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My husband James was diagnosed with Leukemia 6 years ago. Leukemia (blood cancer), hinders the body's ability to fight infection. It is rare especially for someone his age (40's) and affects about 30,000 people per year in the U.S.
He received Chemotherapy and it was successful in putting him into remission.
His remission ended last year and we learned that his cancer mutated into a more aggressive form of Leukemia. In addition to Leukemia, he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer... when these two cancers surface it is called Multiple Myeloma. Cancer cells build up in bone marrow and take over the healthy blood cells. The cancer cells create abnormal proteins that damage your kidneys and affects more than one area of the body. There is no cure for Leukemia or Bone Marrow Cancer.
Unfortunately, the chemo treatment that worked so well last time could not be used again, which left him with two options... A recently FDA approved drug or a bone marrow transplant. The drug is obviously the least non-invasive but has no trial history to know what happens when someone stays on it long-term or even what happens when someone stops taking it. Sadly this drug is $12,000 a month!
He has been on this drug for a year and although it is working, the side effects have taken a toll on him; extreme bone pain, fatigue, swelling of joints, muscle failure, sleep issues, frequent infections and fevers, and the list goes on. He is strong and has a good state of mind, pushing himself to work (heavy duty mechanic) but the pain can be debilitating and has caused him to miss quite a bit of work.
Every few months he has a bone marrow extraction surgery (marrow is taken from the bone in his lower back next to his spine) to review the aggressive cluster of cancer cells, but each time recovery is harder and harder. The last test results showed the aggressive cancer cells increased instead of going lower. So his battle continues. His doctor also told him that the medicine is causing an autoimmune disease, so there will be more tests, more doctors, more medicine.
The missed work days, trips to the emergency room, additional doctors, more medication, and now the added expense of another condition being caused by the drug that is supposed to help, has us at the end of our rope.
James and I have been married for 10 years. He is a veteran and has served 2 tours. He is quiet and reserved and very strong. Although he is in a great amount of pain, he doesn't like to admit it to anyone. In fact he is still working 3 jobs! I keep telling him to slow down and heal, but that is not in his nature and I love him for being so strong.
I am usually the one that is fundraising and finding ways to help everyone else, so when our friends decided to help us it was humbling and even a little awkward. But we are so grateful!
This journey for both of us has shown us how precious every moment in life is. We will continue to battle this like warriors and we will continue to spread awareness about Leukemia and Bone Marrow Cancer (Multiple Myeloma).
Thank you all so much!
Michelle -
He received Chemotherapy and it was successful in putting him into remission.
His remission ended last year and we learned that his cancer mutated into a more aggressive form of Leukemia. In addition to Leukemia, he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer... when these two cancers surface it is called Multiple Myeloma. Cancer cells build up in bone marrow and take over the healthy blood cells. The cancer cells create abnormal proteins that damage your kidneys and affects more than one area of the body. There is no cure for Leukemia or Bone Marrow Cancer.
Unfortunately, the chemo treatment that worked so well last time could not be used again, which left him with two options... A recently FDA approved drug or a bone marrow transplant. The drug is obviously the least non-invasive but has no trial history to know what happens when someone stays on it long-term or even what happens when someone stops taking it. Sadly this drug is $12,000 a month!
He has been on this drug for a year and although it is working, the side effects have taken a toll on him; extreme bone pain, fatigue, swelling of joints, muscle failure, sleep issues, frequent infections and fevers, and the list goes on. He is strong and has a good state of mind, pushing himself to work (heavy duty mechanic) but the pain can be debilitating and has caused him to miss quite a bit of work.
Every few months he has a bone marrow extraction surgery (marrow is taken from the bone in his lower back next to his spine) to review the aggressive cluster of cancer cells, but each time recovery is harder and harder. The last test results showed the aggressive cancer cells increased instead of going lower. So his battle continues. His doctor also told him that the medicine is causing an autoimmune disease, so there will be more tests, more doctors, more medicine.
The missed work days, trips to the emergency room, additional doctors, more medication, and now the added expense of another condition being caused by the drug that is supposed to help, has us at the end of our rope.
James and I have been married for 10 years. He is a veteran and has served 2 tours. He is quiet and reserved and very strong. Although he is in a great amount of pain, he doesn't like to admit it to anyone. In fact he is still working 3 jobs! I keep telling him to slow down and heal, but that is not in his nature and I love him for being so strong.
I am usually the one that is fundraising and finding ways to help everyone else, so when our friends decided to help us it was humbling and even a little awkward. But we are so grateful!
This journey for both of us has shown us how precious every moment in life is. We will continue to battle this like warriors and we will continue to spread awareness about Leukemia and Bone Marrow Cancer (Multiple Myeloma).
Thank you all so much!
Michelle -