Components of the Diagnosis

 Day 66

 

Back to reality.  

 

I have been so deeply touched by the kind and loving responses that I have received in reaction to the launch of my blog that I feel like reality has been suspended for two days and I could just focus on the wonderful people who were kind enough to reach out and make me feel loved and supported.  Thank you if you are reading this.  You have made such a difference.  More about this in a subsequent post. 

Today is Krypolis Wednesday. Back to local cancer hospital.  First stop is the blood draw.  Lovely friendly women who remind me they “wish they were on someone’s beach” as we stare out the dreary grey January window. They draw my blood.  One woman gets up at 4 am each day to make her son breakfast, pack his lunch, drop him off at school and drive to work.  She does not complain.  She is usually smiling, often laughing and she makes a big difference in my Wednesday mornings.  

This week is the one month check-up on Myeloma in my blood, so I would like to list the main factors that go into the staging and diagnosis oh MM patients. 

STAGING OF MM. In order to determine one’s MM Stage (1, 2 or 3) there are a few different sources of input:

(BMain MM Markers  -  B2M, LDH (reflecting problems with other organs), M spike is a a marker of antibodies produced by the cancer; this is important to know. 

(BBone Marrow biopsy- will determine what % of bone marrow cells are cancerous and what chromosomal abnormalities you have (or dont have)

(3Tumors, lesions or none at all in existence.  This will play into the diagnosis. 

(4PET Scan -  will show where the ‘multiple’ Myelomas (bone tumors) sit in our bodies or abnormalities in the body s soft tissue. .  

(5Genetic testing - the most specific and accurate information about genetic predisposition to complications of the cancer, this information comes from a FISH test which analyzes bone marrow. This is how I understand it. 

a.   There are many chromosomal abnormalities that might make a certain body resist treatment or have a more virulent strain, of on the contrary, have an easier time of healing. 

b.   Results of this genetic testing creates a person's profile, which will qualify  a patient’s cancer from a genetic perspective as “low, medium or high risk.”  There are many different possibilities of different chromosomal abnormalities that can determine the genetic characterization of the MM.  

c.    If your genetic risk is low of medium, that should be a relief.  These characterizations can change, but ‘high risk’ MM was harder to treat in the past,  

 

ONLY THREE STAGES OF MM. By definition MM is throughout ones marrow and bones upon diagnosis, so there is no stage equivalent to stage 1 of another cancer: nothing is ‘local’ in Multiple Myeloma. Once all of this information is collected, a patient’s cancer can be staged either 1,2 or 3 (ISS staging).  MM stage 3 = other cancer’s stage 4. 

 

MY SECOND CYCLE  began today.  Myeloma blood tests are going the wrong way, but not significantly.  A few strange numbers in blood tests remind me that this is a scientific game of Whack-a-Mole and that nothing is straight forward.  

MY ADVICE,  FWIW… 

 BBe grateful for the good news in life, regardless of how small it is. 

(2Thank the saints and angels around you who are calling, texting, writing, donating, offering to pick you up from the doctor, bringing you water bottles.  

(3 Use your head to make smart decisions for yourself.  I have asked approximately 17 extremely well trained and educated medical professionals about how diet affects cancer .  Would it benefit me to eat a healthy diet while I am on treatment?  Same responses almost every time, “there is no data to support the benefits of diet in healing cancer.” Hmmmm.   Just because no one has studied a premise, does not mean that it is not valid.  A healthy vegan/vegetarian diet without sugar, alcohol or red meat will likely support my cells and therefore my immune system. I don’t need a doctor to tell me that. No disrespect intended, just crucial that you be able to think for yourself. 

 

Take care of your body with diet, sleep and exercise. 

Take care of your mind with books, magazines and learning new things. 

Take care of your heart by talking to friends and kind people. 

 

If you take care of your heart, 

your heart will help take care of your mind 

and your mind will do its part to take care of your body. 

 

Sending love. 

PLEASE PRESS THE SMALL WHITE ARROW AT THE TOP LEFT OF THE PAGE FOR THE NEXT BLOG POST. 

ellecee103@gmail.com

 

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