Six months have passed since I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
What is multiple myeloma? Good question, here's answer:
Myeloma is a blood cancer that begins in immune cells called plasma cells. These cells are typically located in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are formed from B-cells when they are called on to fight an infection. When plasma cells become cancerous, they multiply and begin to crowd out healthy cells and produce abnormal antibodies called M proteins.9,10
Major types of myelomaThere are several forms of myeloma, including:10Multiple myeloma – This is when the illness affects several areas of your body when you are first diagnosed.Plasmacytoma – This is a buildup of cancerous plasma cells that tends to happen in the bones, skin, muscle, or lung.Diagnosis depends on how spread out the cancer has become and where it started. The most common form of myeloma is multiple myeloma.
So far the side effects of the chemo I've been taken have been mild. (I take a daily chemo pill; and have received two injections of chemo weekly) Extreme dry mouth, fatigue/lack of energy, food tasting weird.
On January 5 I will begin getting a higher octane chemo via injection. That day I'll have to stick around for a few hours as they monitor for serious side effects. Sure, you can pray that there would not be, and that the chemo does its job.
Two main issues - (1) everything is in pencil or not doable. Primary effect is speaking engagements. When I was first diagnosed I had to cancel six weeks of camp speaking. I've received several invitations for summer '24, but I can not accept them as I've no idea what my health status will be or what the treatment schedule will look like. (2) I'm told, especially with the new chemo, to stay away from "crowds," especially indoors. What makes a crowd? Can I still help with Bible quizzing? Youth events? Church in general (attending or preaching)? Not sure at this point.
So that's an update as 2023 fades away. Thanks for reading/praying.
My Irish grandfather (who I never met as he was dead before I was born) supposedly said every year - "May the best of '23 be the worst of '24"
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