Multiple myeloma: Cancer in plasma cells

I urge all of you to have blood work done at least once per year.  Our general practitioner insists on drawing blood yearly.  He was the one that caught Dom's cancer!

Nan

Multiple myeloma also known as plasma cell myeloma is a kind of cancer that begins in the plasma cells. Plasma cells are types of white blood cells and are responsible for producing antibodies, which help in protecting the body from germs and harmful substances. These cells are produced in the bone marrow. “In the case of multiple myeloma, these plasma cells are produced in a large number in the bone marrow. They are then circulated through peripheral circulation. This is how it comes into the general blood circulation,” explains Dr Ajay Kumar Jha, MD, DM Consultant Haematologist, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Bhaktapur.

No early symptoms 

Multiple myeloma is a disorder of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Smouldering myeloma, which is the first stage of multiple myeloma, is usually asymptomatic. There are usually no signs and symptoms during this stage. People diagnosed with smouldering myeloma aren’t given any treatment. It is usually a wait-and-watch situation, as per the doctor.

Multiple myeloma is usually seen in elderly people, usually around the ages of 70/80 years. It can also occur in younger age groups such as 30-40 years. “There is no specific reason for the occurrence in young ages as such but the cases of multiple myeloma are also reported in young people,” adds Dr Jha.

In addition, the exact cause of multiple myeloma is not yet known.
Bleeding, low count of platelets, anaemia and infection such as pneumonia can be seen in the patients during the later stages. Many people have complaints of bone and back pain. “This is why many patients usually visit orthopaedics in the beginning,” reveals the doctor.

The pain in bones, back pain, fracture of spine and long bones are some of the other symptoms visible in patients. There could be a radiating pain in the patients. “The pain in the back usually spreads to the thigh and legs,” informs Dr Jha.

Along with the problems in bones, some of the patients also show symptoms such as tingling sensation and numbness. This is why before visiting a haematologist many patients go to neurologists in the beginning, as per the doctor.

Multiple myeloma can occur in patients with renal failure. Some other signs of the disease include bone tenderness, weakness, hypercalcemia — increased calcium level in blood. Some of the people even can have an obstruction in excretion and urination.

JUMP

A Wild Few Weeks

I headed solo to PCB a few weeks ago.  Wanted to get home for Dom's 71st birthday last Thursday.

The weather became horrid.  Serious rain all up and down the Florida/Alabama coast.

So, held off.... waiting for the weather to clear.  Luckily, The LIQ is right across the street.

Meanwhile, the Double Red Flags were flying.  "STAY OUT OF THE WATER-dangerous rip-tides".

They pulled about 8 people out of the water.  I know of at least one individual who drowned.

On Thursday, a rescuer went out and saved someone.  He went out a second time....and drowned.

Sad, sad, sad.

Anyway, the new plan was to return home on Friday.  NOPE.  The weather moved into our area in MS. and LA.  Massive flooding, street closures, businesses closed.

I was stranded on the beach until Saturday morning.

A wonderful place opened next to the condo.  The Emerald Cafe.  They don't have a website or Facebook page yet, but they are GREAT.

I ended up having 2 Club sandwiches. On Friday, I had a Double Angus Cheeseburger....12 oz.  OMG!   It's my new favorite place.

Things are getting back to normal here.  Still raining like hell, but we're high and dry.

Mama Raccoon continues to bring her 3 little ones every afternoon.  Adorable!

Hope that all is well with you guys!

Great News!

Met with Slidell Oncologist this morning.

Bone Marrow Biopsy reading was 0.2 !!!!!!!  Apparently, much more definitive than blood work.

We're absolutely tickled!  Thank you all for the kind words and prayers.

Hot Stuffed Banana Pepper Pasta

We have a never-ending supply of both mild and hot banana peppers.  I made this yesterday for Dom's 7th "birthday".  It was a pain in the neck stuffing the peppers, but worth it. Delicious.  Very flavorful.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb sweet Italian sausage
2 T olive oil
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
12 banana peppers, cleaned of seeds and ribs
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
½ pound pasta cooked
grated cheese (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spray your baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
Stuff your banana peppers with the sausage. If the sausage is in casings, take them off to stuff the peppers. If you have left over sausage, shape into small meatball bites.
Slice the banana peppers in a few pieces and make sure the sausage is in every piece if possible.
Add your stuffed peppers, excess sausage, tomatoes, spices and olive oil to your baking dish and toss so that everything is mixed well.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the sausage is fully cooked.
In the meantime cook your pasta.
Once the peppers are baked, add to your cooked pasta and serve with grated cheese if you wish.
Also delicious over zucchini noodles if you are gluten free or Paleo.
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Tomorrow morning, we're off to Slidell to meet with our Oncologist to discuss the recent bone marrow biopsy.

LINK

An Update on Our Patient and Dinner Tonight

All is OK here.  Had a relaxing Saturday.  Tomorrow is Dom's "7th Birthday".  

We go to the Slidell oncologist on Tuesday to discuss his bone marrow biopsy.

Made a KILLER dinner tonite.  Cheesy/garlic/butter baby potatoes with a store-prepared Chicken Cordon Bleu.  This rocked!

Drizzle with garlic butter, add green onions and banana peppers.  (had 'em from the garden)

Top with SWISS

Sharp Cheddar  (what I had in the fridge)

FINISHED

 

Boil your potatoes for about 15 minutes until easily pierced with a fork.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

Melt a mess (almost a stick of butter here) and add a lot of minced garlic.

Use the back of a fork to squash the potatoes slightly. You don't want to crush them, just break the skins open so the butter can ooze in.

Dump your butter and garlic over them.

I topped with sliced scallions and banana peppers.  Topped with swiss and cheddar.

Back in the oven for about 15 minutes.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!