Another day, another medical MM milestone achieved.
Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a chronic form of cancer that can be managed but as of yet – not cured. After a period of time, following initial treatment, the disease will return (relapse). When it comes back, the assumption is that more careful monitoring will allow for earlier intervention and then more treatment – of a less aggressive nature.
Modern medicine and its focus on MM management has resulted in very successful treatment of the disease and prolonged periods before relapse – often incalculable but always inevitable. So, we started off with the initial intervention of chemo, then followed that with a stem cell transplant, and finally the maintenance phase. As anyone who has been following along on my journey would know, I’ve conquered parts one and two, and am now officially into part three – Maintenance.
For me, mine consists of a pill a day (Revlimid; the standard for my condition) for the unknown foreseeable future. Best described as a “low-level chemo,” so far there have been no side effects and no real disruption of my life. And so this is my new new normal. A pill a day keeps the MM at bay.
No statins. No blood pressure pills. No cholesterol meds. No opioids, painkillers, ointments or suppositories. Just my daily single Revlimid (and an 81mg aspirin to ward off DVTs). I guess I got off pretty easy – all things considered. Regular monthly visits to my Onc team to make sure all is well (simple blood test; check under the hood as it were), and there you have it. And the best part is that although my Onc is not inclined to make false promises, his knowledge of cutting-edge MM research allows him to predict that a cure will be available before my eventual relapse will surface. Now that’s something to really look forward to.
