Cure -- Word for the Day -- Tuesday, November 3, 2009

CURE

Definition: recovery or relief from a disease; something (as a drug or treatment) that cures a disease; a course or period of treatment; a complete or permanent solution or remedy

I keep looking for the word - Cure

UAMS myeloma program gets cash

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ myeloma program is getting $19.5 million in federal research money over the next five years to continue its research into the causes of the cancer and develop new treatments.

This is the fourth time the UAMS Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy has gotten the five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

The last grant, for $17.9 million, was awarded in 2004 and ended in June. The institute competes with research programs around the country for the funding.

“It’s very highly competitive,” said Dr. Elias Anaissie, professor of medicine in the UAMS College of Medicine and director of supportive care at the Myeloma Institute.

Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell most commonly found in bone marrow. Myeloma affects a person’s ability to form new bone tissue.

Seventy-five percent of patients diagnosed with the cancer have symptoms such as bone pain in the back, pelvis, skull and long bones such as the thigh bone.

Ongoing research at the Little Rock institute examines development and progress of the disease and new individualized treatments.

“This grant enables us to focus all efforts toward the common goal of controlling and defeating multiple myeloma,” institute Director Dr. Bart Barlogie, a UAMS professor of medicine and pathology, said in a statement.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 20,580 new cases of multiple myeloma will be diagnosed this year, including 11,680 men and 8,900 women. An estimated 10,580 Americans died of the disease last year.

The Myeloma Institute, founded in 1989 by Barlogie, is part of the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

Since then, it has grown into one of the world’s largest centers for treatment and research into the disease, attracting patients from around the globe, Anaissie said. More than 2,250 patients are treated there each year.

Institute researchers have developed new treatment methods that they say are showing positive results. The median survival rate of patients at the institute is eight years, according to a UAMS news releaseWednesday. By comparison, the median survival rate of myeloma patients nationwide is about four years.

The five-year survival rate of patients at the UAMS institute is about 65 percent, compared with a 34 percent five-year survival rate nationwide, the institute says.

One study at the center, called Total Therapy 4, looks at tailoring treatment to patients based on the aggressiveness of their cancers.

UAMS researchers look at patients’ molecular genetics and categorize them as low-risk or high-risk depending on how quickly the cancer spreads and how well they’re predicted to respond to treatment.

“We basically do a riskadjusted treatment strategy,” Anaissie said.

Some patients are given smaller doses of chemotherapy but at more frequent intervals to reduce side effects while maintaining the treatment’s effectiveness.

“We’re looking at can we possibly achieve the same results but cut down the toxicity,” he said.

In a new study, researchers are examining whether a type of cell called a “natural killer cell” can be transplanted from a healthy person to a myeloma patient to help kill tumor cells.

Other studies are looking at the genetics of the disease and how myeloma cells grow and interact with other cells. Such data would give researchers valuable information that could lead to new treatments, Anaissie said.

“The overall theme is to try to understand the growth of multiple myeloma and the interaction of these cells within the environment in which they operate,” he said.

Hope -- Word for the Day -- Thursday, October 15, 2009

Hope

Definition: 1 archaic : trust, reliance
2 a : desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment came in hopes of seeing you; also: expectation of fulfillment or success no hope of a cure b: someone or something on which hopes are centered c: something hoped for

I have hoped all week for the words to write and the opportune time to write them. It has come. ChemoSabe has travelled a lot this week. That is good because I haven't been a good companion. I have cried much of the week and have been having my own "Pity Party". Haven't really shared the reason.

Last year, this week, was when we were faced with my mom being in hospice. We were told she had about two days. We prayed she wouldn't pass on my younger brother's birthday, which is the 18th. Today, also, is when his wife was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer. She had brain surgery a year ago today. He lost his best friend on Valentine's Day (mom) and lost his most precious friend of 36 years in May on her 52th birthday (Sharon).

We have grown. We have laughed. We have endured. Then this week came around. We have cried.

ChemoSabe got home around 8:00 p.m. from Mississippi. Just in time to watch Grey's Anatomy with me and The Mentalist. We spoke about his day and he told me he wanted to share a miracle with me.

He has a client that has a five year old grandson. This young boy has grand mal seizures and has for a couple of years. It has caused him difficulty in school with friends, grades, etc. One night last week when he went to bed he asked his mother when the angels were coming back. Obviously she was confused and asked him more questions. He told her the angels came and rubbed all over his head the night before and it felt very good.

Since that evening, he has had no more seizures and the doctors cannot explain why. Isn't that a fabulous miracle? A miracle of hope for a young child and his experience with angels. Suddenly, my Pity Party didn't seem so important.

ChemoSabe is asleep. I hear him lightly snoring. All week I have had to push myself to keep the hope I have in my heart. To be able to focus on our lives down the road. I have found myself stepping away from him and losing my closeness because I'm afraid something will happen suddenly that will bring his health down again. I am selfish. I don't want to be hurt like that again.

BUT --- isn't it he that would be hurt. To have built that hope up and some little bug or something makes it come crashing down. He gives me strength. Strength through watching him work, do the things he enjoys doing (except mowing and weedeating). He continues on like live hasn't changed. And, I keep looking back wanting things the way they use to be.

Guess I am going to have to make a date with him to take me dancing. That is a way for us to get close... Whenever we were bored, had a spat, or just needed to rejuvenate, we would go out to dance.. We are the best on the floor... Yep -- that will be my hope. That we can find a safe decent place to do that.

We are on the two weeks off and will be back on the steroids and Velcade shots week after next.

Please pray for my brothers and me this week that we get over this sad hump. Everyone goes through it with a lost loved one, but we never have. If I could just touch her hand one more time.

When ChemoSabe came to bed he said, "You know, Millie watched over me today." That is what he called my mom. I have our two computer's screensavers set up with photos I have taken... There are loads. So when either computer is idle it takes you through our albums. He said when he sat down at his desk in our spare room this morning, there she sat waiting for him. He knew then she would be with him all day.

Good night and Love -- Pepper Keep your hopes up.

Multiple Myeloma -- Words for the Day -- Monday, October 5, 2009

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. Plasma cells are found in the bone marrow. Plasma cells produce a protein called antibodies. Some antibodies can attack and kill disease causing germs. Patients with this type of cancer may have low blood cell counts and immune problems giving them a higher chance for getting infections such as pneumonia. The bones can be affected leading to bone pain and breaks (fractures).

We deal with this realization every day. It is not foremost in our thinking, but it is always in the back of my mind.

We had a good weekend, but it ended with ChemoSabe being down all day Sunday and he stayed home today. He never calls in sick. He has a lot of pain in his chest and back. I am praying pneumonia is not setting in like before. He does not have congestion or the sniffles, but it still worries me.

We have had a busy past two weeks. We did make vacation the week of the 21st. We hauled the bikes up to Illinois to visit family (our favorite vacation spot). Since the weather was predicting rain we didn't want to take the chance of riding all the way. AND, ChemoSabe packed 12 T-shirts for the trip along with other items so it was good we took the Tahoe! ha

We rounded out our trip on Wednesday spending the night in Springfield, MO. We checked in around 9:00 at Drury Inn and got a room on the 4th floor. ChemoSabe grumbled about that, but hey...we were late. As we carried our clothes and bags in through the lobby, the desk clerk told us he had a cancellation and was putting us on the 1st floor at no extra cost. I thanked him and headed to the room.

It was a very nice room with a 40 in. flat screen. I noticed the adjoining room was open so I peaked in. It was a full size meeting room with a table for ten, another flat screen, a full kitchen, couch and chairs. I walked out into the hallway and it was the same room number as ours. I wanted to make certain there was no mistake. As we walked over to get a bite to eat before turning in I looked at the desk clerk with a thumbs up and said, "U da Man!"

Met up with Stretch and Rainman in Fayetteville on Thursday for the Bikes, Blues and BBQ festival. Over the weekend there was reported to be 300,000 people. We steered clear of the night life and the heavy traffic through the downtown area. We had good food and fellowship.

We were to return home on Sunday, but was looking so forward to getting home to our own bed and the kids. Commenced to load the bikes onto the trailer and ChemoSabe's foot got a little heavy. Dropped the beast off the back of the trailer and flipped the ramp off. STUCK!!! To the Rescue -- Rainman!

I was thankful for the time off away from work. We may not get another vacation for quite some time. It was good because last year we were dealing with the reality of Multiple Myeloma, the chemo treatments, stem cell transplant and of course, the battle of insurance issues. We are still dealing with the same issues, but we are better for the handling, this year.

I see how he feels now and I thank the Lord for the progress he has made. I couldn't survive without him.

Had the steroid treatment last week for four days and it begins again tomorrow with the two Velcade shots during the week. We have had discussions about his mood swings as a result and he is doing better. We have even laughed about it.

Labs are coming back very good each week. Weighs is progressing and we are working on that.

Well, I just got word from Tonto (his assistant) that he is at work. He just won't give in and rest. Please pray that I don't plow into him about taking care of himself. Sometimes he pushes me to my limit.

I will try to keep you posted more often. We have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather. Crisp mornings and fair days. I have even been leaving the kids out in the day time. Our new neighbors talk to them through the fence. Much different than the other ones that ran sticks up and down the wood and harassed. They were adults, too.

Have a good week --

Good day and Love -- Pepper