Health Update

A group of people come here primarily to follow my health status. I try not to post on that unless there is a change. I am at a crossroads with my cancer treatment.

Multiple Myeloma is still considered an incurable cancer, although treatments are rapidly improving. I had failed four chemotherapies and bone marrow transplant and the prognosis looked grim just three years ago. Then I went on a program of a monoclonal antibody (a once a month infusion into my belly), a daily oral (old toxic) chemo, and steroids. Within three weeks of starting this new program, my cancer went into complete remission (no evidence of cancer on blood tests). I have remained in remission since.

I met with my Myeloma specialist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center yesterday. Because I have been doing so well, we are going to do a PET scan and bone marrow biopsy in four weeks. The bone marrow can detect the DNA of a cancer cell in little as 1 in 1 million of cells. If those tests came back negative, I can go off chemotherapy, for the first time in six years. She as already allowed me to stop the toxic drug while we wait for the tests. However, if the tests show residual cancer, I will have to go back on my full chemotherapy and when that program fails, my next step would be a car-T treatment. Of course my prayer is that the tests will be negative.

Stayin’ Alive-A Celebration of Living

When I was diagnosed in January 2019, the severity of my disease, Multiple Myeloma with associated renal failure, the mean survival rate was eleven months. That would have meant that I would not have seen age 65.

Next week I am turning 70. My family and I are so grateful for these years, as a gift. To celebrate this milestone, my family is having a celebration of living, with the theme The 70s, Stayin’ Alive. Yes, it is a party on July 19, at our house, from 1 PM to 4 PM. If you are reading this, you are invited. Just drop by between those hours and have some cake and other refreshments. If you are bold, come dressed in 70s attire and be ready dance silly to 1970s music… or at least to tap your foot.

If you are coming, follow this link to an official invitation, where you RSVP. You don’t need to bring anything but yourselves.

Mike