Slowly But Surely

Nothing too exciting to report from here. Just following doctor's orders and behaving myself. I'm taking a lot of medicines each day but they're mostly maintenance drugs and such, no chemotherapy medicines at the moment.

Appetite is making a return, thankfully, as well as my sense of taste. It's always a good thing to be able to taste what one is stuffing one's face with, right. I haven't weighed myself lately, but I'm certain the weight is coming back on these old bones. Can't say the same for my hair! Still shiny up top! All in due time.

That's it for now!

62 Months: Parents

I talk to my parents pretty frequently these days. Mostly, we're on the phone because we live rather far apart. They've been helping me a lot more than they should have to; I'm a grown man with kids of my own. But I guess that's what parents do.

I feel sorry for my parents, having to deal with one of their kids fighting cancer. I know how I'd feel if one of mine got sick. The worst part of this whole cancer ordeal for me has been telling my parents all the details.

They're great people.

62 Months: So what the hell is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple Myeloma. It's cancer.

Basically it's blood cancer. It's funny that so few people I know ever even heard of it, as it is the second most common blood cancer behind non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of your plasma cells, a type of white blood cell present in your bone marrow. Plasma cells normally make proteins called antibodies to help you fight infections.

In multiple myeloma, a group of plasma cells (myeloma cells) becomes cancerous and multiplies, raising the number of plasma cells to a higher than normal level. Since these cells normally make proteins (antibodies), the level of abnormal proteins in your blood also may go up. Health problems caused by multiple myeloma can affect your bones, immune system, kidneys and red blood cell count.

It's not the easiest disease to explain, as I've found out. Usually people take my answer, "It's blood cancer," at face value. But if they press, I start stumbling around with more info. Not good.

One of my closest friends heard my diagnosis and went home and started emailing me info on MELANOMA. But we let that one slide. Another lady told me she had multiple sclerosis too, so if I had any questions, I could ask her.

It's not the most well-known disease, at least in my circles.

I'd like to work on changing that.

62 Months: Movies

I've got a lot of time on my hands now, at least for a while. There's not a lot that I'm permitted to do, so I sit around for a few hours each day looking for movies to watch on TV. I've got the DVR, so when I find pictures I'd like to see, I record them. I've been building a collection of some of my all-time favorites, and when the occasional "blues" hit me, I load up one of my go-to flicks to relax with.

Here are some of the films I consider my favorites:

Apollo 13 never fails to lift the spirits. It's worth the time just to see the ending alone!

Great Story. GREAT story. This one makes you believe in miracles.

I love this movie. Kinda old-fashioned romance story. Makes you feel like there is love out there somewhere, right? And lord knows I'm such an Alyssa Milano groupie.

OK, maybe not what you'd consider a cheer-up movie, but man it's still fun to watch.

If you've not had the chance to watch this Beatles documentary, it's such a great tribute to George Harrison. Good for the spirits, for sure.

This one puts a smile on my face every time. Not usually my style, but there is some serious talent on display in this flick.

Good for some real belly laughs. This movie has some funny people in it. Alyssa Milano and Nicky Whelan are part of the cast. That's worth the price of admission.

Well that's not all of them, but I don't want to push my luck here. I'd love to hear some of your favorites. Maybe I could add a few of them to my list.

April Already

I'm feeling a lot more like myself lately, but it still comes and goes. I'm having good days, great days, not so great and just flat-out bad days. I'm lucky in one respect: while I don't speak to the doctor often, when I do, he listens, empathizes and provides remedies or relief.

My only problems are mostly to be expected. I have a low hemoglobin count, as well as a low red blood cell count. My white count is still low as well, but these numbers haven't had the time to make a comeback. I'm the type of guy, if you tell me that my problems are part of the process and I just have to deal with them, that's what I do. I take my medicines and suck it up. The good thing about my doctor is, he relieves what it's possible to relieve, but tells me what can't be relieved. Make sense?

Got a new hat from my friend Cassie. I have another one around here somewhere, so when I find it I'll share a pic of that one too. Not easy finding "Multiple Myeloma Awareness" gear actually. Breast cancer stuff has become a cottage industry, but MM still needs some work. Maybe when I'm better.

Appetite is coming back. Slowly but surely. That means there's potential for a food shortage on the East Coast.

Helping others

During my little war with cancer, I've experienced a lot of kindness, from friends, family and complete strangers. I couldn't have come this far without it.

I thought it time to pay it forward.

A good friend has a story I'll share below:

"I would like to nominate my sons, Michael and Joseph Pizzurro who are 29 and 26 years old. Mike and Joe were diagnosed with a debilitating nerve disease called giant axonal neuropathy. They reached their normal milestones as toddlers but were diagnosed with GAN when they were 8 and 5 years old. Mike and Joe exemplify what a true hero really means. They both have been through many hospitalizations and GAN has taken much function away from them. They are both mentally intact. They both are on full-time ventilators which help them breathe, eat via a g-tube for nourishment and can now only move their heads. They can no longer drive their wheelchairs. My husband and I, as well as several caregivers assist Mike and Joe with all of their activities of daily living. These young men are very brave. Even though they wish they could be “normal” they are very happy to be alive and part of the family. Mike and Joe can use a new van. The van would be used for their medical appointments and also their recreational activities. Mike and Joe have inspired their sisters to become nurses. These two young men face challenges every day and have inspired many people in their community. They always want to help others and make others happy. I am very proud of these two young men and they are my true heroes."

Please click the link below and vote every day?

Vote for Mike & Joe Pizzurro - Tampa, FL in the 2013 National Mobility Awareness Month Local Hero contest!

Well Ain't That Boring

Somehow I felt this transplant process was going to require some heroic effort on my part. I've really not had a lot of horrible stuff to deal with.

I checked into the hospital on Day -1 and had a class to sit through. That afternoon they placed a PICC line and that was it. On Day 0 I was given a dose of Melphalan. That chemo wiped out as much cancer as possible, but took the bone marrow with it.

They then infused me with my own stem cells to start building new blood and bone marrow. And that was it! I've been coming to the Cancer Center each day. I spend about 8 hours a day getting IV medicines and fluids to keep me on the mend. But that's it. That's all I do.

I'm not suffering too much, if at all. It's like experiencing a bad flu. I'm fatigued, but I sleep well. My taste buds are shot, so my appetite is a little weak. That won't be a lasting problem. I like food too much.

I'm 6'4" and 218 pounds. Height won't change, weight will. Trust me. I have an appointment with a large pizza when I get home to my kids.

Onward and upward.