Multiple myeloma survivor stories , Margarita Now, just a year ago that it all began and everything is already spent. I don’t want to say that it is as if not nothing had happened, because it seems that he has aged ten years of coup. But still and so, sometimes I doubt if it is me who has passed.
Never had a serious illness and had always been very healthy until about a year ago, started to feel pains in various parts of the body and the family doctor told me that it was the age thing. He was 62 years old and the easiest was to think it was arthritis.
Pains not disappeared with the treatment they gave me and decided to investigate further on our own. The doctor asked me an MRI and when I went to pick up the results told me that it was urgent to an appointment with the doctor.
It was August and the doctor was on vacation. I dropped the world over. I warned one of my daughters and we went to the emergency room with the report that I dared not read until after many months. My daughter does read it and didn’t understand it too, although I already saw that it wouldn’t be anything good. It was Friday and was the worst weekend of our lives. I thought I was going. I bid farewell to all.
With much anguish and few tempers, we continue with the tests and diagnosis was clear: multiple myeloma. With the diagnosis we went back to the doctor family, who was also on vacation. We were lucky that there was a substitute doctor whom we greatly appreciate. In those moments we calmed down, since you told us that there are treatments and very good.
We went back to pick up the courage that has always characterized us and insert the path. And from here everything were good news.
In a week we visited with Dr. Leyre Bento, hematologa of the University Hospital of Son Espases and two I started with chemotherapy treatment. That is, in less than a month I went from a person believed to be fully healthy to have an onco-hematologic disease diagnosed and be receiving chemotherapy.
I received three cycles of outpatient chemotherapy, twice a week for about three months. Didn’t have many important side effects (although Yes alterations and various discomfort.) Hair not dropped me.
I must say that prior to receiving treatment, the word “chemotherapy” and all that surrounded him frightened me but I also have to say that it is not so. Day hospital wasn’t as horrible as I had imagined, but quite welcoming not only by the appearance but was full of professionals in an exquisite treatment to the patient.
In two cycles had already reduced 90% protein marker of the disease. We are not pleased very much. At the end of the third cycle, had levels of marker protein that can have anyone no myeloma and I went through a process of Apheresis to collect stem cells that would serve for subsequent autologous bone marrow a few weeks later.
At the beginning of January, I started working for transplantation. They were hard days for many of the side effects of chemotherapy of conditioning prior to transplantation and the fact of being without defenses and isolated in a tiny room, where could be only a person with me and protected with robe, mask and peucos. They were days so hard that I thought I had to undergo a transplant, he preferred to die.
When they already began to pass the effects of chemotherapy, began a phase which does not hurt that I was tough: hair loss. I was forced to shave his hair to me to zero in the hospital room. I didn’t want to but doctors and other health personnel I was forced by hygiene, since the hair was falling to me and there was hair everywhere.
The Defense also fell to zero and we had to further maximise precautions by which entered the room, lest they contagiasen me some microbe. An infection that usually nor prevents us from making normal life, in these conditions, can be deadly. Defenses began to climb to restore acceptable levels in a few days and we went home.
At the beginning it was very weak and had to go to bed until it was time to go to sleep. I was slowly recovering. Hair me out again and as I have always taken it short, hardly noticeable.
Now it’s been almost a year since diagnosis and I am fully recovered. I even think that he would undergo a transplant if necessary.
I do normal life and have more zest for life than ever before. I know that they can become relapses because, to this day, my illness cannot be cured. Myeloma, however, are chronic and the quality of life I have is pretty good. I have only the skeleton damaged because of myeloma, and I get tired more than before. But as one of my daughters said: “neither have to go bungee jumping”. We savored every second of life more than ever. And my future plan is to continue to do so.
Wouldn’t just finish this story not to mention the person who has done that this path was not half as hard of what could have been: the DRA. Bento. He is a great professional and has an indescribable human quality.
If you have been diagnosed I multiple myeloma you not despair. Now the cancer is not synonymous with death. Puts you in the hands of good professionals and let you go. Do not ask too much. Also has to go by what touches and you will go already finding it you
Teresa
I want to be very cautious and he has cost me much I decided to write my testimony, since they are very sensitive issues. I think people in general more unknown bone marrow cancer is multiple myeloma. I don’t know the reason, but all over the world are amazed when I explain what happened to me. First of all I want to say that, despite having a poor prognosis, I have had good luck in what is this cancer that I have lived. I knew from the first moment that was incurable. My first question was if, at least, it was treatable.
Two years ago, when he was 45 years old, I was diagnosed with a MM (IgG Kappa Bence Jones positive stage III A, ISS1), with front plasmacytoma of 6 x 7 cm. well… those who know what is the topic not you need further explanation. After chemotherapy, radiotherapy for plasmacytoma front (had a tennis ball in the head), and Autologous stem cell transplant (my brothers are incompatible with me) still here. I’m learning to live with cancer. I am currently in remission, something unthinkable in the beginning.
As myeloma is a cancer that usually appears in fairly superior to my age, I think that it is interesting, for those who, like me, we are more or less young, to see my smiling face today. It is very difficult but we have a few wonderful doctors in Social Security, which I can never thank enough all what you have done for me. If I’m here is because of them. On the other hand, without family and friends never would have done it. Even so, I am very cautious with the theme, you would not want to instill false hope in anyone, because I have learned that each person is a world, and what one will you well not.
I’ve been very lucky, but it is also true that I had very good advice. The main, during my treatment, was that of a doctor very good friend of mine since the age of fifteen: live every day without thinking about anything else. It cost me much to do so, I have two children and is terrible to have a sick mother, a mother who was pure vitality. Think that you can go and leave both behind, leave to your children… in end, I get excited. I don’t know how I struggled, but my body was on my side and helped me.
My life has changed radically, I got off a train running with great speed and I got to another slower. I am very afraid but I know that I’m in the best hands in the world, and if my body is still helping me, I will not smile until the last moment.
I also wanted to share some photos: is the before and after: with plasmacytoma, radiotherapy and the craneoplasty scar. If this I can help someone, to tell him that things happen and that there are people who are worse off, I will give for satisfied.
A strong hug to all who know the cancer.