Following treatment, "watch and wait" began again for me in March, 2014. The drugs diminished the tumors and I felt great. It seems that the effects of the disease had come upon me so gradually that I had no idea that I was sick. Over the past nineteen months, we have been keeping an eye of the by-products of my malignant plasma. Through blood work, we can get an idea of the progress of the disease by measuring the protein produced by the tumors, the thickness of my blood, and my level of anemia. Month after month, lab after lab, we have watched the numbers gradually worsen. But this time, the change hasn't been so gradual, and I have really noticed a change in my energy level. I feel tired from the inside out, and I feel like I am basically no fun at all. I don't like that. I have developed some new symptoms this time around which add to my discomfort. So, tomorrow begins the process of making me better.
I trust that you have never endured a bone marrow biopsy, but I get my second one tomorrow morning. Since my cancer (there, I said it) lives inside the plasma cells of my bone marrow, the only way we can really get a peek at what's going on in there is to drill a gigantic needle (imagine a horror movie) into my hip bone and aspirate a sample of bone marrow. Hey, I've seen my bone marrow. Bet you can't say the same! I was a rookie back in 2013 when I had my first BMB. I had the test done in the doctor's office with nothing but a pain pill. I survived, but many nightmares followed. This time, I'm older and wiser - I asked for anesthesia! Oh yeah! Tomorrow I will sleep right through the horror of the BMB. The results of this test will tell us how much of my plasma is malignant. With that knowledge, we will move forward to make a treatment plan.
A trip to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is set up for January. My Houston doctor assures me that treatment has improved by a "quantum leap" since my first regimen. Very soon, I am going to have some "crazy blood warriors" doing battle inside me. Of all cancer thrivers, I consider myself among the most blessed. But I sure would appreciate your prayers: for me and the medical team tomorrow during my bone marrow biopsy; for wisdom for my doctors as they work out a treatment plan; and that our healing God will use the treatment for my good. Please remember my right hand man, too. My Stevie never leaves my side. I am most blessed.
"I can do everything through Christ
who gives me strength."
Phillippians 4:13
"My flesh and my heart may fail but
God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever."
Psalm 73: 26
