Recent Developments Update 7/26/2007

As you may know, in the world of cancer there are two basic classifications of tumors. There are solid tumors and liquid tumors. Blood cancers fall under the later category. My tumor is liquid and growing slightly. Recent blood work revealed a slight increase in the M-spike over the last two months and an increase from zero a year ago to a high greater than or equal to 500 plasma cells in the peripheral blood which is not good. In addition to the elevated blood work numbers, I have also been experiencing intermittent bone pain in my legs and arms for the last couple of months. In the world of Multiple Myeloma, the treatment strategy is to take corrective action when the tumor burden is as small as possible. The larger the tumor burden, the lower the chances of success.

My Oncologist at Mayo Clinic wanted to start me on a new drug, Revlimid, last month. I wanted to wait a month to see if the M-spike would come down but it has stayed the same as last month. My Oncologist here wants me to start on Revlimid immediately. Unfortunately, the drug is very expensive ($6 to $8 thousand per month depending on the dose and other factors). My insurance company must review my case and approve before I can fill the prescription and that will take a few days and maybe even a few weeks if they don't agree with my Oncologist that this is urgent. Urgent gets reviewed in 24 to 72 hours. All others get reviewed in two to three weeks.

Revlimid is prescribed with an accompanying steroid, dexamethasone, which I hate because it causes fluctuations in energy levels that can make you feel pretty crummy at times. Hopefully, the insurance company will approve my prescription and the new cancer drug will lower my tumor burden over the next several months and I can continue on with my plateaued life style for a while longer.

LIFE

LIFE
is
as
COMPLEX
as
it
is
SIMPLE.