A Multiple Myeloma Survivor Story: Sandra Kreider
In the Spring of 2016 as part of my check-up with my GP she expressed concern that the protein level in my blood had reached a point that she wanted me to have a total body x-ray of my bones and see a hematologist. The x-ray revealed no issues with my bones and the hematologist said additional blood work indicated I was at the smoldering stage of Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer which I had never heard of from friends or family. By December of 2016 blood work was showing that it was time for treatment. As we were planning to go to Louisiana from January until March, he said "Go ahead and find a doctor there for your treatment." At this point I was comfortable that this was not really all that serious an illness. I was feeling fine, so how much could be wrong.
After getting to Louisiana connections were made with a hematologist who did an excellent job of explaining how serious my condition was and started a 4 month aggressive treatment plan including infusion for my bones, chemo for the cancer and a steroid to boost the whole concoction telling me that Multiple Myeloma is not curable, but treatable. I had read some stories on the internet that left me wondering how bad getting through this and surviving was going to be, but hearing that it was chronic, but treatable gave me peace of mind to take it one step at a time. During the first month of treatment 2 times per week I began to feel bad as my body adjusted to all the drugs. Drug related symptoms were concerning as to which if any of them would go away once I complete the 4-month heavy hit against my cancer.
We returned home after the induction treatment which had worked very well. Now was the time to consider a stem cell transplant. Trying to absorb as much information as I could from the internet and explaining to our children without alarming them too much was a challenge. I had a lot of explaining to do to help them see that I had other drugs and avenues and did not see the transplant as the best one in my case. My husband was reading and explaining terms to me that I did not understand. We both did a lot of research reaching the conclusion needed for my treatment.
Multiple Myeloma is a cancer that will at some point resist the drug that has been pushing it back. Relapse for me meant I wanted to know what drug might be next and what the side effects were. I have continued to feel well, so consistently do blood work to tell me how things are going. Last summer 2021 changes made it clear to me that something more was going to be needed and a multitude of new drugs were on the table. At this point I sought advice through to the Coaching Program at Myeloma Crowd's HeathTree to connect me with a coach and a Multiple Myeloma Specialist. Thanks to Covid telemedicine has opened the opportunity for me to have zoom conversations with a specialist in Miami, FL, who has reviewed my case and given advice to direct my treatment via my doctor here in Oklahoma who treats all kinds of cancer, not just Multiple Myeloma.
I praised God for the blessing of directing the steps to the right doctors at the right time. Looking back I can see how God connected me with a top notch doctor in Louisiana to start treatment, to have a supportive doctor in Oklahoma willing to skip the transplant and treat me with drugs that push back the disease that did not make me sick. As Multiple Myeloma is a special type of cancer my advice is to find a specialist. This would really be true for any kind of cancer as the research is progressing rapidly and new drugs being approved regularly a cancer doctor is needed who understands your particular type of cancer.