Myeloma XI Trial

Next Friday is a day that I knew would arrive, I secretly hoped it wouldn't but it was inevitable. The doctors who diagnosed my Myeloma back in March 2011 said the day would arrive within 6 months,  friends and relatives said it might never arrive as they clung to some forlorn hope, however some 604 days following my diagnosis it's here.

Friday will see my first day of chemotherapy.

Following a pretty rotten summer of illness which has seen me admitted to hospital on 3 separate occasions with unrelated, deficient gall bladder problems, this was removed just over 2 weeks ago, I was recalled by my Haematologist Specialist Dr Eleni Tholouli to see her at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) on the 12th October. She told me that my Myeloma remained stable and that treatment wasn't necessary, but they would take some blood to test anyway. It appears that this sample showed a big jump in my para protein level and that there was a renal deficiency also present. She said treatment should start immediately, and so I travelled to MRI yesterday to start treatment but due to an infection in my belly button following my gall bladder surgery, treatment has been delayed by one week. So yesterday was taken up by signing consent forms, giving numerous blood samples and a lot of sitting round waiting - I suppose I'd better get used to it!

I have volunteered to go on the Myeloma XI trial - no they're not some non league team from Macedonia or some select cricket team from the Shetland Islands, it aims to see how well drugs used for relapsed patients who have received several treatments, help newly diagnosed patients who have received no treatment so far. The treatment involves taking 3 drugs, a chemotherapy drug, an immunomodulatory drug and a steroid. The trial will look at different combinations of the drugs and their effect.

I will receive 6 cycles of treatment, 21 days of taking drugs then 7 days off is one cycle. The drugs are administered orally, although my body's reaction to the drugs will be closely monitored during the trial.

There are many side effects to taking the drugs and I may encounter none, some or all of them - what is clear if that a drug clearly doesn't agree with me treatment will be changed.

Long term I hope to have some stem cell replacement treatment. This will follow a very high dose of Chemotherapy that will see me hospitalised and in isolation - however that is for the future and what is important is to focus on getting through the next few days and weeks.

It's important normal family life, whatever that is!!!, is maintained. Not just for my sanity but for the children and in particular Jen. That means if I can get out and coach the Greens and Whites I will. If in the new year I can get in the sports hall with the u9s and u15s to do some soft ball stuff I will. Normality is important and working with the children will give me the drive to fight this disease.

Last night was presentation night at Wigan CC. We combined both juniors and seniors for the first time and it seemed to work well and was very well attended. I was fortunate to present some well deserved prizes to some fantastic children and cricketers. It was also great to catch up with some genuinely lovely people.

Today saw a football free Saturday, although we took the Whites paintballing. I didn't don boiler suit and face mask and watched from afar as the lads seemed to really enjoy themselves. We try and provide a rounded life experience for the players and this is the sort of thing we do - its not just football. It was good to see them interact with each other outside of a football field.

On Monday I travel to Lords with my good friend Mark Rowe for the National OSCA's. I have been shortlisted for the Behind the Scenes award and am representing Lancashire. I'm not particularly bothered about winning but more the 45 minute guided tour of the home of cricket - and lunch in the Long Room. Hopefully there'll be a couple of test crickterers for a photo opportunity!!!

You can learn more about the Myeloma XI trial and then work of Myeloma UK via the following link http://www.myeloma.org.uk/index.php/download_file/view/1239/