This is the question Ma asked when I told her the news I received today. I didn’t have an answer for her.
My blood results came back today after a retest. Dr Brad said last time that the proteins (Kappa Light Chains) were high. I didn’t ask how high, but I expected they would be around 50 or 60. If this were the case, I would have something to worry about it. It would mean heading back into some mode of treatment. At my worst, just before my last stem cell transplant, my proteins got to a level of 114 – a spike that warranted the high-dose chemo and transplant. Dr Brad is away at the moment, so his Registrar called me and told me the results. “Your protein level is 770.”
“Excuse me?” I replied.
I kept cool and calm during the rest of the conversation as I tried to get as much information as to what this actually means. We scheduled a pelvis biopsy next Monday, to ascertain what it is that we are dealing with – as if I think it makes a difference. The cancer is back, and in full swing, somewhere in my body. I have a suspicion it is mainly in my femur, as I have the dull sensation in my bone where the lesion was before.
I have a feeling that now it is just God and me.
This is not to say that the skilled medical staff can no longer do anything for me – they probably can. But the two main forms of treatment that I am aware of for me I am not keen to undertake. An allogeneic stem cell transplant (from a donor) is one of the options, and at this point I have decided to not undertake it. The specialist at Royal Perth has done a fantastic job at educating me of the risks, and I have been informed that based on my last stem cell transplant, it is likely that I would not make it through this one. Then there is chemo, but who wants that long term?
Whatever the case, I find out more next week as I talk with Dr Brad about it.
This happens as I have really got the silver business fired up, ready for a proper launch, and I begin full-time teaching in a job that I am really enjoying. It is just so inconvenient at the moment.
