Health Update

It was time for my monthly cancer evaluation. Once again, and for which I am deeply grateful, my cancer appears to be in good remission. The most sensitive test for detecting multiple myeloma, the “M-spike” was undetectable. This was good news as last month I had lab finding that could have indicated that I had mutated into a new type (Kappa light chain) of MM. But that test was back to normal this month.

I did have a decision point this week if I was going to continue paying Fred Hutch to store my stem cells. When you do a stem cell transplant, you stimulate your own bone marrow to make stem cells. Then you harvest your stem cells, hoping to get double what you need for your own transplant, and storing the others of a future transplant. Since my transplant did little good for me, I was ready to discard the remaining frozen cells. I spoke to my multiple myeloma specialist on Wednesday. She recommended that I keep the cells, reminding me (regrettably) once again that a day is coming when my MM will come roaring back to life to kill me and I need all the options available then, including doing another transplant.

I am doing very well for most part, much better than some of my friends and relatives with cancer. I feel deeply for them. I do struggle with the side effects of chemo with sudden onsets of stomach flu type symptoms several days a week, which make it hard to plan. My immune system is also in shambles, having fought bronchitis (who had pneumonia ambitions) for almost eight weeks. Then I had two good weeks and am know fighting bronchitis again. I am now getting routine infusions of IVIG, to help buttress my own immune system. But for better or worse, I still must maintain my hermit lifestyle if I want to avoid more germs and stay alive. As always, thanks so much for your interest in my journey. I hope you are doing well.

The Healing Hut

Here is a new episode of my “Healing Hut” series. I am deeply grateful for those who are following my cottage building story. I spend most of my days alone working on the stone cottage (as Denise works long-hard hours) and having a camera to talk to now and then makes it much easier. A good distraction. I don’t want anyone following the story out of pity, but because the story I interesting and entertaining. I am working on my video editing skills and have added some new arial footage this month. If you have suggestions of how I can make it better, please let me know. Feel free to share this channel with your friends who are suffering from this terrible disease, hopefully as an inspiration to keep pushing ahead.

Mike