible, awful, disfiguring cancer

You stole our beautiful Molly-girl

March 28, 2012
Heartfelt Thank You our exceptional and wonderful Veterinarian
Dr Mariko Kramer
for all your loving care of Molly during her illness.
We are forever grateful to you for all your genuine caring for Molly
We love you !

Sweet Molly and baby Pawsy

Here we are cancerous together in 2009

and neither of us knew it!

Cancer stole you from us too soon Molly

I'll fight the fight forever in your memory

You were so brave, so strong, and never complained

If only I can be as strong and brave as you

 when my time comes...

RIP our brave, beautiful, sweet, kind Molly-girl 

:'(

(It's only April, and our family has had to deal with 2 cancer diagnoses already: our son Scott (January) and Molly... hopefully the next 8 months of 2012 will not bring any more !!! )

Myeloma + Treatment = Chance of Secondary Cancer--> o joy!!!

Revlimid Prescribing Information Updated To Include Secondary Cancer Warning

No CommentBy The Myeloma Beacon Staff
Published: Mar 15, 2012 3:43 pm; Updated: March 15, 2012 11:30 pm

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has added a warning to the prescribing information for Revlimid stating that patients being treated with the drug have an increased risk of developing a second cancer.

The warning has been added in two parts of the prescribing information.

In the upfront ‘Warnings and Precautions’ section, text has been included stating that “Higher incidences of SPM [second primary malignancies] were observed in controlled trials of patients with multiple myeloma receiving Revlimid.”

Later in the document, the warning is expanded to explain that studies have shown that multiple myeloma patients treated with Revlimid (lenalidomide) as well as melphalan (Alkeran) and stem cell transplantation were more likely to develop a second cancer than those receiving comparable treatment without Revlimid.  In particular, the Revlimid-treated patients were at higher risk of developing acute myelogenous leukemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends in the prescribing information that physicians monitor patients being treated with Revlimid for the development of second cancers and take into account both the potential benefit of the drug and the risk of second cancers when considering treatment with Revlimid.

Revlimid is marketed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG).

Concerns about a potential Revlimid-secondary cancer link first emerged at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting in December 2010, when results were presented from three trials that showed higher rates of reported second cancers among myeloma patients treated long-term with Revlimid therapy compared to other patients in the same studies.

Despite extensive follow-up research and investigation, concerns about Revlimid and secondary cancer persist. They are reflected, for example, in the recent International Myeloma Working Group consensus statement on maintenance therapy, which cites the risk of secondary cancer in its discussion of maintenance therapy with Revlimid (see related Beacon news).

The recent change in the U.S prescribing information for Revlimid was preceded earlier this year by a change in the European prescribing information for the drug.  The European change reflects the results of a safety review by the European Medicines Agency, which was concluded last September (see related Beaconnews).

The warning added to the European prescribing information is more extensive than the warning added by the FDA.  In particular, the European agency added three paragraphs to the section on “other special warnings and precautions for use.”

The first two paragraphs note that, in both previously treated as well as newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients, treatment with Revlimid has been associated with a three- to four-fold increase in the rate of second cancers versus what was observed in the trial control groups.

The third paragraph then states, “The risk of occurrence of [second cancers] must be taken into account before initiating treatment with Revlimid.  Physicians should carefully evaluate patients before and during treatment using standard cancer screening for occurrence of second primary malignancies and institute treatment as indicated.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration began its own safety investigation of Revlimid – and alsothalidomide (Thalomid), which is chemically similar to Revlimid – in April 2011.  An FDA representative contacted by The Beacon was unable at this time to clarify whether the recent change in Revlimid’s prescribing information reflects the conclusion of the agency’s investigation.

Neither the FDA nor European authorities have thus far made any changes to the prescribing information for Thalomid related to secondary cancers.

At the 2011 American Society of Hematology meeting this past December, Dr. Antonio Palumbo of the University of Torino in Italy summarized results of a retrospective analysis of the risk of secondary cancer associated with Revlimid and thalidomide treatment (see related Beacon news).

The results of the analysis indicate that treatment with Revlimid in and of itself may not increase the risk of secondary cancers.

Instead, there may be an interaction between treatment with melphalan and treatment with Revlimid (or thalidomide) that increases a patient’s risk of developing secondary cancers.

Dr. Palumbo also presented data showing that the risk of developing secondary cancers when treated with Revlimid is generally lower than the risk of a number of serious side effects that can occur during common myeloma treatment regimens.

For more information, see the text that was added to the U.S. and European prescribing information for Revlimid, which is included below, or the full U.S. prescribing information and the full European prescribing information.

Additionally, please see the complete compilation of Beacon articles with information on the Revlimid safety controversy.

Addition To The U.S. Prescribing Information For Revlimid

Second Primary Malignancies (SPM): Higher incidences of SPM were observed in controlled trials of patients with multiple myeloma receiving Revlimid.

Patients with multiple myeloma treated with lenalidomide [Revlimid] in studies including melphalan and stem cell transplantation had a higher incidence of second primary malignancies, particularly acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and Hodgkin lymphoma, compared to patients in the control arms who received similar therapy but did not receive lenalidomide. Monitor patients for the development of second malignancies.  Take into account both the potential benefit of lenalidomide and the risk of second primary malignancies when considering treatment with lenalidomide.

Addition To The European Prescribing Information For Revlimid

An increase of second primary malignancies (SPM) has been observed in clinical trials in previously treated myeloma patients receiving lenalidomide [Revlimid] / dexamethasone (3.98 per 100 patient-years) compared to controls (1.38 per 100 patient-years). Non invasive SPM comprise basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers. Most of the invasive SPMs were solid tumour malignancies.

In clinical trials of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, a 4-fold increased incidence of second primary malignancies has been observed in patients receiving Revlimid (7.0%) compared with controls (1.8%). Among invasive SPMs, cases of AML [acute myeloid leukemia], MDS [myelodysplastic syndromes] and solid tumours were observed in patients receiving Revlimid in combination with melphalan or immediately following high dose melphalan and ASCT [autologous stem cell transplant]; cases of B-cell malignancies (including Hodgkin’s lymphoma) were observed in the clinical trials where patients received Revlimid in the post ASCT setting.

The risk of occurrence of SPM must be taken into account before initiating treatment with Revlimid. Physicians should carefully evaluate patients before and during treatment using standard cancer screening for occurrence of second primary malignancies and institute treatment as indicated.

Great Myeloma article on trying to find our "new normal" 

http://www.myelomabeacon.com/resources/

http://www.myelomabeacon.com/blog-posts/

http://www.myelomabeacon.com/links/


I'm LEARNING that I TRIED TOO HARD TOO SOON TO BE TOO NORMAL...
headed to the Cardiologist tomorrow... I can't get rid of these chest pains, breathlessness and sometimes stabbing/jabbing chest pains ....

Too Many, Too Much, Too Overwhelming

I'd like to write another "happy" post like my last one, but I am just overwhelmed by so many people in my life with medical challenges:

A dear family friend (who's like a brother to Jim and me, and another dad to Scott and Alissa) recently suddenly, shockingly passed away from unexpected complications of heart surgery

Another dear family friend is battling uterine/endometrial cancer, and not enjoying the ravages of chemo side effects and losing her hair

I cannot believe how many of my girl - friends are currently battling breast cancer, or in recovery from various types of life-saving treatments... trying to wrap their minds around how cancer destroyed their beautiful bodies

A good friend's Dad (from my high school days) was recently diagnosed with... drum roll... you guessed it...
Multiple Myeloma!

My dad took my sister to ER the other night... she remains hospitalized with unusual electrolyte (and other) blood levels... guess what specialist was sent to her room today.... yep... a Hematologist

Our beautiful doggie Molly is hanging on (barely) as her sinus, head, nose cancerous tumor grows bigger by the day... but we are too torn to make the euthanasia decision when she still follows us and her doggie buddies around the backyard

Seriously, look at the size of that awful tumor on Molly's head

And no, that's not her skull or bone structure

It's a stinkin tumor the size of a baseball !!  :(

I continue to correspond with many cancer comrades around the country, referred to me by family and friends. I am thrilled and blessed to have so many new friends and pen-pals.
I just wish the common thread of introduction wasn't CANCER

I just found out from the sweet daughter hosting a (IMF) Myeloma wine-tasting fundraiser for her mom, who has.... of course... you guessed it.... Myeloma... they grew up around the block from where I did !

Ok brilliant scientific researchers out there...
3 of us neighbors (my current location) within walking blocks of each other ... have Multiple Myeloma
3 of us newly discovered past neighbors from the other Valley, have Multiple Myeloma
WHAT THE HECK???!!!

And we still can't even process the "bad movie" we starred in just this past January... did our son Scott really have bladder cancer surgery???

I'm having chest pains and difficulty breathing... is it physiological or psychological?
I have a Dr's appt next week...

But I will end on a happy note, with a GIANT sigh of relief for my incredibly BRAVE buddy Brian, who's recent brain cancer surgery has been declared SUCCESSFUL !!!

And a positive shout-out to my COC colleagues waging their cancer battles too... may your remission good-news continue forever!!!

Remission = Back in the Saddle again!

July 4, 2010 =

Receiving Myeloma killing Melphalan Chemo
at City of Hope Hospital

July 5, 2010 =
Receiving my life regenerating Stem Cells
at City of Hope Hospital

February 4, 2012 =

Back in the Saddle again
for the first time since 2009!

Mom and Daughter July 2010  =

Mom and Daughter February 2012 = 

Today and yesterday were Monumental days

in the battle of dominating Myeloma.

This weekend = absolute winning for me!

This weekend 

my daughter and I

rode our horses

for

the very first time

since
Myeloma invaded our lives

in 2009

I cried my heart out

while in treatment-isolation 

at

City of Hope Hospital July, 2010

I never thought I would be able to

ride a horse again.

But I did!
19 months after my Stem Cell Transplant!

My life is now complete


PS-
(and Scott's cancer is considered "cured")

There is no better view of life than this view


WINNING!!!!

December + Biopsies = Cancer

Friends are advising us to stay away from Doctors around New Years, staying as far away from medical facilities as possible--- and here's why:


December 2009 = Bone Marrow Biopsy for me
December 2011 = Cystourethroscopy for my son Scott


December 30, 2009 = I am diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma
December 29, 2011 = Scott is diagnosed with a Bladder mass/tumor

Surgery pre-op appointment

Little did we know the seriousness to come

January 2010 = Trying to begin to process I have a BLOOD CANCER
January 2012 = Trying to begin to process that Scott has BLADDER CANCER

January 2010 = I begin powerful Steroids and Revlimid Chemotherapy
January 2012 = Scott has surgery to remove the bladder mass/tumor

Our smiles are deceiving...
This was before we knew the biopsy results

We're all full of smiles of optimism
Then a week later...
the Biopsy news Revels the Tumor WAS Cancerous

It's all so unbelievable!

2012 Scott goes in for "benign" tumor removal surgery. Biopsy diagnoses cancer. Thankfully declared "cured" after surgery.

2010 me, incurable cancer, treatments for life... 

Can someone please help us make sense of all of this...

And the cancerous theme continues:
Molly our beautiful doggie is hanging on... sinus/bone cancer hasn't won yet, but her tumor is tennis ball size now

This pic was taken a month ago; tumor is much bigger now :(

She's such an amazing doggie!
Molly still basks in the sun and tries to play with her buddies,
even though she's hemorrhaging from the nose

Another close family friend has uterine/edometrial cancer and begins chemo later this month
Brian (my student) is still battling his cancer that migrated to become brain cancer
Another close family friend just had a double mastectomy

Can anyone help us make sense of all of this?

Diagnosis: Multiple Myeloma - 12 - 30 - 2009

December 30, 2009 my life forever changed
December 30, 2009 I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma CANCER

That day, that appointment, is still a blur... except for the word cancer, cancer, cancer
Multiple Myeloma Cancer invaded my body and consumed my life
Multiple Myeloma Cancer consumed my body and invaded my life

Battling MM 2009 became my daily mission
Battling MM 2011 is still my daily mission

December 30, 2009 cancer was winning
December 30, 2011 I am winning

2009 I was just beginning to understand the deadly significance of my blood levels
2011 these blood levels = Remission :)

White counts, Red counts, Platelets and Neutrophils
Lymphocytes, Eosinophils and Basophils
Calcium, Proteins and M-spikes
CBCs, Creatinine, and Glomerular Filtration rates
Leukopenia Anemia
Immunoelectrophoresis
Kappa, Lambda Light Chains and Free W Ratio
(huh??? did my blood sign up for a Sorority or Fraternity!!!)

Beta-2-Microglobulin was outta control
Immunoglobulins IGG, IGM, IGA screamed ABNORMAL results

2009 I am diagnosed with IGA Myeloma cancer
Normal = between 70-400 mg/dL
Me---> topping out over 5630 mg/dL
I was on my way out and didn't know it!

Bone Marrow Biopsy #1 reveals 67% cancerous plasma Myeloma cells
Bone Marrow Biopsy #2 reveals Chemo cocktails reduce Myeloma to 10%
Bone Marrow Biopsy #3 reveals Stem Cell Transplant pummels Myeloma into Remission
Bone Marrow Biopsy #4 reveals maintenance Revlimid Chemo continues to win!

12 - 30 -2011
I still own REMISSION!!!

Thank you Kaiser/City of Hope Doctors, Nurses, staff members for
saving my life!

So I can continue
 to enjoy moments
like this!

And if you read some Multiple Myeloma cancer statistics...

I shouldn't still be here...

Happy 2 year Myeloma diagnosis/survival anniversary to me!

But January 2012... brings another family member's battle...
Does this ever stop?
I didn't sign up for this ride... can we get off now... please!!!

2 years ago today, my life as I knew it, began to change forever

12 - 14 - 2009 ...  2011
Two years ago today I had my FIRST evaluative appointment in a department called... "HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY"

I was smart enough to know what those terms TECHNICALLY meant by definition ... but I was not at all connecting the significance to me!
I arrived at Kaiser check-in for this appointment (that, bad me, I had put off for a month!), and was quite surprised to see the word ONCOLOGY connected on the sign to HEMATOLOGY!
W H A T ??? Huh? Seriously people, I'm in the WRONG department!

Honestly, I was aware there was "something" going on with me and my blood... but I took a casual, over-confident attitude about it
Fortunately, my very diligent GP had called several times the previous month, advising me that "something" was seriously wrong with my blood levels.
He advised me that I needed additional blood work and I needed to be on Iron immediately, as I was dangerously anemic
He referred me to a HEMATOLOGIST fast!

Ha! I thought... nothing's REALLY WRONG with me... I'm OK!
I'm just a little bit tired (lie!)
I'm doing too much, for too many (understatement!)
Random intense headaches (I never had headaches before)
Just a little bit dizzy (scary dizzy sometimes!)
Just a little bit low on iron (very low!)
Just a little bit anemic (very anemic!)
Just losing blood everyday from various areas:
Nose bleeds = Allergies I thought (daily nose bleeds... a lot!)
Mid-life female bleeding issues = normal I thought (a lot! = not normal)
Just a bit thinner than usual, but enjoying that (true enough!)
Feeling faint sometimes (scary, passing out faint!)
Feeling dehydrated all the time (weird feelings with this)
Exhausted and fatigued - I'm just doing too much (way too much!)
I rationalized it all... (O yes I did, dumb me!)


I checked in... lightheartedly...
Jim and I moved towards the waiting area...
I noticed that several patients in the waiting area looked sickly, sort of "cancerous"... their color was off, and several had scarves or hats on, or VERY short hair-
Geeezzzz, I thought, I certainly don't belong in this department as I comforted myself and Jim with the thought that Hematology was on ONE SIDE of the department and Oncology would be ON THE OTHER SIDE, of course detached from where we were headed...
Wrong... NOT!!!

I don't remember many details from this appointment and the appointments thereafter
It was a blur then and still is..
But I do recall everyone seemed to be in a bit of panic over my situation, and I just knew I was fine...

I met my wonderful RN Jalee and my amazing doctor, Dr Lee, that fateful day
Vitals were taken
Previous blood tests were explained and analyzed
Questions were asked
And I was sent immediately to take more blood tests...
STAT!

So much is a blur from that point on
More blood tests, questions and assessments
More concern that I should be hospitalized immediately as several blood levels were DANGEROUSLY LOW or HIGH
Ok, I'll eat better I rationalized
I'll hydrate more... make better blood I thought...
Jim's in a bit of a panic
I'm thinking about being on Winter Break and enjoying the holidays, Dang it!

4 days later, calls from Nurse Jalee and Dr Lee needing to see me for an "emergency" appointment
12 - 18 - 2009
My blood levels are not good
Platelets are dangerously low
My white count is way down
Something about Calcium and Protein levels too high

Jim and Alissa go with me as earlier Alissa needed xrays for a sprained foot
They're asked to leave the room...
I knew things were getting serious

Surprise----- I'm quickly prepped for a Bone Marrow Biopsy
I'm realizing there's something kinda serious going on with me
During the very painful biopsy I suddenly become emotional, begin to cry
I'm realizing that I can't joke about this anymore
I'm a sick lil puppy...
Why else would they need this intense type of assessment
What's all this mean?
I thank Jalee and Dr Lee for taking such good care of me

It was late, cold and drizzly when we drove home
My thoughts spinning
My world was changing fast
How indeed it was, I would soon find out...

A day before New Year's, 12- 30- 2009
I was due to return for THE RESULTS...

To Be Continued...

There I am... late 2009

Possessed by (67%) Myeloma

So completely unaware

11 ~ 22 ~ 11 ! Made it to another Birthday!!!

More to come

when I'm done

celebrating the day :)

11 - 11 - 11 A Tribute to Heroes and Warriors

Another November day of ones! Hoping the symbolism means we've all won one, won some battle, won remission and we're number one!
And one day, cancer will not have won!

11 - 11 - 11, a day of celebration of all our Veteran heroes being #1
I thank all of you I know personally and those I've never met, for your service to our country fighting for freedom.
You truly are #1 for all you've done, and represent!

Here are my #1 Veteran heroes:

My husband Jim

US Army

My Dad Hal

US Navy

I haven't ever battled famous World Wars
Just my own Myeloma war

I haven't fought with bullets and guns
But I've fought, battled and won

I don't know much about military missions
But I do know life for me, equals Remission!

I haven't experienced the sadness of battlefield death
But I have fiercely battled life and death

I haven't any experience with bombs and explosives
But I know the assault of internal chemical warfare

My war did not include far away oceans, deserts or jungles
My battlefield was my body
My bunker, a hospital room

I sported the military buzz
Thrilled when I grew new fuzz

Deadly healing chemicals I ingested
Poisonous IV's infiltrated into my veins
Fortunately not Napalm's deadly rains

My heart aches for those lost, injured, maimed and killed
Yet I reveled in killing
Those deadly Myeloma cells
Telling them all to go to h...

A heartfelt civilian salute
From one fighter to another
Honoring your courage, bravery and battles fought

We've waged our respective battles
Assaulted our different enemies to surrender

So let's celebrate our successes
With hearty toasts and cheers
For we are warriors
Our decisive victory:
Winning at Life!

Happy Veteran's Day!
11 - 11 - 11

11 - 1 - 11 ~ Cancer is still # 1 ~ but hasn't won!

Yes, #1 rules the day today!
Who was it that said 1 "is a lonely number"?

Hello November 2011
Where'd October 2011 go so fast?

October's are COMPLICATED...
October's represent so many milestones in my life... good and bad.

Two years ago October 2009, I took some VERY important BLOOD tests...
Their IMPORTANCE so unknown to me at that time!
Those October 2009 blood tests SCREAMED something was WRONG with me, but I really didn't listen well
Those October 2009 blood tests eventually opened the diagnosis-window to the invasion of Myeloma

This October 2011 was a month of continuing to try to move forward in my "New Normal"...
But WHAM!, slap me in the face BAM!... cancer comes to me in multiple reminders!!!

October 2011 seemed to bring more Cancer diagnoses:
My beautiful doggie Molly, my students, colleagues, close friends, neighbors, and new Myeloma sisters from across the country and the globe.

Goodbye October
Hello November

Here's a tribute to October's moments:

Remembering then:

October 2010

Buzzzzzz time !!

Thank you my son Scott for a great boy-cut

I still laugh when I remember you buzzing me

and I wanted to retain my "bangs".. hahaha!!

Reclaiming now:

October 2011

New October, New Hair, New Plan:

Born Blonde, gonna Dye / Die Blonde!! lol

Goldilocks is coming back... well... in short form

(Lousy pic of me, sporting the the Revlimid chemo tired look!)

Reinventing todays:

Bring on the Blonde!

Back to being me... (well almost, ha!)

Celebrating Jill's superstar success !!

Representing love:

Our beautiful shelter-rescue Molly

Born in October 2002

Diagnosed October 2011 with bone/sinus cancer

(the black doggie here, not you, daughter Alissa!)

Beautiful Barbara

My new Myeloma girlfriend (and her husband Rich)

from Alabama

Thank you Myeloma for introducing us!!!

Celebrating Remission

(Debbie, me and Jim)

Thank you Debbie and Cameron for your $upport!

Thank you COC Nursing Students

for selecting me as your 2011

LLS Light the Night Walk honoree

Ultimate fighters!

SuperStar Supporters

Brian (right) and Shaheen (left)

Read Brian's battle to dominate 3 types of cancer

His courage, strength, determination, and bravery

leaves me in the dust!

And so....

I thank all of you for your support, love, encouragement, humor and friendship!

I dedicate this 11 - 1 - 11 "blog of oneness" to all of you currently battling this mysterious evil invader into our lives called Cancer.

I am thinking about all of you who have battled, fought and lost

I am thinking about all of you who have battled, fought, dominated and WON!

And I am thinking about all of US who are still battling, fighting, kicking and screaming and not willing to let Cancer win...

So on this day of 11 - 1 -11 ... we're #1 :)

Cheers to Chemo Cycle #13 Post Stem Cell Transplant

Go Revlimid Chemotherapy stomping and chomping on Myeloma cells!

Raising my glass of water, downing my pill and toasting to Life and continued Remission!!!

-----------------------------------

Just saw this!!!

What???!!! I should'a partied more!!!

Read on:

http://multiplemyelomablog.com/2011/10/are-you-kidding-me-do-drinking-and-smoking-really-help-prevent-multiple-meyloma.html

Presenting My Story- and Thanking all my Colleagues!

Thank YOU to all my colleagues, friends, family and Chancellor Dr Dianne for attending my presentation today.
Words always seem so inadequate when trying to express my sincere appreciation for the support you have given me...
I wish there had been more time, for more detail, but hopefully what I shared was meaningful, interesting and helpful.

Just having you there, meant the world to me!
Just knowing you care, gives me courage!
Just knowing you...  invigorates me!

~ Thank you to each and every one of you, from every department that attended- I am so very honored!
~ Thank you Chancellor Dr Dianne for attending AND honoring me with your nomination for the SMO Empowering Hearts award! Thank you for your special thoughts, humbling comments and beautiful rose bouquet!
~ Thank you Keitha for coming and representing the Nursing Program students and honoring me with representing your Leukemia, Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk fundraiser!

~ Thank you Professor Mike for bringing your VERY BRAVE and so ADORABLE son Daniel, who is currently battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and enduring very intense chemo treatments!

Brave Daniel and supportive sister Caitlin

hamming it for the camera on a clinic day!

Thanks for coming to my presentation Daniel :)

~ Thank you Professor Kelly for organizing, publicizing and participating in my presentation, not to mention your Scientific/Biological Brilliance!
~ Thank you RTVF-Media-Film students for filming my presentation!

~ SERIOUSLY... THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOU, YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT AND INTEREST.  I am so humbled and honored...
======================================================

"Coffee on the Side" is an academic seminar series which is offered once a month during the Fall and Spring semesters. The goal is to promote interdisciplinary discussions and continual learning for faculty and staff. COTS seminars are organized by the Interdisciplinary Committee."

Sept 2011
How Cancer Stole My Life: Diagnosis, Chemo, a Stem Cell Transplant and My New Normal
Presented by Julie

Come hear Counselor Julie's personal story of her sudden and surprising (incurable) cancer diagnosis, chemo treatments and stem cell transplant adventure all resulting in remission, along with her personal reflections on going from presumed health to a near death diagnosis. Julie will share medical details, personal reflections and answer your questions about this life-altering experience.

=======================================================
Aug 2011
Stem Cell Therapies: Controversies and Cures
Presented by Kelly, Biology Department

What are stem cells? Will stem cells help paralyzed people walk again? Are stem cells the key to curing terminal diseases like Parkinson’s disease and cancer? If so, why is stem cell research so controversial? In this month’s FLEX presentation, we will discuss the current and future uses of stem cell therapies.

======================================================
Please support COC's Nursing Students cancer fundraiser:
Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk, Fundraiser
======================================================

What is Multiple Myeloma  

About Myeloma 

Time for Reflections

9 - 10 - 11

As our Nation reflects and mourns the loss of thousands... I can't help but reflect on how fortunate and blessed I am to still be here... but for very different reasons...
I heard on the news that many of the 9-11 "First Responders" are now suffering from various types of Cancers... and prominent among the cancers affecting these brave men and women that rushed to the scene to assist.... is MULTIPLE MYELOMA!

What!!!????!!!!! Multiple Myeloma.... my cancer!!!

On one hand I am honored to be associated with those so brave...
On the other hand... how did Myeloma manage to invade my squeaky clean universe???

And so I reflect....

I've never worked in any industry remotely involving chemical contaminants...
But perhaps the cement buildings I've worked in all my life triggered something molecularly within me?
Perhaps living close to freeways spewing noxious auto fumes and smog triggered something?
Perhaps living close to active oil fields (where I used to ride horses!) triggered something?
Perhaps living close to a co-generation plant triggered something?
Perhaps using fly-spray on my horses (as occasional as it was) triggered something?
Perhaps all the dental and orthodontic x-rays I received in the years prior to diagnosis triggered something?
Perhaps my personal biology has been outta whack since I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my early teens?
And I can't help but associate a benign (neuroma) tumor I had removed 11 years prior to MM diagnosis...

I know though, I'll never know why I grew cancer cells within me, or what caused it ...

I know there are a lot of things I'll never know...
but I do know that my mortality stares me in the face more often now, and I do suspect I will not have the longevity my mother did, and my dad currently does!
I do know my "days are numbered" in a way they weren't before...

As I reflect on my Myeloma Diagnosis, and as people ask me often:
Did I have any Symptoms, any signs I had cancer; was I not feeling well those months, weeks, days prior to diagnosis?
I now reflect with a retrospective "Ah-Ha I do remember" awareness that I did have signs; but honestly, I attributed them all to my Very Busy Life at that time.

In 2009, prior to Diagnosis, I was:
Very Tired and Fatigued
Had hard to stop Bloody nose episodes very often
Had (what I thought was typical mid life female) extreme Bleeding
Had weird Headaches (and I never really ever had headaches, ever)
Had lightheaded, Dizzy, woozy, I-feel-like-I-could-pass-out episodes
Was Thinner than I had ever been (and enjoying that!!)
I was very Winded and Breathless when I walked short distances
Had unexplained Bone aches and pains
Had a few more Illnesses than I usually did
My pre-diagnosis Blood tests revealed I was super Anemic
And I was just sooooooo tired and soooooo fatigued...

But I chalked it all up to how much I was doing at the time....
NOW I know many of these were symptoms-
Symptoms of something I didn't know to know were symptoms
Because, WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD EVER THINK I, JULIE, WOULD HAVE CANCER!

So my "New Normal" marches forward
FUN is the name of my game...

Happy trips and whacky hair hats!

Still on Revlimid maintenance Chemo (2 weeks on, 2 weeks off)

And just look at the hair it grows on me (and Jim vicariously)!

The life clock goes tick, tick, tick

So the bucket list goes click, click, click

Myeloma defined and treatments explained videos

Leukemia Lymphoma Society's SCV Light The Night Fundraiser

1 year 1 month post SCT 2011

Hi Everyone-

Just a quick update...

Life's good... most of the time

Busy... all the time

Complicated... all the time

Still trying to find what works for me in the "new normal"...

Still on maintenance Revlimid Chemo

Always tired

Still have Neuropathy, but certainly not as bad as months ago

Still have crazy nerve and arthritis type pains

Had an MRI on Sunday

Hopefully that will identify what's causing my right arm dysfuntionality...

Too many, too close are diagnosed and gone

Too many, too close are diagnosed and going through challenging treatments

I feel very fortunate for my quick diagnosis and treatments and current Remission

Reflecting that I have been on 3 types of Chemo (Revlimid, Cytoxan, Melphalan) since Jan 2010!

But I'm not happy with my transformation

Still mourning the loss of "Goldilocks"

Questioning my future

Wondering my prognosis

Scared to acknowledge my marriage to C A N C E R

Trying to have fun

Trying to bring back normalcy

Happy One Year Stem Cell Transplant Anniversary-New Birthday to ME!

July 5, 2010 = City of Hope SCT Hospitalization for the month

July 5, 2011 = I'm Alive, Celebrating Remission, on Revlimid maintenance Chemo and doing ok!

This is how I "celebrated" 4th of July, 2010

at City of Hope with lots of Melphalan Chemo and IV cocktails

 Delivery of my life saving Stem Cells

July 5, 2010

New "Birthday" noted!



It's all about location, location...

Celebrating life, health, recovery, remission

and being able to be barefoot in sandals in the snow!!

July 4th, 2011

Seriously... does recovery and remission get better than this??

Sandals and Snow at over 11,000 ft at

Mammoth Mtn, CA

July, 2011
Breathing deep, and ever grateful!

Well, yes... it did get better with a tremendous Thunderstorm and flashfloods in the Desert on the way home!

Then a stunning Rainbow arching over the freeway on our way home

Then sitting in my Horse arena with my horses and doggies under the Stars and Crescent Moon... until almost Midnight... July 5, 2011... something a year ago... I only dreamed about doing!!!

I am one lucky, grateful, blessed, fortunate gal to have been diagnosed a quickly as I was, medically treated as thoroughly and expertly as I was, and to have recovered to the extent that I have... in only one year

July 5, 2010 = Hospitalized at City of Hope just beginning to learn what a Stem Cell Transplant is all about, realizing I am really battling life threatening cancer...

July 5, 2011 = Learning to really Live each day, each moment as if.... it were my last... my mind is full of thoughts and my heart is full of appreciation and gratitude

And did I mention before, my most recent (late June) Bone Marrow Biopsy showed Myeloma beat back into submission once again! Yes!!!

WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!