Hi everyone
Depressing thread time I'm afraid.
After suffering with a bad back for around 3 months I finally saw my GP and arranged an x ray. After investigations at hospital it turns out I have multiple myeloma - cancer of my bone marrow.
This as you can imagine has turned out to be devastating for me but more so for my family and friends.
I am looking forward (if that's the right way of putting it) to 12 weeks of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and then hopefully a remission. The cancer is treatable only so will return at some stage in the future but I'm not thinking about that.
If you like, you can follow my blog at
during the meanwhilst
It's not all about doom, gloom and illness but more a sideways glance at life now I've a chance and the time to think about things!
If anyone here has gone or had a relative or friend go through the same illness and would like to share any expreriences please let me know.
Thanks everyone.
I am so sorry to hear your are ill. This came across in my email yesterday in a mac-forum round up and I made a mental note to log onto the site and wish you well.
My step-father was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma back in May. We then found out it was stage 4 and had travelled into his bone marrow. He just completed his last round of chemo last week and we are awaiting to hear what his latest blood work is.
Cancer, regardless of how curable or common is terrifying, there is just no way around that. But I have taken a lot away from this experience, as well as those of others around me.
Let me start by saying my step-daddy turned 78 this year. Yep. 78. He works 14 hour days driving a logging truck and has missed virtually NO work, save for the his chemo week (which is once a month, two days of treatment and then he takes the third day, Friday, off to recover). I'm very much aware he is not the norm, BUT he has one thing that anyone can have- a can do attitude. He's the strong silent type and I'm sure he WAS scared, maybe even a bit still. But he faced the problem head on and I believe his outlook on getting well is what made this- dare I say this and risk jinxing us?- a fairly painless experience. His red blood cell count is higher than it's ever been. We also realized he went undiagnosed for 4+ yrs due to the incompetent staff at the cancer center he had been going to. They had terrible turn over and he kept having to start from scratch. His case presented as anemia and most drs chalked it up as such and continuously gave him iron supplements and numerous blood transfusions and iron infusions. Although it took us a very long road to find out what ailed him, and we were terrified once he was diagnosed, it was also a relief to KNOW there was something to be done to make him better.
I hope you can take some comfort knowing a 78 yr old man kicked cancers butt and you can, too. I just know it!
One other inspiration I have had over the years is a young, beautiful woman named Diem Brown who fought ovarian cancer three times in the last 10 years. She did pass away a few weeks ago, but I honestly believe the reason she lived as long as she did is because she WANTED it that badly. Really, the fact that she made it through the first two times is amazing, she was just that sick. I believe a positive attitude can take you so incredibly far. She also started a wonderful foundation
www.medgift.com
And last but not least...my mom's bestie, Gayle. She is living with pancreas cancer, diagnosed in 2011. She should have been gone two years ago, but she is the most determined, positive, joyful person I know. Yes, she has bad days...more so now than before, but her good days are enough to make her power through the bad ones, as hard as they may be. She just published a memoir, dealing with her diagnosis while telling a parallel story of her life - think hiking in Switzerland, biking in the mountains, etc. Her story is amazing and her words are so uplifting I believe it can change someone's life. Yes, it is a sad tale, but it does not leave you feeling hopeless...it leaves you feeling hopeful!
Wow, I said a lot more than what I planned to!!! Goodness, I didn't realize I could be so long winded. LOL
In a nut shell...what I am trying to say is that the fight might be difficult, it might feel exhausting and dark, but take comfort in knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel and surround yourself with your loved ones and let them be there for you. I have faith and I wish you all of the wellness in the world.
P.S. Love your photo, I think you look wonderful! Keep smiling.