As I have mentioned in the earlier post, I am about to undergo ASCT. I was told that I should have ice in my mouth for about 1 hour before Melphalan infusion, then during the infusion. This is to prevent or at least minimize mouth and throat sores. If you have any experience with this, please let me know what worked (or didn’t) for you.

How common is CT-guided bone marrow biopsy? This was my 2nd biopsy. The first one was the old-fashioned in the doctor’s office, without any sedation, just local lidocaine. This 2nd one was something else. I asked for sedation because 1st one was too painful, and I was just expecting same thing as the 1st but with sedation. I was also expecting to be out like you get for colonoscopy. Well, that’s not how it went. I was really pleasantly surprised. The sedation was very light. I was awake and completely engaged. They just gave me something to keep my anxiety down. It was done with CT scanner. They got several images of my lower back, then used the images to find the best area to insert the needle. It was mostly painless. I thought the whole thing was pretty cool. Here’s a great write up about how to do it, for any one interested: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559232/

For those who don't know me, I am the Financial Program Manager at Health Tree. I present financial webinars the first Tuesday every other month as well as Financial Articles monthly. I am also the Lead financial Coach. So if you need help finding financial assistance for co-pays. deductibles, travel costs assistance, utilities or urgent needs, finding RX expenses assistance etc. Or if you have questions about health insurance, including appeals, understanding your insurance, Social Security Disability, applying and appealing, understanding FMLA and ADA, or anything else financial, I would be glad to assist you. Our goal is to give you the financial tools necessary to help you stay on track in your financial life and not experience financial toxicity. Reach out to the Coach site and request a financial coach. We are always glad to help

Three years ago I was diagnosed with mgus and the oncologist wanted to start me on drugs right away, I was hesitant to say the least since my wife dies a few years before from Pancreatic cancer and I saw first hand what the drugs can do to you. So I decided to get a second opinion from a specialist over in Portland Oregon. Best decision I ever made, it became obvious that he miss read the test results from the scans. Three years later I now have Active Myeloma based on Light chain increases which are now 129.85 instead of 1.65 and the Immunoglobulin G is low at 440 and the A i a little high 478. The free kappa light chains is 441.5 and the lambda is 3.4. Now they want to start treatment after I have another Pet scam. They are recommending I start with daratumumab and dexamethasone and if I do well than add lenalidomide. Has anyone had this type of experience with these drugs?

Hello, I am Ramel, wife and caregiver to my husband-Wade. He was diagnosed with High Risk- extramedullary, Lambda Light Chain MM. This diagnosis came 9/11/2023 which was 1 day before our 36th wedding anniversary. He started having back pain for about 5-6 weeks then numbness into both of his lower extremities. MRI showed fracture to L5 and multiple lesions along his spine as well as enlarged supraclavicular and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. FISH results just came in and it states "unfavorable prognosis". Back surgery was completed and he started Velcade, Daratumumab, Dex and Lenalidomide today. I am devastated. Has anyone else had a similar story?

Hello, I am Ramel, wife and caregiver to my husband-Wade. He was diagnosed with High Risk- extramedullary, Lambda Light Chain MM. This diagnosis came 9/11/2023 which was 1 day before our 36th wedding anniversary. He started having back pain for about 5-6 weeks then numbness into both of his lower extremities. MRI showed fracture to L5 and multiple lesions along his spine as well as enlarged supraclavicular and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. FISH results just came in and I am states "unfavorable prognosis". Back surgery was completed and he started Velcade, Daratumumab, Dex and Lenalidomide today. I am devastated. Has anyone else had a similar story?