[WillisboyParticipant]

Hello everyone,

My name is Graham and I was diagnosed with Myeloma on 1st March 2013.

At this moment I have completed six chemotherapy cycles and I am now preparing for the stem cell harvest with the stem cell boosting injections the District Nurses are giving to me.

The harvest will happen this Monday and Tuesday. Six weeks later I shall go into Hospital for a blast of Chemo before the stem cells will be returned to me.

I have been off work since late February.

I have come through the treatments very well and have responded well to them.
I have been told that the damage to the ribs and spine means no heavy physical work or lifting weights, so I shall have to ask my manager at work for lighter duties.

Well, enough for now, I hope to meet all of you through future posts.

Oh, I am married to Sonia, who discovered this site back in March, and we have a 12 year old daughter, Rosemary.

God bless you

Graham

[CarolsymonsParticipant]

Welcome -you are just ahead of me as I was diagnosed mid April this year and am up to week 13 of CDT after radiotherapy to a plastycytoma on my collar bone…pretty weird hey? Am also planning /hoping for SCT so will be following your posts as you go through it. I have also been off work since my collar bone disintegrated on Easter Sunday. Believe it or not before that I truly believed I was the healthiest and fittest 63 year old in West London! Bit of a shock was this cancer diagnosis to say the least! But with the side effects from these toxic drugs, as I have posted elsewhere I have gone from healthy to hell in a few short months. But we all have to do whatever it takes to survive, so let's fight on together and WIN this battle against the cancer gremlins trying to eat us alive!

Carol

[LollyParticipant]

Hi Graham,
My name is Lolly, my husband got dignosed in March this year. He took it at your stage re SCT. We start the injections this tues, and we are booked into Kings for harvest on the 30th Sept. Which hospital are you having your treatment at ?

Lolly x

[tomParticipant]

Hi Graham

Welcome to the forum

Good luck with it all Graham it is a rocky road at times but it is a Doable I have to tell you.

Keep your mind set and set up goals to achieve as you move along the road to remission.
I sit her nearing 4 years 4 years since Transplant and doing bloomin great (ish) drug free and in remission so as you can see it can be done.

Take Care
Tom Onwards and Upwards x

[VickiParticipant]

Hi graham,

My partner Colin was diagnosed in October 2011, with one lesion to the spine. He had 7cycles of revlimid, cyclophosmahide and dexamethasone. He then had 2 goes at harvesting his cells, followed by a third time lucky and then an sct in November 2012. He has been in complete remission since. He is working but gets very tired.

However it proves it can work so fingers crossed for you and best of luck with your treatment. I found this site a godsend too so hope Sonia also finds the support help ful

Vicki and Colin x

[Kazzam2Participant]

Hi Graham,

Welcome, you will find a friendly bunch on here 8-). I was diagnosed (late), in July 2012, and my treatment was exactly has you have written, except I am fair bit further on. I had SCT in January this year, and was declared in complete remission at my last 3 monthly clinic. The downside for me is I am still on a lot of morphine due to exstensive bone damage/fracture of 5 vertabrae and sternum (due to late diagnosis) I lost 4 inches in height, I had Vertebroplasty last October which help initally, but has since collapsed futher. Sorry getting carried away. Despite all that, I can do lots of thing, my appetite is good and I have put on weight! Oh and my hair is back!!

Good luck with all your treatment! Take care
Karen
x

[mhnevillParticipant]

Hi Graham

You seem to be coping well with the treatment so far so I am sure you will cope with your SCT although, I gather from others who have gone down this road it is no walk in the park.

welcome and very best wishes.

Mavis

[WillisboyParticipant]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I enjoyed reading every one.
I shall of course keep you posted on what goes on.

I had my stem cell Harvest on Monday and Tuesday at, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. I had it over two days. Oh, having to remain seated for four and a half hours on Monday and six hours on the Tuesday.
They got enough stem cells for one transplant. The Doctor there hoped to get enough for two if possible but one will do.

Carol, I thought I was the healthiest in Stafford, thinking, I shall outlive everyone! Maybe reach 100 years – then I am diagnosed with Myeloma a month or two later!

I have two lesions in the spine, others in the ribs. I have lost four inches in height and bought a cushion type thing for my car seat to lift me up a few inches so that I can see over the steering wheel properly!
At 51 years I shan't worry too much about my height – 5ft 3ins instead of my 5ft 7ins.

Thank you again for your replies and for sharing your experiences with me.

Future posts in General or other suitable posting places.

Good luck to all of you for the future.

God bless you

Love and best wishes

Graham

[eveParticipant]

Hi Graham

Just to wish you the best for your SCT,as you know some sail through it and some have a few blips,but it's every day stuff to the team,so I hope the weather stays calm for the sailing .

Bit of advice old clothes,own favourite mug,eat as much as you can now,as you will loose weight plus taste buds change on a daily basis,milk became Slims passion,.

Let us know how you get on when you can.Eve

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