I may have been a little unclear. The radiotherapy I had was not a treatment for MM itself. It was aimed at reducing the impact a myeloma-related problem in my left hip had on my walking (reduced to a slow and painful hobble on two crutches). It was a 6cm osteolytic lesion and associated “extra-medullary mass” impacting on the left acetabulum (pelvic surface of hip joint). That was, as far as one can tell, the result of the MM in my bone marrow messing up the chemical factors that control the balance between bone-building osteoblasts and bone-destroying osteoclast cells in the bone itself. The destroyers were winning…
After the radiotherapy aimed at that lesion, (and also after 3 courses of 20mg dexamethasone and generous painkillers) my walking has improved greatly. Almost entirely pain-free, I get around the house without needing a stick, and I cope well outside with two sticks or a walker. Have today been on a walk in a local country park over rough muddy tracks and uphill in a way that would have been completely impossible a few weeks ago (using a Trionic Walker 12 – not cheap but worth every penny!)
Because my blood numbers were pretty good, we took the decision to attack the walking problem (steroids and radio) before starting chemotherapy (VTD, began earlier this week, no problems as yet apart from the usual dex-related sleeplessness). The steroids knocked my PP level down from mid-30s to 16, which helped the decision to delay the chemo and try to improve the walking first. Hope that clears that one up.
As for the health insurance, my wife and I have had it for many years and regularly switched providers in search of better deals. A few years ago we ended up with a broker who found us some promising deals and strongly recommended AXA PPP with their Comprehensive Cancer Cover, which he said was “best available”. I’m glad I took his advice, even though I’m expecting to see a “modest” increase in my premium next year. Or possibly rather more…
