The mission is remission

Ninety days ago, I had my stem cell transplant. Every day since has pointed toward today, when the follow-up testing would determine if I am in remission, or if the myeloma is still active. For the past two days, I have undergone extensive testing, including a bone marrow biopsy and a PET scan, to determine the outcomes of the chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. This afternoon, we got the results, and I'm happy to say that they are very positive. It is not a Complete Response, in which none of the markers of myeloma can be detected, but it is a "Very Good Partial Response," which is pretty darned good. Every marker of the disease has been drastically reduced. Total proteins from 17,000 mg to 99 mg; monoclonal proteins from 15,000 mg to 45 mg; hemoglobin back into the normal range for the first time in a year; less than 5% bone marrow involvement; no detectable circulating cells. The doctors think that it is possible that the markers will continue to decline for several more months. All of this means that I am in remission, and my unmutated chromosomal makeup suggests that it should be durable, which is defined as two or more years. The median remission lasts two years, but this number is dragged down by patients with mutated chromosomes, who tend to have very short remissions. I am confident that my remission will last much longer than that. No further treatment is necessary at this time; just ongoing monitoring on a quarterly basis. Even when the myeloma comes back, as it inevitably will if I live long enough, I have another stem cell transplant in the bank, and there are a number of promising therapies that are in testing stages right now that will by then be available to beat the disease back into remission once more. I now view multiple myeloma as a chronic condition that can be managed, not as an acute disease. This should allow me to dance at my kids' weddings and spoil their children for many years to come! I am so grateful to the physicians here at the Clinic for the superb care they have provided. I am also thankful for Florence, who has been my everything during this long ordeal. Finally, I will always be filled with gratitude to our friends, relatives, and followers of this blog for your help, your prayers, your support, and your all-around indispensableness! All of that good karma is not only appreciated--it worked!

A Week of Testing Ahead

May 11 is not only the day after Mother's Day, it is the day that we return to the Mayo Clinic for my 100 day testing. In truth, it's little less than 100 days post-transplant, but it's close enough to do the definitive testing that will determine my status. The possibilities are full remission, partial remission, and active disease. I feel so much better than I did immediately post-transplant that I simply cannot imagine that the myeloma is still active. I'm being optimistic, and predicting that the verdict will be a ful remission. If so, there is likely to be minimal follow-up. If the remission is partial, there is likely to be follow-up chemotherapy. If the disease is still active, then there will be more chemo, followed probably by a second stem cell transplant. I REALLY don't want to go through another stem cell transplant, so I would appreciate it if, next week, you would send my way any prayers, positive karma, and good ju-ju you may have to spare. I'll be sure to share the news, whether good, bad, or ugly, with all of you via this blog, so watch for it toward the end of th next week. In the meantime, fingers crossed, please!