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Medical Update

(It says: "It's a common form of cancer. Unfortunatley, it's no more curable than a rare one." Ironically the reverse is true for me!)


I visited Dr. Huebsch at the Ottawa General's Bone Marrow Transplant Unit this afternoon. He confirmed that my multiple myeloma is at a stage where "induction chemotherapy", resulting eventually in high dose chemo and a stem cell transplant, was necessary. I begin my chemo journey Thursday. Known as the "V.A.D." approach because of the drugs involved -Vincristine, Adriamycin and dexamethasone - the chemo will be in cycles: intravenous application once a month, 4 consecutive days in a row.

http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/treatments/3.02.html provides an excellent description of what I'm headed for in terms of chemo.



In fact - http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/ - the entire Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation site is very useful and informative.





Another excellent source of information is the Mayo Clinic's web page on Multiple Myeloma at: http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/





This chemo, as mentioned above, is done in cycles not unlike my previous chemo of thalidomide and dexamethasone. And like before, I'll likely feel sluggish, fatigued, lose my sense of taste and my appetite and my blood sugar level will likely rise. Unlike the last time I'll likely lose my locks! Ah well, I'll just have to wear the Mathew look (and a ball cap) until it grows back in.


Stay tuned for updates. This should be interesting.
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