A Caregiver's Inspirational Journey Through Cancer
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma on Apr 27th, 2016
“Hidden Agenda: an often duplicitously undisclosed plan or motive.” A recent “report” by a group called ICER (Institute for Clinical and Economic Review) has issued a 179 page “DRAFT” of a report attempting to evaluate Multiple Myeloma, it’s treatment protocols, drug cost comparisons and QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year see: Wikipedia Definition). 0
Posted in MM Chrono Journey, Multiple Myeloma on Mar 27th, 2016
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier Well, it’s Easter Sunday and we are at the infusion center getting the second darzalex infusion, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier about it. Two down before he leaves for his business trip tomorrow morning and a short visit […]
Posted in Multiple Myeloma on Dec 20th, 2013
“Dr. Damian Green, a myeloma expert from Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, discusses the role of transplant in myeloma and the continuous refinements to induction therapy. Dr. Green speaks about ongoing studies in myeloma, how pre-targeting radioimmunotherapy might be utilized, and explores the potential to use novel therapies prior to transplant to increase the rate of […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Multiple Myeloma on Dec 19th, 2013
“Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Last night Dave and I attended a MM support group holiday meeting near Spring Hill, Florida, complete with a delicious catered meal and a sponsored patient ambassador presentation. Two years ago when I came to our in-laws for the holidays I was invited to […]
Posted in Multiple Myeloma on Jun 13th, 2013
“Research is creating new knowledge.” – Neil Armstrong, Astronaut Dr. Usmani, a researching physcian at UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the Myeloma Institute did a brief overview of the retrospective comparative study he was presenting at the conference on Total Therapy 3a and 3b regarding the newly diagnosed High Risk Multiple Myeloma patients. 0
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Multiple Myeloma, Our Life on Jun 10th, 2013
“A piece of me goes with them.” – Lori Puente We lost another giant soul in Myelomaville last week (Hanna – Margaret’s heartfelt tribute). Some of us knew it was coming, but it still hits you hard. Every time this happens I feel sadness and meloncholy. Each time someone relapses and goes back for more […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Multiple Myeloma on Apr 5th, 2013
“Maybe Lori will take a break from her Myeloma Holiday and chime in.” – H.O. Indeed! I would have never thought there could be such a thing as a Myeloma Holiday. Do you ever get away from it? Well, for some of us, yes. For many, sadly, no. Thankfully Dave and I fall into the […]
Posted in Multiple Myeloma on Nov 7th, 2012
“What part soever you take upon you, play that as well as you can and make the best of it.” ― Thomas More Dave and I are still basking in our recent check up in Arkansas, meeting with our doctor last Thursday. In a nut shell, Dave’s treatment has successfully ended. His scans, tests, labs, etc., […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Multiple Myeloma on Sep 29th, 2012
Myeloma Cure Panel broadcast We had a very informative Cure Panel discussion on myeloma on Blogtalkradio with Dr. Parameswaran Hari as myeloma expert on 25th September at 4:30 pm EST. The show was co-hosted by Gary Petersen and had over 40 live callers. On the panel we had Pat Killingsworth, Matt Goldsman, Keith Virgin, and Lori […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Multiple Myeloma on Sep 28th, 2012
Andrew Schorr catches up with Dr. Bart Barlogie in Barcelona at a conference to ask the question, if emphasis is being pushed to make Myeloma a chronic disease is cure still a priority? An excellent interview that of course has some of the scientific complexities that make it difficult for the average layperson to understand, […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma, Our Life on Jul 31st, 2012
“Let no one think that flexibility and a predisposition to compromise is a sign of weakness or a sell-out.” – Paul Kagame The two things that helped me through this ordeal (and other challenges in my life) is flexibility and adjusting my point of view. Karen touched on this in her insightful comment on my last […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma, Our Life on Jul 30th, 2012
“Superman’s not brave. You can’t be brave if you’re indestructible. It’s every day people, like you and me, that are brave knowing we could easily be defeated but still continue forward.” – Unknown In my last post regarding Dave’s exercise update I mentioned that our trainer is encouraging Dave to revitalize and renew his love for […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma on Jul 24th, 2012
“The greatest discovery of the 20th Century is that our attitude of mind determines our quality of life, not circumstances.” – William James My interview is up over at CureTalk. 0
Posted in Misc, Multiple Myeloma on Jul 15th, 2012
“…I figured I had been dealt a terrible hand and I had two choices: fight, or roll over and die. It was a pretty simple decision.” – Nick Nick and Dave were diagnosed a few months apart and both of us independently through our research and even different thought processes decided to treat in Arkansas. […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma, Our Life on Jul 1st, 2012
“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.” – Plato For those of you who made a wish for Dave on my behalf, thank you! 2
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Multiple Myeloma on Jun 12th, 2012
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” ― a headstone in Ireland This past week we lost two in Myelomaville. Actually we lost more, as I read on FB, but these two many of us had come to know through their blog musings. Sean Tiernan and Paula […]
Posted in Multiple Myeloma on May 14th, 2012
“But when I first got cancer, after the initial shock and the fear and paranoia and crying and all that goes with cancer – that word means to most people ultimate death – I decided to see what I could do to take that negative and use it in a positive way.” – Herbie Mann Unlike […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma on May 11th, 2012
“An identity would seem to be arrived at by the way in which the person faces and uses his experience.” – James Baldwin Indeed. All that I am comes from all that I have been, places I’ve visited and lived, people I have met along my life’s journey. Early on in my life, I was the […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma on May 5th, 2012
“Anniversary: The annually recurring date of a past event, especially one of historical, national, or personal importance.” – American Heritage Dictionary With cancer being so prevalent in our society today, it seems as though I can be in a room full of people and at least a third of them have had cancer and the […]
Posted in Caregiver Thoughts, Misc, Multiple Myeloma on May 4th, 2012
“Each person’s life is lived as a series of conversations.” – Deborah Tannen Well, while I’m waiting for my friends to send me the photos from our trip out to a small Alpaca farm for a day of sheering… I thought I would dialog a bit about how the last several days I find myself talking […]
