January Update

We have returned from a good trip to Phoenix, consulting with a Myeloma specialist at the Mayo Clinic, and spending some additional time with Larry's brother and sister-in-law as well as dear friends in the Tucson area.  I thought I should let you know how things are going currently.

It was reassuring that the Mayo doctor agreed in every respect with our local CBCI Myeloma specialist regarding the nature of my particular Myeloma and what the plan should be moving forward. I have had a very good response to treatment thus far. At diagnosis last April, 60% of my bone marrow was comprised of myeloma cells; now that has been reduced to 3 to 5% myeloma cells.  Of course, this number should be 0, so there will be further treatment to put this disease into remission.

I will be starting a new regimen of chemo treatment next week consisting of three drugs (two of them different than the previous three drug  protocol), and this will continue for 4 to 6 cycles...until the M cells are no longer detectable in the blood.  Then there will be some maintenance therapy to keep the disease at bay.

I am hoping that the side effects will be mild, and that I will not be too fatigued by the therapy.  It has been such a blessing to have a near normal energy level these last two months! As always, we sincerely thank each of you for your love, friendship, and prayers.  I hope Life is treating each of you kindly.

Thanks for checking in!