I saw the oncologist again today. She basically wants me to do blood work again and see her back in June. It can get a bit frustrating waiting in waiting rooms for hours on end to be told to come back again.
At any rate, she did not again specifically say “you have smoldering myeloma”, how ever she did say things like “in other patients I’ve seen who have smoldering myeloma, they…..blah blah”. I was almost afraid to say “so, is it smoldering myeloma?”
She said that she wanted me to do additional blood work so she could see a trend of how quickly (or slowly) things were progressing. I can only assume that there has to be something actually there in order for it to “progress”. So I’ll have to get more blood work done in a week…then wait.
I spoke to her about her comment last time about one’s immune system helping them fight cancer. She mentioned that as one of the possible problems with getting a transplant and being immunosuppessed and then developing cancer. She said that the the degree of immunosuppression is quite different from someone with cancer and someone who has a transplant. I mean, right now, I’m on 5mg of prednisone. I can’t imagine what kind of dose I’d be on after transplant. She said she was going on a myeloma conference in France, so she would consult with some of the other doctors there. She also said that she would email her contacts at the Mayo clinic to see what they had to say about transplant and smoldering myeloma (hmm, I guess her saying that is also another clue that this is perhaps what I have…I guess I simply do not want to “claim” it).
That’s all for now I guess. Will blog again later.
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The ambiguity and the wait are so frustrating. Will be waiting and praying with you.