Deep in the heart of Texas

We just returned from a trip to Texas to attend the yearly Suppor Group Leaders' Training with the International Myeloma Foundation. It was a really good conference this year and we felt we came away with lots of encouragement and fresh ideas to assist us in leading our support group here. Our group met this morning and our former oncologist was in town to speak to us. It was a really good meeting and we all loved getting a hug from our doctor that we will never be able to replace. He has a genuine concern for each of us as a whole person and not just a cancer patient.

Following the conference we took another flight farther south in the state and spent a few days with my youngest brother, Hal, in Corpus Christi. Two of his daughters came down from Austin while we were there and it was a grand reunion for all of us.

I received two treatments at Stanford prior to our trip to Texas. I am receiving half-dose of Velcade once a week for 2 weeks; then three weeks off. In addition, I take 20 mg. of Dexamethasone every week and an anti-viral medication twice a day. Velcade leaves me very susceptible to shingles and with my particular type of myeloma, I am not able to have the vaccine to prevent it. Within hours of my first dose of Velcade, the neuropathy in my feet increased. It is hoped that this reduced schedule of treatment will keep the neuropathy from increasing too dramatically and reduce the cancer load at the same time.

In June, I had several acupuncture treatments in my feet that seemed to improve the still lingering neuropathy from previous treatment. I plan to continue with the treatments this month and see if they will help.

Injured my back in June and it is still bothering me quite a bit. Acupuncture and chiropratic treatments have helped, but there is some concern that the injury could be cancer related. Had an x-ray Friday morning, but am told by Stanford that I need a CT scan. Medicare says x-ray has to come first. Have had some improvement, but can still tell the area of the injury is very tender and it wouldn't take much for the pain and weakness to return. We are praying my back will continue to improve and there won't be any damage to bones or discs found.

Had my last IVIG infusion yesterday and am prayerfully waiting to see if they will be approved for another year. They are my lifeline! Without them, I wouldn't be able to stay healthy or have any quality of life. Please join us in praying that they will be approved quickly and easily.

Now to the doctor issue. My Stanford doctor wants me to see a Board Certified Hematologist and I am unable to get into any in Redding. We are really short of oncologists here, and I seem to get placed with whoever has room to take me. So we are having to go a little farther afield. I have an appointment with an oncologist in Chico the middle of August. It is a doctor that my Stanford doctor knew about and has sent a referral there for me. In the meantime, I will need to make 2 more trips to Stanford for my August treatments. Hopefully, I can work in a trip a little farther south, too, and visit that little magnet named Miss Lilian!

Prayer needs: IVIG infusion approval, neuropathy will improve, will find oncologist closer to home, my back will heal on its own.