A few things have happened since the last update so here goes. After 2 months (rounds) of the drug Revlimid, Dr. Hajdenburg said that I had a Very Good Partial Response. After 4 rounds, it was about the same. He then scheduled a consultation at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa before he would decide on the next course of action. The trip to Moffitt was to educate me on the possible future Stem Cell Transplant.
While Moffitt is an incredible place for the treatment of cancer, I was not at all satisfied with what they wanted to do. They wanted to immediately put me in the Autogenic Stem Cell Transplant Program. Now, since we have done our research, we were asking “Why would they want to do that right now?”
One week later, Ron & I attended a Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, MMRF, seminar in Downtown Tampa. The top Oncologists in the country were there to speak.
Suffice it to say, that after the seminar, we knew the direction that we thought was correct. Then last week we met with Dr. Hajdenburg again, and he laid out the next course of action and it was EXACTLY the same course that we had in mind.
He said that since the new P.E.T. scan and blood work came back “clear”, and since I responded very well to the one drug, that it was time to move on to the newest FDA approved drug, Velcade. Velcade finished the Clinical Trials and was released in June 2008 to be given as a front line drug therapy for Multiple Myeloma. (watch this link for an interesting story).
Velcade alone has had very promising results, but Dr. Orlowski from M.D. Anderson in Houston has combined Velcade and Doxil for even better responses. So, that is what I am going to be on next.
Starting today, I will be given an injection 2 times per week for 3 weeks, off for 10 days, then another 21 day cycle. This will continue into 2009 for as long as they feel it is needed. The nice thing about this is that the Dexamethasone will be reduced from 40mg to 4 mg which will hopefully stop my abdominal swelling and weight gain. The side effects can include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, neuropathy, and hand and foot disease (which is blistering and redness on the hands and feet). I reacted well to the Revlimid with very few side effects, and some of those side effects listed were the same. Doxil can cause hair thinning, or it may not. So, we will just have to wait and see what happens with that.
The update on my back surgery is that I am gaining strength daily, and I am beating Dan on the Wii Fit (on some things :-) )
I am now walking up and down steps normally and not the “Jenny 2 step shuffle”. I was able to accompany Ron & Brent & Jeannie Riker in September on the trip to Chicago and I walked on the Magnificent Mile!! The numbness and tingling is still there in my feet and legs but it is getting better all of the time.
Thank you all for praying!!! Please don’t stop!!
Jenny
3 comments:
Jenny,
It is great to hear of the many blessings bestowed upon you. May you and your family be blessed as you give thanks for the miracles performed on your back and within you this past year. Its been a long but progressive year for you.
Keep us informed of your prayer needs and progress. Give Thanks unto the Lord for HE is good.
I will continue to pray for your complete recovery. Looking forward to the study in Jan. I started reading Judges...it is going to be exciting if that is where we end up. Of course wherever we end up will be exciting! Happy Thanksgiving to you all and many many blessings.
Remembering you in thought and prayer. Thank you for posting the links. It gives readers time to let the enormity of your treatment sink in (as compared to an on-the-run "How ya' doin'?")
Wishing you and your wonderful family a blessed Thanksgiving.
Love ya,
Don, Be & JMei
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