Brandii and I received amazing news in the last few weeks. My doctor upgraded my progress from very good partial response to complete remission! Complete remission occurs when there is no detectable cancer in scans, bone marrow biopsies, and blood tests.
After my induction chemotherapy (Revlimid, Velcade, and Dexamethasone) I achieved a partial response. 100 days after my stem cell transplant, I reached a very good partial response. Finally a year after my stem cell transplant, and ongoing chemotherapy maintenance treatment (3 weeks on, 1 week off), my multiple myeloma is in complete remission. I share my progress to provide others with information. I didn’t realize that patients continue to improve even after the 100 day mark from a stem cell transplant.
Complete remission would not have been possible without the Keep Pounding Rob team. Your prayers, friendship, kindness, and support lifted my spirits and gave my strength and resolve to fight the beast known as cancer. “No one fights alone!” Thank you!
Also I want to express a huge amount of gratitude to the medical professional at Levine Cancer Institute (LCI). My entire experience at LCI has been amazing. From first being diagnosed due to a broken arm with surgery the following day to my current state of complete remission, LCI continues to provide me with expert care and support. I will post later on the extraordinary measures that LCI implemented to keep patients safe during this pandemic.
In multiple myeloma, complete remission doesn’t mean a cure. Currently, multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer. All myeloma patients live with the knowledge that we may relapse at anytime. However, we also have the encouragement and hope of new and novel treatments. When Brandii and I attended a myeloma conference last year, we were relieved to see all the treatments available to relapsed patients.
To all my fellow myeloma fighters and their caregivers “Keep Pounding!” and “Fight Like a Beast!”
Definitions:
Complete remission occurs when there is no detectable cancer in scans, bone marrow biopsies, and blood tests.
Partial response is where the patient has a greater than 50% (≥ 50%) reduction in any plasmacytoma and serum m-spike.
Very good partial response is where he patient has a greater than 90% (≥ 90%) reduction in any plasmacytoma and serum m-spike.
Keep Pounding Rob! 
Fabulous
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Thank you so much, Jan!!🙂❤🎉🎉🎉😘
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Congrats, Bob. Think about it: Your good news came in just before National Cancer Survivors Day. Perfect timing. Be well and live onward with purpose and joy. Also, many thanks for stopping by my blog today. Good to have the company!
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That’s great, Bob. I’m still in limbo. I talk to an oncologist in a month or so. My bloodwork has shown normal levels of light chains and paraproteins for at least four months now. I’ve had to go off of Velcade because it was doing some pretty severe neurological damage. I’m hoping for the best while not expecting anything definitive, because as we all know that doesn’t exist in our situation.
I am so pleased that you are in remission. Let’s hope that it’s a long one!
Roger
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Way to go, Bob. I hope you have a long and prosperous remission!
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