Journal entry by Helen Heins —
I want to share with my family and friends the GREAT NEWS on my health status! With Multiple Myeloma, doctors don't use the terminology "in remission"... the technical terminology is "Stringent Complete Response". My Dr. reported that I have achieved a stringent complete response. Yay! After the latest bone marrow biopsy and the PET scan, there is NO evidence of the disease in my body. PTL! 🙏 However, I must keep receiving treatments because there are probably still a few cells that could/would grow again.
My treatments will continue on Thursdays and Fridays for the near future, but hopefully will diminish and become a maintenance regimen. Although I was on a break from treatments for the past month, it has been challenging due to a barrage of tests and the stem cell harvest. For the harvest, I had to inject myself with a stem cell growth medication several times, which caused great bone pain and back spasms. I also had a line placed in my upper chest. The good news is that the harvest itself was completed in one day - not the usual two or three days and they retrieved enough for 3 transplants! Also, I was able to have the line removed the same day. (That felt so good!) 🙏 😊
Thank you for all your prayers, positive thoughts and messages of support! 😍 I pray that all of you are well and happy. Thank you to Jimmy for always being there with me and showing how much he cares! Thank you to Heather, Graham and Wolfric for being a constant source of support and happiness. Much love to you all! <3
As always my thoughts relate to Mandy and how she had to endure treatments much worse than mine and how she always did it with grace and fortitude. She is and always will be my inspiration. I love you, my sweet girl. <3 #Mandyismyinspiration
My treatments will continue on Thursdays and Fridays for the near future, but hopefully will diminish and become a maintenance regimen. Although I was on a break from treatments for the past month, it has been challenging due to a barrage of tests and the stem cell harvest. For the harvest, I had to inject myself with a stem cell growth medication several times, which caused great bone pain and back spasms. I also had a line placed in my upper chest. The good news is that the harvest itself was completed in one day - not the usual two or three days and they retrieved enough for 3 transplants! Also, I was able to have the line removed the same day. (That felt so good!) 🙏 😊
Thank you for all your prayers, positive thoughts and messages of support! 😍 I pray that all of you are well and happy. Thank you to Jimmy for always being there with me and showing how much he cares! Thank you to Heather, Graham and Wolfric for being a constant source of support and happiness. Much love to you all! <3
As always my thoughts relate to Mandy and how she had to endure treatments much worse than mine and how she always did it with grace and fortitude. She is and always will be my inspiration. I love you, my sweet girl. <3 #Mandyismyinspiration
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