March 26, 2015.. I got some good news from the doctor today and got some disappointing news. I will explain the disappointing news first. We were told last November if I was doing as well when I returned to UAMS this month, he would take me off treatment. Today he said I should stay on the same treatment as I have been getting. The treatments are a combination of Thalidamide, Kyprolis and Dexamethazone. That means I will be getting 2 treatments a week during 3 weeks out of each month. I have been on this schedule since last June. He said I am smoldering now and the treatments are keeping me that way.  I don't disagree but I am very disappointed since we had planned a 6 week trip out west starting in late April. The treatments will eliminate any possibility of taking that trip or any long trip. 

The good news was he said he was pleased with how I am doing on the treatments and I am stable. In his written diagnosis, he stated I am in very good partial remission.

I will have to change from the doctor I have been seeing during this past year to another doctor since he is taking over other responsibilities and will not be seeing patients. I am changing to Dr Frits Van Rhee. He has been with UAMS/MIRT and treating myeloma for a long time compared to most of the other doctors at MIRT. 

We were saddened to hear a myeloma patient we had seen many times when we are here, especially when we were here for three and a half months, has passed away. She was only 42 years old and was from Austria. 

The doctor told me there are some new drugs coming soon for myeloma. They are antibody drugs and work totally different than what is available today. He thinks one of them will be available in about one year. 

We leave to come home tomorrow. We plan to take our time and arrive home tomorrow night sometime. I will make another post sometime after we get home.