Forward/Disclaimer : My little blog has gotten more attention then I originally thought which is great. That being said I want to make sure anyone who might have been pointed this way because they have multi myeloma, or have a friend or relative who was diagnosed understand what this blog is and what it is not.

• This is a blog of my experience getting diagnosed and treated.
• There are inaccuracies in the details an my understanding of Multi Myeloma some of which are later corrected. I have left these in because this is about my journey real time as I go through the process.
• I do not have any medical degrees so if I write something here and your Harvard doctor says I am wrong. Smart money is on the guy with the white coat and fancy car.
• The one thing I hear a lot is everyone is different, they react different to the treatments and the cancer. Do not take this as a playbook to treatment, it’s just one guy’s perspective.

With that out of the way here is the first ever post:

So if you are here you either did some serious random clicking on the internet or someone sent you here to to get a update on what the hell is going on with me. If it’s the former then move along not much to see here. If it’s the latter then I will do my best to break this down for you as simply as possible.

In Mid March I started getting crazy painful back spasms. These eventually lead me to take X-rays. The X-rays earned me a trip to the ER. At the ER I got another scan which spawn the above quote about the state of my spine. Here is when I got my first hint that this isn’t going to be a “rub some dirt on it” type of injury.

I was admitted to Parkland Hospital where I was inspected, detected, injected. I got the C-Scan, MRI, Bone Marrow biopsy works. The doctors found have multiple compression fractures in my spine. In a compression fracture of the spine, the drum-shaped part (body) of one or more back bones (vertebrae) collapses into itself and becomes squashed (compressed) into a wedge shape. Most compression fractures result from slight or no force.

My compression fractures are caused by a bone Marrow cancer called Multiple Myeloma. Do NOT google that, it will scare the hell out of you and all the information there is outdated. I am far from a expert but I have spent some time with them recently and can break it down for you.

• It is treatable with oral meds and injections no radiation
• These new treatments are very effective in knocking it into remission (90%)
• These meds can cause some fatigue but most still work while in treatment without issue.
• While on treatment my immune system won’t be firing on all cylinders so if you aren’t feeling well. Feel free to text rather then visit.
• I will not be losing what little hair I have left.
• There are longer term treatments like stem cell transplants that can keep it in remissions for 10+ years. That number is climbing every year.
• I have had all my organs tested and I am in perfect health outside of that cancer thing.
• The specialist I met with last week has a patient he has been treating for 20+ years.

So the plan is obviously to treat the cancer.

You might still be thinking about that whole spine of Swiss Cheese thing. Well they got a drug for that too. I had my first infusion Friday while being served hot blueberry muffins and coffee at the Parkland Medical center with my wife. It took 30 mins. They say in about 3 months of these my bone density should be back on track. Once the bone density is good I should be free of any restrictions.

That’s where we are at now. Healing from compression fractures. Which involves a lot of sitting around doing nothing. I have to wear a back brace and be careful while my spine heals. Liz and the Fam are taking excellent care of me. I am fortunate to work for a company with great benefits and taking short term disability while I get better. Liz and I are fine financially so no need for go fund me.

I decided to write this down for anyone who wants to get some updates without calling ect. If any of you have questions let me know I got plenty of time on my hands these days. I will keep this updated as I go through the process. If this is your first time here and want the full details start at the bottom of the blog with the oldest and work your way up. It will make more sense that way.