J. Michael Jones

I just came from my monthly meeting with my oncologist and getting my chemo infusion and will give a report.

There are about five lab parameters for measuring the boundaries of my cancer. This month, one, (Lambda Light Chains), went up 10 point, putting it slightly out of normal range. However, another parameter, (Lactate Dehydrogenase), was normal for the first time since my diagnosis in 2019. So, it appears to be awash, meaning that my cancer is still in good remission. For that I am deeply grateful.

I want to be careful talking about the down side to avoid coming across as ungrateful or whining. There is a laundry list of side effects that I’m now dealing with. The greatest is severe fatigue. I feel like I’ve crawled out of the dark hole the program put me in for three months, starting in May. We have had several dose reductions which may have accounted for that. But still, my energy level is less than half as it was before I started this new program. We have one more dose reduction in November, then I will stay on this program for life, or until it stops working.

My oncologist and I talked about this today. Virtually all patients on this program have this problem and he encouraged me to lower my expectations. I may never run again or climb our mountain again. My chore productivity is drastically cut. This is my greatest struggle, emotionally. So, if you see me and I appear glassy-eyed and in a fog, it is because I am. I can still write, maybe not as wordy … which could be a good thing.

Mike