For the few of you who will ultimately be getting this for the first time, this is a preliminary diagnosis - so far. Dad/Jim got a call from his regular family Dr. with news that he has Multiple Myeloma. For those of you saying "WTF is THAT?", I am - for the moment - inserting a clip from a journal that is fairly straight forward and readable.
"Multiple myeloma is a malignant proliferation of plasma cells that involves more than 10 percent of the bone marrow. It is a prototype primary malignancy of the bone associated with malignant plasma cells that secrete monoclonal immunoglobulins into the serum, the urine or both.
The family physician is often the first to identify multiple myeloma. The expertise of an oncologist is then enrolled. Other specialists join the team as needed to address specific concerns or complications. As with other malignancies, the family physician assists the patient and the family in understanding the disease and the treatment-related side effects, and in improving the patient's overall quality of life."
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990401ap/1885.html--------------
"Often, collections of cancerous plasma cells develop into tumors that lead to loss of bone, most commonly in the pelvic bones, spine, ribs, and skull. Infrequently, these tumors develop in areas other than bone, particularly in the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Symptoms and Complications: Because plasma cell tumors often invade bone, bone pain, often in the back, ribs, and hips, may occur. Loss of bone density (osteoporosis) resulting from plasma cell tumors weakens bones, which can lead to fractures. In addition, calcium released from the bones may result in abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood, possibly causing constipation, increased frequency of urination, weakness, and confusion."
First things first: Until Mom and Dad have some answers regarding the status of HIS diagnosis, we don't REALLY know much of anything, except that there's more to learn. Often Radiation and Chemo are used, but many other treatments and drugs have become available, including Marrow transplant (or re-transplantation of your own, harvested prior to Rad and Chemo) and donation are options for many with MM. We're WAY too early in the game to have a good read on that yet. Although it is considered "incurable", it is also potentially a long way off before these things (aforementioned in the quotes) become that severe. Dad is meeting with a Hematology-Oncologist today, and they will begin the testing process.Next: Dad/Jim is incredibly private, like many men, and it is important to both Mom and Dad that this not be the "primary topic of every conversation". The rules of the game, until further notice, are to be aware and sensitive to the situation, but not ask about it. Mom, especially, but all of us are trying to get through the emotional part and figure it all out, and rehashing or discussing it is really hard, even though it's all born out of genuine love and concern - JUST EXACTLY as Mom/Linda would be if it were one of her extended loved ones, it's just too hard to "keep it together". For the moment the plan is to rally around and figure out what the steps will be going forward. We will update here as things develop. Matt has been an extensive investigator, and found sources of a huge numbers of people who have gone into remission and lived MANY (often a dozen or more) cases where remission allows life to return to normal, and they golf and do many of the physical activities they had done prior to the bone/back pains that they had often suffered from for YEARS before a diagnosis. This is KEY INFO here. There's value in optimism, and Matt is leading the Optimistic Band...he just needs a funny outfit to complete it!
"What can I DO??" - We know you all well enough that this will be the very FIRST question. Letting this sink in without discussing it AND without "avoiding" us is most helpful, until we get the ground solid again. We are blessed to have such varying - almost perfect - shift coverage, before even leaving the comfort of home. Laura works days, Matt nights, and I'm scattered but around much of the times in between. Surely we will need to make sure we have lots of kid coverage, but it should prove to be a reasonably managable situation for a while. When we know more, surely, we will fill it in here.
I'm sorry to address this in such an impersonal way, but we are going to keep our eyes firmly focused on the ultimate goal. Please know that we appreciate every single prayer, and beleve firmly in the power of positivity and the magic of Medicine in this era, particularly.
Thanks to all!! And Pray-Away!!
~Lynn
