Velcade – Couldausedanotherday

I’ve Graduated

The side effects aren’t nearly as strong as 50 shots ago. There’s much less itching, redness and tenderness around the injection sites on my stomach. The chemouflage has faded and I rarely experience Bug Zapper Syndrome anymore.

These may be signs that my body has become accustomed to the Chemotherapy drug, Velcade. I went to the hospital this morning for the final blood draw and shot in my prescribed two year, bi-weekly series of low dose chemo infusions. The doctor and nurses – everyone was offering congratulations.

There were hugs and well wishings. The fact that it was New Years Eve may have contributed to the feeling of a life chapter ending. When I was presented with my usual After Visit Summary printout, I felt I had just been handed a diploma confirming my graduation; a diploma representing a two year degree in Needle Injection Theory.

*My Grandson listening eagerly as I dispense another pearl of wisdom (Thanks for this picture, Robin)*

What’s next? I will be tested every three months as long as the cancer does not proceed. When it does (as I’m reminded that Multiple Myeloma always will) we will begin treatments with one or more new drugs that have just recently become available.

Twenty Six More Shots Please

On April 10th, 2015, I passed the one year mark with my bi-weekly Velcade subcutaneous injections. That would be 26 shots in the stomach, except one was withheld because my platelets were too low. So, it’s 25 down and potentially 26 to go.

My Oncologist said the current thinking is that two years of this low dose maintenance chemo is optimum and will likely buy me time, but continuing beyond two years has no real benefit.

The chemouflage pattern I had across my stomach from the shots has turned to more of a mud smear. Each injection is the same dose, but the reactions vary. None of the reactions even come close to being a deal breaker, so on with the shots!

*Robin took this great tripod shot on our hike above Horse Tail Falls Tuesday.*

Back To The Needle

I saw my Pulmonologist again. I asked him about the black spots I saw when he had the camera in my lungs. He said those spots were my bronchial tubes, and that he saw nothing unusual in there.

He said all my tests came back negative, and he suspects the Revlimid was causing the cough and the low blood numbers. He asked for another scan to confirm my improvement.

I saw my Urologist again. It was the three year anniversary of my prostate cancer surgery. The blood test results say PSA is undetectable. Those words are sweet to my ears. I am thankful for my recovery from that cancer and surgery.

I saw my Oncologist again. She agrees the Revlimid was probably causing a negative reaction. I stopped taking it a couple months ago. She strongly recommends that I continue my low dose chemo maintenance with Velcade.

Revlimid was a pill; Velcade is administered as a shot in the stomach. I’ll get one every two weeks. It’s the same shot I was previously getting twice a week.

She reminded me that maintenance medication will give me more time between transplants, and if it buys me a year, it’s well worth it, not just for pushing the next transplant a year farther down the road, but she said with the frequent new developments in the treatment of Multiple Myeloma, one year could make a difference in the future treatments I might receive.

*That’s me having a lot of fun with co-workers Bret and Geo at George’s Retirement Beach House Weekend*

Just A Quick Note

I’m about half way through series three, about eight weeks on chemo. It is beginning to wear; I’ve left work early a couple times, just very tired. I should be modifying performance curves for segments of pavement, but it’s becoming difficult to concentrate.

The items on my short list of symptoms so far have politely taken turns, one at a time temporarily taking position at the top of the list. The doctors say I look good and my blood looks good, so we continue.