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We moved to Hot Springs Village just over three years ago. About six months after moving to HSV, I had my annual Medicare physical. My blood work showed something wrong and I had more blood work done. My white, red, and platelet cells were low. My doctor referred me to hematologist/oncologist in Hot Springs who determined that I had multiple myeloma. The hematologist said he would treat me.
I went home started doing research and discovered the best place to get care in the United States for multiple myeloma was in Little Rock at UAMS. I left the Hot Springs hematologist and went for a four- day evaluation at UAMS. I confirmed that we made the right choice of hospitals when a volunteer was assigned to us for the first day of tests to show us to each appointment.
The results of the evaluation confirmed that I had multiple myeloma. The surprising news that was I wouldn’t start any treatment. I was identified as “smoldering”. That meant I had the disease but it was not at a point that treatment would be beneficial. It turns out that treating multiple myeloma early has little or no effect on the patient’s long-term outcome. At first, I was a disappointed but when I took time to reflect avoiding chemotherapy as long as possible had to good for my body.
After 2 and ½ years of smoldering the disease got bad enough that I needed treatment. So off to UAMS I go.
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