Multiple Myeloma Genome Unlocked

A fellow myeloma forum member once said "it's a good time to have multiple myeloma", in reference to the rapid pace of discoveries about the disease and what makes it tick. Case in point - the MM genome has been unlocked. Hopefully this will lead to more effective and individualized treatments, and possibly a cure down the road. I find comfort in my faith in science and medicine, and am confident several new options will be available when this disease progresses. Good news for anyone with MM.

In other news, it's been a busy week. I attended an intensive Cisco A+ Essentials Skills training and passed with flying colours. Now for the A+ Certification exam. Yep, I'm a geek. And speaking of which, someone took footage from Star Wars and created a Han Solo PI video, as a tribute (or sorts) to Magnum PI. Here's a side-by-side comparison. I think it's pretty impressive.

Results Day

I met with my doctor today and all is well! No bone lesions, kidneys are functioning normally and blood numbers are excellent. The doctor said the MM is still indolent and has stretched the time until my next appointment. However...

My x-ray results show compression of the C3 vertebrae, and there is an indication I'k suffering from spina bifida. This was news to me and my doctor. Because I had the x-rays taken at my local hospital (instead of the one I travel to for the oncology appointments), my doctor insisted the x-rays be re-interpreted. I can't help but think mine were mixed up with someone else's.

All in all, good news! Must say I feel a bit odd to have started a cancer blog when I'm still at stage I, not that I'm complaining.

In other news... As some of you might know, my wife and I went to NYC this July and had a fantastic trip. I took a pile of videos and photos, most of which I posted on facebook. Here's the first video I took, on our way from the airport to our hotel. Listen closely.

Fight Myeloma Podcast

I stumbled across a podast called Fight Myeloma on iTunes this evening. It's from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, and features info on wellness, patient stories and myeloma basics. You can access the podcast on the Hunstman Cancer Institute website, or from iTunes.

Need a Laugh?

Need a smile, laugh or distraction from thoughts of cancer - or life in general for that matter? Check out Awkward Family Photos. You might even want to submit one of your own... or not. Here's a preview, and you're welcome.

Back Home & Back to Reality

I am still buzzing from my trip to NYC. What energy, flow, buildings, warmth, crowds, fun and noise! My wife and I had a great time, loved the 2 musicals and 1 play we saw (I highly recommend God of Carnage), and The Late Show with David Letterman was fun. I got my photos taken with Rupert and Biff Henderson, which was quite a thrill, being a long-time fan. We had a good mix of seeing tourist attractions and just hanging out and absorbing the New York experience. We had a great tour or Greenwich Village and Soho, which focused on rock & roll landmarks such as Cafe Wha?, the site of the famed CBGB's and Electric Lady Studios (thanks, Shawn!). We will definitely be going back. Inspired, I took hundreds of photos and video, uploading them to Facebook to share with family and friends. Seems I've inspired a few to take their own trip to the Big Apple!

The trip made me forget about my cancer, which was one of the best parts. I have more blood tests and another skeletal survey today with results later this month. The trip was both a great distraction and a ton of fun. I'm leaving it on my bucket list, however. We will definitely be going back!

PARP Inhibitors - New Hope for Treating Cancer?

One of the great difficulties in treating cancer is controlling the reproductions of cancer cells and getting them to die. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells don't have natural lifespan. They grow and spread in an effort to survive much to a cancer patient's dismay. They also ignore the body's chemical message regulating cell reproduction and growth. Luckily, science is paving the way for better treatments for myeloma and other cancers.

I ran across a blog posting on PARP inhibitors and their role in inhibiting malignant cell reproduction and even inducing apoptosis (death) of cancer cells. As opposed to chemotherapy which ravages one's entire body, PARP is used as a focused molecular therapy. As my doctor puts it, many present treatment options are equivalent to using an atom bomb to kill a mouse. New ones use a BB gun to kill the mouse. Although the studies have focused on breast cancer, they may offer hope in treating a variety of cancers. From a website I visited, "studies suggest the drugs selectively inhibit cell proliferation and are active against a broad range of tumor types." This is crucial in treating myeloma and other cancerous cells - cancer cells are cellular reproduction gone haywire. They don't die like normal cells, hence the increase of plasma cell numbers in bone marrow.

A PARP article in the New England Journal of Medicine article also offers hope, and suggests the present procedures involving clinical trials need to be reviewed. This may lead to greater and faster access to new drugs.

Hope indeed. Oh, and no mice were harmed during the posting of this blog message.

Star Trek Meets Monty Python

As readers of this blog and come to know (and as some have come to appreciate), I enjoy posting the occasional fun/odd video I find on the Internets. I found the following this morning and thought I'd share, being a huge fan of Star Trek and Monty Python. Always good to have a laugh or a smile sometimes! Hope you enjoy this.

New York City Here We Come!

It's time for the big NYC trip! My wife and I have been planning this for weeks and we finally leave this Sunday for 5 days in the Big Apple. On the agenda:

• Late Show with David Letterman taping (I am thrilled about this.)
• Broadway: Rock of Ages, God of Carnage and possibly Mamma Mia!
• A "Real New York Tour" through downtown NYC with a stop at Ground Zero.
• Walks through Chinatown, Soho, Greenwich Village and Central Park.
• Visit to the American Museum of Natural History, the South Street Seaport Bodies exhibition, the Apple Store on 5th Ave (I'm a recent Mac convert).
• Shows at the Iridium Jazz Club (Les Paul and surprise guest) and the Comedy Cellar.
• Staten Island Ferry trip.
• Views from the top of the Empire State Building and the Rockafeller Center.
• Lots of great food in well-researched eateries, and of course, a slice of cheese pizza.
• More to be determined, including some down time to just take it all in.

I am fortunate to feel well enough to take this trip, and plan to enjoy every minute. Although I still do not need to begin treatments, some aches and pains have me a bit paranoid - but they are not slowing me down. I have blood tests and a skeletal survey scheduled for the Monday after our return, and I learn the results at my oncologist appointment on July 23rd. Here's to hoping supplements and exercise can keep this disease at bay for a while yet.