Earlier this week I met with my new Kaiser oncologist Dr. Michael Green who specializes in multiple myeloma. We had an hour video consultation in which we discussed my medical situation as well as just getting to know each other a bit. I’ve heard Green lecture in the past, and he knows his stuff. Over the past week, he had already answered many of my questions during several text chats before we “met” on video.

My cancer is definitely on the move. Green is also concerned that my recent left shoulder pain is likely a sign of bone lesions from the advancing cancer. I hadn't realized that about 25% of myeloma patients have shoulder involvement. He and I discussed balancing different therapies and quality of life issues. A second transplant might not be worth all that I’d need to go through. Second transplants typically only get a person half the benefit of the first transplant, and pretty much the first year is spent in isolation. The other treatment option is one of several new chemo drugs. He’s prioritized which drugs to start me on depending on the results of upcoming tests. In the meantime, he’s all for my taking little trips when I can. He's given me the green light to go off to Palm Springs, and later to Santa Fe as long as I'm being cautious and minimizing my risks for COVID. After I get back from Palm Springs, I'll have a bone marrow biopsy and a PET-scan to assess the spread of the cancer. Those results will determine which of many chemos to start on right after getting back from Santa Fe. Once I start on chemo, I'll need to curtail a lot of my activities and interactions due to the high risk of infection. Back to being the bubble man and the world of Zoom!

I’m going to miss working with Dr. Mala Reddy who has been my oncologist since I was diagnosed over seven years ago. She's been the right combination of knowledgeable, forthcoming and compassionate. I especially remember how present she was with both Tim and I as we went through our cancers. Reddy is now focusing more on breast cancer, so she's handing my care over to Green whom she's frequently consulted with about my myeloma.

In the meantime... I'm off to the desert!

This was the opening exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art in D.C., 2006.