My 19 year #Myeloma anniversary and counting.

Nineteen years ago on the eve of my 36th wedding anniversary I found out that I had dialysis dependent kidney failure caused by multiple myeloma.  So what was my prognosis?  There was little data about myeloma survival at that time other than the National Cancer Institutes SEER data base which showed a 3 year life expectancy,  a Mayo study at 3 years, and UAMS study at 7 years.  What I had found out some time later, UAMS conducted a study that reported patients with myeloma and end stage kidney failure were considered very high risk, and had a 3 MONTH life expectancy!  And that was me.  I feel blessed to.still be around to witness the incredible advances in myeloma survival in the last 19 years, the efforts to make treatment more affordable and accessible, the development of the many new drugs, all which has resulted in the NCI myeloma years of survival which has doubled over this period.   

I have just returned from The Miami Cancer Institute headed by Dr. Ola Landgren.  My PET scan was negative for myeloma, and I remain MRD negative at an accuracy of one in 1,000.000 cells.

Good luck and may God Bless your myeloma journey.