My medical journey began in late Summer of 2006 when I experienced an excruciating “back spasm” that my primary care physician treated with steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs. The problem went away.
When a second, similar spasm occurred in the Fall my doctor resumed the drugs and ordered 6 weeks of physical therapy. The problem went away.
When a third spasm occurred in January of 2007 my doctor ordered a bunch of x-rays and a spinal MRI. The x-rays were all normal; the MRI results were inconclusive. My physician ordered a CT scan and a repeat of the MRI with contrast agents, and this MRI showed …something… on my spine at the L-3 vertebrae. At this point, I was referred to specialists at the University of Michigan. Here is a note I sent to my siblings on March 22, 2007:
“Sibs,
Well, although my back is feeling much better than it did a few weeks ago, the results of my recent medical tests are not good news. There is a mass in my back between the 3rd and 4th vertebrae, and it’s going to require a biopsy to determine whether this thing is benign or not. Frankly I was not prepared for this result and didn’t ask any of the right questions… am planning a follow-up call to get more answers.
My doc tells me that this is not surgery but a radiographic procedure – they insert a needle in my back and use an imaging system to steer the needle to the growth. She has referred me to a UofM orthopedic surgeon who specializes in bone cancer, and I’ll certainly know a whole lot more about this when it’s done than I do right now. My only request thus far is that this procedure include enough drugs so that I can be in the next county while they’re doing this to my back.
More later,
-larry”
During the next week, we were on an emotional roller coaster while waiting for a conclusive diagnosis. Here’s an email sent to my siblings on March 30th:
“Sibs,
As you know we had been waiting for the results of Wednesday’s x-rays and cancer blood screening before proceeding with next week’s spine biopsy.
At 10:30am the call came from the Radiology Dept to schedule the spine biopsy for next Thursday afternoon. Good; a game plan; we’re pointed in a direction; let’s get moving.
Thirty minutes later, we received a phone call from the Ortho Surgeon’s office, advising us that the just-arrived blood work revealed abnormal SPEP and UPEP levels, an indication of a blood-related cancer called a “Myeloma”. We’re not sure yet, this is just conjecture, but there is no reason to proceed with the spine biopsy and that appointment is now cancelled.
Twenty minutes later the oncology hematologist’s office called and scheduled an appointment for additional blood work, a face-to-face meeting with the blood specialist MD, and a bone marrow biopsy. That appointment is scheduled for Monday afternoon, 2 April.
So, that’s what we know. The results of Monday’s tests should begin to narrow the scope.
Lots of unanswered questions: What about the full-body x-rays… what do those suggest? Is there no relationship whatsoever between the muscle spasms of my back, my recent bladder/prostate surgery, and the discovery of this blood problem? Did I just get lucky and find this real early because of an MRI?
“
In that meeting with Dr. Jakubowiak on Monday April 2nd I learned that I had a form of cancer called Myeloma, that it was detected in 3 bones in my body and thus would be labeled Multiple Myeloma, and that it had already progressed to Stage 3. Here’s the April 5 note to my siblings:
“Sibs,
The doctor’s appt this morning went as expected — the initial diagnosis of Myeloma was confirmed. We selected a treatment protocol that places me into an experimental cancer study using a new mixture of drugs with lower side effects and high probability of success. Phase I of the chemotherapy treatments may begin as early as next week, and will continue for 3-4 months. Phase II of the treatments will involve bone marrow transplants. Phase III is the control or management phase of the disease and can continue indefinitely. Despite the fact that we {thought we} were prepared for this news, we are in a moderate state of shock, still trying to digest all of the information and details, and just beginning to grasp the changes that will have to be made in our everyday lives.
Thanks for all of your concern and support. As I enter into Phase I, I don’t think there is anything else we need. Phase II may require bone marrow donations, and those can only come from my siblings. The good news is that these “bone marrow donations” are NOT the torture they used to be — all they take from you is blood [like giving blood at a blood drive]… stay tuned for more info.
The very-next step is a phone call from the Oncology Hematology announcing my acceptance into the clinical trail. We expect that call today or tomorrow. Once that is confirmed we begin setting dates and getting details from our next series of questions.
-larry”