Chris' Myeloma Blog http://myelomapath.com My Journey Through Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:14:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Dr. Ellis http://myelomapath.com/?p=255 http://myelomapath.com/?p=255#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:14:43 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=255 I just found out that my Oncologist, Dr. Mark Ellis passed away yesterday (Saturday) morning. Dr. Ellis was one of the first people Debbie and I met in March of 2006, when I was first diagnosed with Myeloma. Dr. Ellis and his entire office, went to work immediately to prepare me for the fight and give Debbie and I the love and support we would so desperately need in the following months and years.
I didn’t know at first that Dr. Ellis had his own battles with Cancer, yet he always seemed to give you 100% of his attention and energy when you had an appointment with him. There are so many who loved Dr. Ellis; not only for the help and support he gave them, but for the genuine and compassionate person he always was.
So my friend, I send you my blessings as you travel to your new home. You worked so hard, and helped so many. You may take your rest sir. You have earned it like few others have.
Godspeed
]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=255 2 Zippidy Doo Daa, Zip A Dee Ay http://myelomapath.com/?p=248 http://myelomapath.com/?p=248#comments Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:51:39 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=248 My oh my what a wonderful day!

Over the last couple of weeks, I had a couple of little lumps biopsied and major blood work to check the status of my health. I got exciting news this morning. Biopsies negative, and blood work shows no traces of cancer. Complete remission!!!!!

God IS good. :-)

As always; thanks to all for all of your prayers and well wishes. If you are a fellow warrior, always remember to keep fighting.

]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=248 3 Much Needed Update http://myelomapath.com/?p=239 http://myelomapath.com/?p=239#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:37:09 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=239 It’s been a while since I’ve posted here because not much has been happening.

As of right now, my blood work is looking good and I am taking Thalidomide. The Thalidomide is to control the tumors that have been left behind after my transplant. No one seems to know why I still have these tumors, but they exist. I am alive and pretty healthy, so I can’t complain. Oh yeah, my hair is curly now!

]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=239 5 Pills Pills Pills! http://myelomapath.com/?p=237 http://myelomapath.com/?p=237#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:53:03 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=237 I’m going back to work next week and I got my new game plan for the doctors today. All of my blood work post transplant looks great, but I have developed several tumor like bumps on my arms and left leg. The biopsy was inconclusive, so we are going to treat it with a drug that I took a couple of years ago. The doctors are hoping that this drug will help my immune system fight off these tumors. I hope so, because I’m not looking forward to the alternatives :-) .

All will be well. I’m looking forward to a paycheck again!

]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=237 1 Questions http://myelomapath.com/?p=234 http://myelomapath.com/?p=234#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:48:55 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=234 Things have been coming along fine and my strength is returning daily. I’m supposed to be returning to work on Sept 21st, but I’m not sure how effective I will be yet. I go tomorrow for a bone marrow biopsy, and next week I will see the doctor one last time before I go back to work to make sure I have the green light.

I do have a couple of weird things going on that are puzzling my medical team. I seem to be re-growing some of my tumors. We’re hoping that these things are just inflammation and not a relapse of my cancer, because that would suck :-) . All should be fine though.

Oh yeah; I’m getting some hairs on my head! I’m starting to re-grow my facial hair too.

]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=234 1 Transplant Update http://myelomapath.com/?p=231 http://myelomapath.com/?p=231#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:17:18 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=231 My apologies for the sporadic updates lately. I’ve been going through a time of physical and spiritual turbulence. Nothing huge, just enough to keep me distracted. Overall, my progress has been fantastic. There are still alot of things I can’t do, but I can drive, which is way cool!

Here is a basic otline of what I experienced since I went in for my transplant.

  • July 15th 2009 I was admitted to MCV in the morning and I got a massive dose of melphalan to destroy my cancer.
  • July 17th 2009 I got my new stem cells. The D.M.S.O. they store the cells in stinks and I smelled like that funk for days. I also slept for almost three days.
  • The week of July 20th was a week that I didn’t feel too well. Everything tasted like crap and I spent my time just getting by.
  • July 29th 2009 I was released from the hospital. 2 weeks after admission.. Awesome!

Since then, I’ve been going to the hospital on a regular schedule. My progress has been excellent and I’m slowly beginning to feel ‘normal’.

]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=231 3 Coming Out of Hibernation http://myelomapath.com/?p=224 http://myelomapath.com/?p=224#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:19:31 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=224 Wednesday will make the two week point in my hospital stay. I must say that the doctors and staff here at the MCV bone marrow transplant have been excellent. At no point in my stay have I ever felt that I had substandard care.

Now for the great news! Dr. Chung told me this morning that if all continues as is, I will be discharged on Thursday or Friday. :-) I know that God has been working overtime answering all of your prayers. Thanks to God, and thanks to all of my family and friends.

]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=224 8 Reality Strikes http://myelomapath.com/?p=220 http://myelomapath.com/?p=220#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:43:29 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=220 Sorry I disappeared over the weekend, but the mule kicked on Friday and I haven’t even begun to feel like myself until this morning. It’s 11:30 and I’m still awake!

I’m sure hoping that I’ve turned the corner, because I sure don’t want to feel like I did this weekend anymore.

Enough whining :-) . I am feeling better today, and thanks to all of you who have been supporting and praying for me all through this.

God Bless you all.

]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=220 7 My New Birthday. Day Zero http://myelomapath.com/?p=218 http://myelomapath.com/?p=218#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:20:59 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=218 Today, I will be experiencing a new birth of sorts. I will get my brand new immune system this afternoon. All should go well in my new beginning.

]]> http://myelomapath.com/?feed=rss2&p=218 2 The Lingo http://myelomapath.com/?p=215 http://myelomapath.com/?p=215#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:41:34 +0000 Chris VanHonk http://myelomapath.com/?p=215 Okay, today is my second day in the hospital and I am using terms like day -2, day -1, etc.. Here is what they told me.

Day zero is the day they give me my new immune system by giving me my stem cells back. That day will be tomorrow. Today is day -1, and yesterday was day -2. Tomorrow will be day zero. Saturday will be day 1, and Sunday day 2, etc. I hope that helps.

  • Wednesday July 15th = day -2
  • Thursday July 16th = day -1
  • Friday July 17th = day 0 (get my stem cells)
  • Saturday July 18th = day 1 etc. etc

I’m feeling pretty good so far. I’m taking the pictures of myself daily to track how this process will be changing my body. Thanks to all for the wonderful support and prayers!

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