A story:

We anxiously awaited the doctor’s arrival to his office on Monday afternoon, trying to talk about anything except how nervous we felt (nervous doesn’t feel like the right word). I feel it’s helpful to the story to provide some of our perceptions of Kev’s oncologist: He tends to be on the "realist" side, which we appreciate, but occasionally hearing an optimistic word or two never really hurt anyone. He entered the office, shook our hands, and proceeded to tell us the results of Kev’s bone scan. We already knew that his bones had suffered damage as the disease went undiagnosed for some time. Hearing that his bones still looked bad immediately placed "that feeling" in our guts. I began probing the doctor for clarification and began to understand that his bones actually aren’t any worse than they were 5 months ago. Also, his bone strengthener medication can take years to rebuild damage. Okay, not so bad.

Next news: His "cancer protein" level is going back up. Slightly, but it’s not going down anymore. We need to move to transplant within the next 2 or 3 weeks. Kev and I nodded our heads numbly—okay, whatever it takes doc. The dreaded news: partial response.

Sigh. Okay, let’s get this next test over with: Biopsy (AKA, bone drilling by hand). Better get 3 probes just to make sure we get enough marrow. Prize fighter Kev took it like a champ. Nothing like getting your bones probed following some not so sunny news.

Me (following biopsy): Doc, we tend to only hear the negative at these appointments.
Doc: You actually have quite a few good markers Kevin. All of this just means stage one is done, and stage two needs to begin.
Me: When will we get the bone marrow results?
Doc: Tomorrow night. I’ll call you around 7pm.
Me: But he’s at a partial response?
Doc: Yes. Only 25-30% of patients achieve a complete response. It’s okay, we still have transplant. I expect good news from the biopsy. Let’s hope for less than 20% cancer cells.

The next night….. no phone call.

Today came. Feeling realistic about the results, knowing what we know about his protein level, we certainly were not expecting the news we received today. NO CANCER CELLS WERE FOUND. Praise the Lord God.

Kev: But what about my protein levels? This doesn’t make sense.
Doc: Myeloma will often hide, but this is very good news. Your bone marrow is functioning with normal cells again. Your urine is showing no protein output and there is a normal cellular balance in your marrow. The transplant should knock that protein level right down to zero.

This is still partial response, but it’s darn near complete!

We will be moving forward with transplant soon. I mostly likely will not blog again until after his transplant, since this begins a very busy time.

Thank you to all who think of us, and all who pray for our family. This is great news, but let us praise God also on the bad days. He takes us through the valleys so we can fully appreciate what it looks like on top of the mountain.

God Bless,
Kristin
　

Kevin is just finishing up his 6th (and hopefully last) round of chemotherapy.  He continues to tolerate the cycles very well, and I often find myself thinking that if the tables were turned and it were me going through treatments, our lives would be much more drastically altered.  I know for a fact that I would not be as strong, and I surely would do a lot more complaining.  He is such a strong guy and we are all so proud of him. 

These next couple of weeks will bring a lot more information into the game plan going forward.  Next week he begins testing to be "re-staged."  When we were diagnosed, he was at Stage 3.  After 6 treatments, he gets a new stage.  Here is where all of you come in:  Please pray pray pray that this cancer has been knocked out almost completely.   In my last update I outlined what his blood levels are showing--all good news.  His protein level, what I call "the cancer level," has gone from a 6.2 to a 1!  Amazing.  But as his doctor said, "the proof is in the pudding."  What is the pudding?  Bone marrow.  We are praying that his bone marrow comes out clean--with an undetectable amount of myeloma cells.  This does happen in a small percentage of cases (you may recall my post about the varying levels of response, "partial", "complete", "stringent complete").  Since the research shows that the level of response is directly related to the length of remission, we are so hopeful for a good response ("stringent complete" being the best). 

HOWEVER, this is just round one of the game.  There are 2 to go--the stem cell transplants.  Many people go into the transplant procedure without a complete response from chemo, and end up there following the transplant.  So all is not lost if he has only partially responded to the chemo, we still have more weapons in our arsenal.  But please pray--going into the transplant with no cancer would double down his chances of a long remission.  There is no such thing as overkill (pardon my drama). 

I will post soon after we find out the results of the re-stage (I promise, Ken :-).  There is also a possibility that, depending on the results, the doctor will recommend 2 more rounds of chemo prior to the transplant, especially since he is tolerating the chemo quite well. 

It is truly amazing that God calls each of us by name, and doesn't count us by numbers.  He calls His children to be His instruments, and for reasons that we may never know, God has called Kev and our family to a plan that He sees as fully good.  He is fully in control and He is fully good.  If He would've first asked my permission for this, I would've said, "God, okay, I trust you but I'm just not ready.  I'm not mature enough in my faith yet.  Let me grow, let me read the bible cover to cover first.  Let me learn how to be a better witness first.  Let me learn first what Jesus would do"  But I am reminded yet again that God uses us just where we are and just how we are.  I wasn't and am still not ready for this.  I can only keep praying that God equips me with the strength to continue to glorify Him and the strength to keep going--whatever His will may be. 

Thank you everyone.  God Bless!

Kristin