We all know that I have been the beneficiary of some of the latest developments in modern medicine for the maintenance management of my Multiple Myeloma (MM). The art of healing dates back to prehistoric man, and along that timeline until today, many methods have been tried and applied with varying degrees of success (or failure). It would be presumptuous of us to imagine that what we know today is not just the latest and greatest developments in science, but that all which has come before is obsolete. Actually, many aspects of a growing modern cancer treatment alternative - Immuno-Oncology - are rooted in the core concept that the power of the body’s own immune system can prevent, control and eliminate the disease (to a degree). “Everything old is new again.”
I have been fortunate to avoid the myriad of side effects that plague many, many cancer patients. The one issue that I can declare is my chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). It doesn't hurt (it feels like sand in my shoes) and it doesn't impair my balance or locomotion at all; so I understand how lucky I am. But it is present in the balls of both my right and now left feet, so the reality of the condition is undeniable. And since my ongoing monthly MM maintenance regimen includes a small dose of chemo (Pomalyst 2mg; 21 days on / 7 days off), for the long-term foreseeable future, the slowly spreading creep of fuzziness is not going to go away.
Acupuncture is among those aforementioned “old” methodologies that is gaining increasing acceptance for the variety of value that it can offer. This ancient Chinese practice dates back 3,000 years to around 100 BCE. If nothing else, it has stood the test of time and is supported by thousands of years of “trials” and benefits. Acupuncture has been identified as a possible source for potentially alleviating some of my CIPN. I’m going in with an open mind and giving it some time to demonstrate any degree of efficacy (once a week for a month and then once a month - - - for a while). I am managing my expectations of results (complete reversal of my symptoms is not at all in the cards), and though technically an invasive procedure (it breaks the skin, but doesn’t hurt AT ALL), it is non-chemical and innocuous enough to be worth a shot. At this point, I feel like I have nothing to lose, and it’s covered by insurance; which seems like the ultimate “threshold” of acceptance. Stay tuned for updates.
