Andy,
I don’t think I’m playing Russsian roulette with my health, and I’m not sure that kind of emotive language is helpful. I don’t tend to eat much in the way of seafood etc. that carries high risk anyway. I just wanted to put the other side of the coin for Sarah who had been warned about a great long list of foods, and wanted to know if others had received the same advice. It turns out some have, some haven’t. So the medical advice is not entirely consistent either.
MMers have low immune systems while the chemo drugs are depressing them, but that goes in cycles with the drugs. The rest of the time our immune system is as measured by our blood counts. I’ve always had a robust approach to food, and a very strong immune system. I was brought up before antibacterial wipes etc. were ever even imagined. I’m just extending my philosophy into my treatment time, that’s all. More careful, but not paranoid.
Trust me, I’m not treating my MM lightly either.
The Myeloma UK diet infosheet is here: http://www.myeloma.org.uk/information/myeloma-uk-publications-list/living-well-with-myeloma/diet-and-nutrition-infosheet/
Regards
Nick
hikernick.
From my point of view going through chemo at present I would say psychological support is as important as or more important than physical. Physical help is easily measured – if he can’t do something, you may have to help. I personally can do most things albeit a bit more slowly and with attendant fatigue so I try to get on and do so. Encourage M to be self-sufficient as much as possible although it sounds like he has some nasty disabilities to contend with that I have been lucky to avoid.
Psychological support is much harder to gauge but try and be aware of how he is feeling. For example, I had a big hurdle to overcome the first day of treatment – actually sitting down and taking drugs. Because mine were all self-administered at home, I was completely alone when I swallowed the first lot of pills. Try and sense when these mental lows are likely to occur – or better still, get him to tell you, and be there with a hug and some comfort when he needs them. There will be periods of depression – you don’t get terminal cancer without frequently thinking about death (well I don’t), so be prepared to act as a little ray of sunshine from time to time.
Re work – you will have to play it by ear. I’m still working and so is Mrs C. but your own circumstances will dictate what you can or can’t do. Preparing your boss for having you work from home in the medium term sounds like a good start to me.
Hope this helps.
hikernick.
Ah, thanks Ted. You’ll notice I didn’t say I don’t know what Light Chains are, just that I don’t know what my figures are – not quite the same thing. In fact I’m not sure if they’re being measured or not (Edit: from reading the leaflet on the test available here, I’m pretty sure they’re not, but also that it’s not so relevant for me anyway with my high paraprotein levels).
From your post I infer you think “pps” means paraprotein? In which case I’m OK, I know those figures (still awaiting the most recent one).
Cheers
Nick
hikernick.
