Myeloma, MRI & Me

Its been a while since my last blog and quite a lot has happened.

For those that follow me on Twitter @SteveMartlew you will know that in November 2015 my health started to deteriorate. I lost a lot of weight and my para-protein levels rose (para-protein is a way of measuring the level of Myeloma in my blood). In December doctors at Wigan decided to start chemotherapy and therefore on 15th January 2016 I started on a course of VTD chemotherapy.

V stands for Velcade, T for Thalidomide and D for Dexamethasone. This combination of tablets and injections were given, along with a whole host of other medication to negate the side effects, over 6, 28 day cycles from January through to June.

I managed to cope really well with the chemo, maintaining a fairly normal quality of life and I'm proud to say I didn't take a single day off work sick. The tiredness and fatigue were really difficult to cope with at the end of cycle 5 & 6 however the results of the chemo were exactly what the doctors wanted.

A para-protein level of 44.5g per litre of blood reduced to an amount so small it was immeasurable at the end of cycle 6 which means I'm classed as being in complete remission.

The next stage of my treatment is a stem cell transplant. This a 2 stage process where High Dose Chemotherapy is given and then stem cells are taken from my body followed by another dose of chemotherapy and the stem cells given back to me. Whilst this doesn't rid  my body of the Myeloma, there is no cure, it should build in greater time before the Myeloma returns.

The first stage of my stem cell transplant started last Monday (18/7) with a trip to Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI). As an outpatient I received intra-venous (IV) Ondansetron (anti-sickness), Mesna (a protective drug for my kidneys and bladder) as well as Cyclophosphamide (the chemotherapy drug). It was a long and tiring day although the staff were absolutely fantastic. The purpose of the chemo is to kill any residual Myeloma cells but also to trick the body in shutting down stem cell creation. Side effects of the chemo are sickness and nausea, hair loss, restlessness and tiredness.

The day after, Tuesday 19th July, I started GCSF injections, administered by me in my stomach. The injections result in the body going into over drive in the production of stem cells. The body produces so many stem cells that they spill out of the bone marrow and into the blood stream. Side effects of the GCSF injections are bone pain.

All in all its not been a great week but I still regard myself as being very, very lucky to be here to be fighting on. When I think of the friends I have lost to cancer it makes me even more determined to fight harder, but also very thankful for the opportunity to do so.

I returned to MRI this morning for a blood test to see whether there are enough stem cells in my blood stream to commence harvest. Apparently the greater the bone pain the better the chances that there will be. I was informed the bone pain in my back and hips has been likened, by female patients, to labour pains. If that's the case its a good job child bearing wasn't down to me, we would only have had 1 !!!!!

I received a call late this afternoon that the staff are happy with the level of stem cells in my blood and I will go straight to harvest tomorrow morning.

So another early start to get to MRI for 8.30am but hopefully they will harvest enough stem cell in 1 sitting tomorrow.

I will blog again tomorrow or Wednesday with an update.