I came across a study today, which was published a few weeks ago and clarifies this with even more recent information. This is more important, now that I am scheduled with Stem Cell transplant. MM, without stem cell transplant and chemotherapy, the median life expectancy is 50 months from diagnosis. MM with stem cell transplant,…

I just got off the phone with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. I have been pre-approved to enter their stem-cell transplant program starting in two weeks. I will enter the program on May 1st. On that day, they will start the process of harvesting my own stem-stem cells. For the next few weeks my own,…

Introduction Okay, the reason I’m writing so soon isn’t that I have major news to report, but in response to a question I have been asked many times in the past few days. The question is not asked in the form the title here reflects, but usually more like, “Mike, you’re going to beat this…

Okay, nothing new here (since the 4/12/19 post), just more (much more) details for those who are interested. This is intended to give the “background story” and to answer some of the questions I’ve been asked. Chemotherapy is Working! Once again I will explain that my cancer (Multiple Myeloma) is a cancer of the part…

My renal function is slowly improving, but not near enough to get off dialysis, which I still do two times a week. It is still a major area of prayer. I just received my latest cancer labs. My bad protein is still dropping, meaning that chemo is working. At diagnosis, my level was 2658 mg/l.…

Someone asked me this question and now that I thought about, I put my thoughts here. This is not the type of list that you would see in a bookstore, certainly not a Christian bookstore. I simply wanted to make honest observations of what—I guess you would call lessons—I’ve learned so far. This is not…

I knew that this day would eventually come and whether it is here now is still not obvious. It is that place of transition between the healthy—even obligatory—period of grief that follows any loss, and the deeper sadness that can follow in the wake of reactive grief. I’ve never been one prone to depression, although…

After a long delay, we finally got the correct labs done to show if the chemotherapy is working. I will put a link to the graph below (if you are so interested) to show the changes over time. In summary, it appears that the chemo is working! The bad, cancer, cells (AKA IgG Lambda Light…

 CANCER MONITORING LABS: I said, a week ago, that I would do an update on Wednesday March 20th about a lab test that would tell if my chemo is working to suppress my cancer. Well, I have no news and it is now Monday. It is disheartening, but I’ve had another week of chaos in…

I spent the day yesterday reading research papers on renal injury from Multiple Myeloma. I have now read every paper ever published on the topic (seriously). Some of them twice or three times. It is s complex phenomena. We know that 30-50% of people like me, recover at least some of their renal function. We…