Enquiring Minds Want To Know

The oncologist in Vancouver said I would know what my bone marrow biopsy results were in a week or two and I haven't had a bone marrow biopsy yet. That was exactly 2 weeks ago. What can I say, he gave bad info.


Because of that, after the first week I was very anxious to hear from someone and I started calling my family doctor and he was away sick. I left a voicemail at the oncologist's office in Vancouver whose assistant called back to say they faxed it to my doctor who was away sick. Then it was faxed to the doctor who found the tumor and he didn't bother calling me for 3 days. After me calling 4 times he finally called last Thursday as he was driving and had no info in front of him and said that I had only plasmacytoma. 


I realized a little later that I couldn't put much stock into his unprofessional reckless "diagnosis" because one needs to have a bone marrow biopsy to determine that it is only plasmacytoma. 


This afternoon I saw my family doctor who was generous with his time and went over what was faxed over by the oncologist. The fax had no certain diagnosis of plasmacytoma, rather it said they think I have it and I would need a biopsy to find that out if it's also multiple myeloma.


My GP said the reason why the biopsy wasn't done yesterday or sooner was because the nature of plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma is that its not really urgent as treatment within a month or two doesn't make a difference.  


Fortunately lots of people have cared to ask details. So it makes sense for me to give a few details from what I understand in a nut shell:

• Plasmacytoma is a blood cancer, I have plasmacytoma. The tumor is about the size of a kiwi, it's malignant and was brought on by the plasmacytoma.
• If I have multiple tumors then that means I have multiple myeloma.
• Plasmacytoma can later become multiple myeloma.
• There is no cure for multiple myeloma, just treatment.

My GP said today I could live from anywhere from a year to a decade and treatment progresses all the time and who knows it could be decades before I die.


My next meetings are on April 27th and after that there would be some type of timeline of when the biopsy is to see if I have multiple myeloma and begin treatment. The treatment would probably be radiation based mainly and all done in Victoria. 


Imagine answering and repeating all the above each and every time you talk to someone. It can wear thin. I am so very, very, very glad that anyone cares enough to ask, I really am. Please understand though if I referred you to my blog it's not that I'm being short with you, in fact it just means I'd rather have a conversation about Myrtle, the Royal wedding, the weather, politics, Oprah and Gayle (are they?), is Regis Philbin retiring too young?, trade waxing techniques, how amazing your dog or cat is, whether Donald Trump will really run for president, the benefits of jazzercising, hormone free meat, or if man really did walk on the moon (nope).


But if I bring up cancer you will know I'm needing to talk. If you read this and you bring it up then I know you need to talk about it and I'll be game. It's not a taboo topic around me (I am blogging about it after all), however I am well read and can talk and learn about other topics too.


Another fun topic is how I am doing physically:

• sitting down hurts in about 20-30 minutes most of the time
• standing for about 5 minutes I begin to ache and would rather sit
• lying down on my back is uncomfortable pretty quick unless its a thick foamy or comfy couch
• the tumor causes muscles spasms and I get a lot of twitches in my left leg
• the side of my left thigh sometimes "falls asleep" and sometimes it feel like its on fire
• my spine sometimes feels like its creaking like an old lady
• when I turn my neck or whip my hair back and forth it can hurt and I can hear it crack like knuckles

I can and do:

• walk without crutches, but can walk much further with them
• get up and shower & shave, dress myself and am awake all day
• empty the dishwasher, do laundry, get the mail
• stand and hold Myrtle briefly or walk carefully around the room with her

I'm not on my death bed or anything. Well if I do die right here and now, it would be my death recliner. But I'm pretty sure I'm not on my death recliner either. 

My GP said it is best I stay on crutches, not to travel (fly, road trips, Tour de France, etc.) and to look at working maybe in maybe 5 months to a year.

Most importantly I feel more mentally alert then I have in the past month. My body is sure appreciating me eating healthier and ironically I am feeling healthier too.

I know that not everyone has something to say or knows what to say and that's okay. That said, those that have expressed something I greatly appreciate it. Anything from "I read your blog" to "We're thinking of you" helps me to stay focused and cheers me up to know you're in my corner. Every little bit is a huge help.

Yesterday the president of my church's primary dropped off a "heart attack", all the primary children made cards made of hearts, 42 in all. 

I miss being in primary, singing along to the songs, enjoying the enthusiasm of the children. I would bring Myrtle with me, it was special to share her with the kids. My class (8-9 yr olds) called her the "class baby". I know not all 42 know me more than being the bald guy, but they all seem to know Myrtle. 

"we want you alive not dead" Me too Jaden!

From my nephew Caeleb, 4yrs old

From my niece Kathryn, 11 yrs old

From my nephew Ethan, 9yrs old 

From my nephew Logan, 10 yrs old

Today Nathan, my cousin, came by to visit and he he said some things that were helpful. I was trying to explain how it has been helpful to have people praying for me. Years ago while a missionary in the Philippines he contracted malaria. Like me he felt the prayers of those praying for him and said that even though it was him with malaria it felt like almost he was watching himself having malaria as opposed to experiencing it. (Nathan did I regurgitate that okay?) That's how I feel too, well most of the time. Like him I also feel bad for those that are affected by my illness, much more than for myself.

In a helpful way it's healthy to hear others war stories, no one gets through life unscathed. I'm not the first nor the last to get cancer.  As Bono sings "It's not a hill, it's a mountain / As you start out the climb / Listen for me, I'll be shouting / We're gonna make it all the way to the light"

The right to be ridiculous is something I hold dear