Mom has been recovering well since her surgery a month ago despite a minor setback due to an infection at the surgical site. However, she is now on the path to recovery. Today, she had an appointment with her oncologist. The encouraging news is that her bone biopsy came back negative, indicating that the lesions on her bone are not new. 

As a reminder, myeloma is a condition that can be managed but not cured. The standard treatment approach is to suppress the cancer with medications, keeping it in a “smoldering” state. However, due to complications such as low platelet count, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver issues, and recent back surgery, she had to discontinue her medication several times. As a result, her cancer has resurfaced, and she is no longer in remission.

The silver lining is that there are more treatment options available. She will begin a new medication regimen in the coming week and will undergo a PET scan to examine the rest of her body. The doctor mentioned that another stem cell transplant would not be considered until 5-7 years after the first one.

There are also new therapies like CAR T Cell therapy, which involves removing white blood cells (the body’s defense mechanism), training them to target cancer cells specifically, and then reintroducing them into the body to eliminate the cancer cells. This therapy is considered a last resort due to its intensity, which often results in patients becoming very ill and requiring intensive care. However, it is now “curing” cancers that were previously deemed incurable.

In summary, mom is recovering well from her surgery, but her cancer has returned. There are several treatment options available now and in the future. Thank you for all the messages of encouragement, prayers, and support.