Video Blog Update

A video update from Brabbs-land.

This is Good News, but we want Great!

I stumbled across an article featuring Dr. Ken Andersen from Dana Farber (Thanks Myeloma Beacon!). He presents where he thinks treatment options are today for MM patients and ends with this:

“The median survival, especially in younger patients, is seven to eight years. Maintenance is adding at least another several years to that. So a newly diagnosed patient today has a likely median survival of over ten years.”

I am very happy to see an expert in the field raising the bar in terms of what a relatively healthy younger patient should expect in terms of median survival given the novel therapy that is in practice today.

The survival rate is trending in the right direction, but we need to continue to push for better outcomes.

Maintenance Mode

Quick update on the stomach bug. Cassie was awarded the gold star of domination as she was the single soldier combating Ocean and Iris's ralphing, while wounded herself by the same bug. Fortunately this battle lasted only 24 hours. I think Cassie is still a little depleted from her heroic effort that successfully kept the ever-so-happy Ruby and me safe from the invading stomach bug that waged war on our household.

Monday marks the end of my first 21 day cycle of maintenance which kicks off 7 days rest. At this point I am down to two side effects: (1) neurothapy (2) fatigue. They both present more as the day progresses, but are manageable, especially in comparison to the side effects that hit me when I started this treatment journey back in October 2009 (re: 12 days of projectile vomit).

I have had enough energy to shovel the affects of Snowmaggedon, and on a more enjoyable note, take Ocean ice skating for his first time this season. He dominated the ice and I am so thankful that we are able to share in these experiences; especially the hot chocolate! Ocean has also decided his favorite wintertime activity is throwing snowballs at Daddy. Good thing he throws like a 4 year old.

Much love to the Myeloma community and everyone following this crazy journey. -Phil

Down, Down, Baby!

The M-spike is almost DOMINATED! For the first time in almost three months and six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy later, my M Protein has gone from 0.2 to 0.1. I was starting to get pretty irritated from hearing 0.2, 0.2, 0.2, 0.2, 0.2 while aggressively treating the disease through consolidation therapy following two autologous bone marrow transplants this summer.

I realize everyone is different, but most of the young people I follow with MM have achieved CR (Complete Response) following induction therapy that was much less aggressive than mine, followed by a single autologous transplant. We have found that because my disease was advancing slowly, it has followed that same trend on its way out of my body.

To be transparent, this news brings a big sigh of relief. I had a number of folks remind me to remain patient and that a M-Spike of 0.2 is great, but when your goal is CR and you have been taking aggressive therapy for 4 months with no signs that the disease is diminishing; it can start to weigh on your emotions especially when you are physically being taken down to the weakest point in your life.

Thanks to everyone who has remained so supportive throughout this journey. We cannot thank you enough for the meals, the words of encouragement and other support that has come in various forms. A special thanks to Daniel for challenging me to believe that God has healing for me and wants to dominate this disease. My prayer for the entire week was to receive this word and live with an expectation that my M-spike would be lower.

Where to next? Well 0.0 of course! I begin maintenance therapy which takes me from three drugs to one; and the one that I will be on is only 60% the dosage. We will be checking the M-Spike again in 5 weeks.

I'll end with a picture of Coach Hoke and me after the Washington Kick. Watch out Myeloma and watch out Ohio!