PLAN B

Terry met with the multiple myeloma specialist yesterday. He gave us quite a bit of hope for the immediate and long term future. He is recommending that she go back to the heavy duty chemo regimen that she had been on prior to her recent hospitalization. She will be on that for 6 weeks after which she will be weaned down or off of most chemo meeds over the period of about 6-8 months. She will have to stay on one or another chemo agents and a steroid, probably forever. If or when her disease starts to rear its ugly head again, then the medications would have to be reintroduced again. He seems to think that Terry may get some longevity doing this way. Let's hope she can.
In the meantime some good news is that he wants her to start her immunizations. She lost all immunity against things like polio, tetanus, diphtheria, etc. when she had her first transplant. Once she is properly immunized and if her health allows it, then we can start our international travels again. The important thing is getting her cancer in tow and we are praying for that daily.
Thanks for all of your support.

ON TO PLAN B

Terry met with the transplant specialist yesterday. His recommendation is not to do another transplant. He feels that Terry's heart might not be able to stand the rigors of another procedure. She has had two serious cardiac events since the first transplant in 12/09. In January 2010, she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure(CHF) and also had a stent put in a blocked artery. She has since recovered completely from that and no longer has CHF. Last month she had a series of cardiac events where her pulse and blood pressure dropped through the floor. That has since been taken care of, but the transplant physician doesn't want to take any chances that there could be something even more serious with her heart should they do a transplant.
So it is on to plan B. Terry will now be going to another set of specialists who will be treating her medically. At this moment in time, we are not sure what that will entail. I'll keep you posted.
I think it is ironic that she is having heart problems. Terry has the most wonderful and giving heart of anyone I know. We have been told that God doesn't close a door unless He opens another one. I hope this new door has a golden heart behind it for my golden girl.
Take care one and all and be thankful for every day.

THE LATEST MONTH IN REVIEW

Last month we were getting ready for a transplant to take place this month. Now things are up in the air. Terry spent two weeks in the hospital after she fainted and had a series of medical misadventures. She wound up with pneumonia, many episodes of bradycardia (very low heart rate), high blood carbon dioxide and sleep apnea. At one time she had an external pacemaker put in. She also was put on a BiPAP machine.
The good news is that the pneumonia is cleared, the bradycardia is gone, the pacemaker is out. She will keep the BiPAP for the foreseeable future. The great news is after two weeks as a guest of the University of Michigan cardiology unit she is home.
However, with these latest medical travails her transplant has been delayed. Her transplant physician wants to see her in a few days, to reevaluate her medical status. There is a possibility that she will not be eligible for a transplant now. If that is the case it will be on to plan B, whatever that is.
I'll let you all know as soon as we know anything.
Take care, love each other and cherish every day.

NEXT TRANSPLANT SCHEDULED

The last two weeks have been extremely hectic and filled with more than the usual number of medical appointments. The good news is that Terry's cancer is in check enough that she is going to have another stem cell transplant. She has been viewed, reviewed, checked and rechecked by her primary care physician, her primary hematologist/oncologist, her oral surgeon, her cardiologist and today by her transplant specialist. She is fighting a terrible cold at this time and needs a biopsy on a growth in her mouth that is probably related to her cancer, but other than that she is ready.
Right now it looks as if July will be the magic month. There is a lot of prep work to do before T-minus 6. FYI, T-minus 6 is the day she goes into the hospital and gets 6 days of chemo before the actual transplant.
This time she will be getting her sister Helen's stem cells. Terry received her own stem cells for the first transplant. Helen has promised that her cells will come out swinging and knock the crap out of any cancer left in Terry's body. I have known Helen for a long time. If she says it, it will happen.
Please keep up the prayers and good thoughts.

2 BONE MARROW BIOPSIES LATER

It took 2 bone marrow biopsies to get the news. The first biopsy done a few weeks ago was inconclusive so Terry had to have another one last week. FYI, this was her 9th biopsy since being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The news was very good. Terry's primary hematologist/oncologist said the biopsy was as good as it gets. Her new regimen is working! One slight glitch is that she now has a new growth on her palate. She has to have that aspirated and then a pathologist will see what this new thing is all about.
We did contact the University of Michigan transplant center and they want to do a few more tests before anything is finalized. So for the time being everything is status quo. She stays on her current chemo, has an aspiration on her palate, gets some repeat tests and then a decision will be made.
In the meantime Terry is doing well. I am sure that is because of the tons of prayers said for her daily.
God bless you all.

UPDATE ONLY

Not a lot, cancer-wise, happening with Terry. The biggest news is that she had a bone marrow biopsy done two days ago. Normally we would have the results on Friday, but as luck would have it the oncologist is on vacation Friday and Monday. We were hoping for results for Mothers Day, but we'll have to wait. We did talk with Dr. Bloom, her hematology-oncology specialist, about Terry's future options. The possibilities are to do no transplant and continue maintenance therapy, do a stem cell transplant using her own cells and then maintenance therapy or use her sister's stem cells for a transplant and then maintenance therapy. He would opt for the third and then went through the reasons why. We have trusted this physician for the past 2 1/2 years so his opinion means a lot.
I'll update this blog as soon as her bone marrow results are in. In the meantime please know that she is doing well and that your prayers are being answered and still sought.

SOME GOOD NEWS-FINALLY

Terry spent 4 hours with her Oncologist and getting chemo today. The nurse tried 4-5 times before she got a vein that would keep the catheter viable. Sounds like a bad day-well it wasn't! Terry's CT scan came back and the growth in her lung is gone as is the growth in her jaw. In 4 weeks she will have another bone marrow biopsy and that will be more definitive about her current state of cancer. However the oncologist said that the two aforementioned growths were probably the same composition as the cancer in her bone marrow. Our supposition is if the two growths have gone while Terry is taking this new chemo regimen then we are praying that the chemo is having the same effect on her multiple myeloma. The bone marrow biopsy will be the proof of the pudding. Keep your fingers crossed and keep those prayers coming in.
FYI, Terry has had to rely on a cane for the past few months due to her disease. She still has it for security but she can toddle around pretty good without it.
SMALL VICTORIES!!!!