After waiting a couple weeks for my rescheduled PET scan, the results finally came in. The news wasn’t so great. The PET scan showed many new lesions throughout my bones, notably in my spine, pelvis and ribs. In multiple myeloma, lesions are created when the cancerous myeloma cells in the bone marrow cause older bone to break down faster than new bone is made. This creates bone lesions, and they can make your bones weak and break more easily. These lesions basically create a “Swiss-cheese” effect of soft spots throughout my bones that show up as tiny holes on X-rays. These holes are permanent and will never get filled up again. What this means is that my bones are increasingly fragile and can easily break or fracture. The process is usually quite painful and can lead to spinal compression, additional tumors and kidney failure.

I’ll start on a new cancer regimen after Thanksgiving. Hopefully, the treatment can slow down the cancer from progressing further and cause more damage. However, the treatment won’t eliminate or fill up these lesions. So, besides worrying about COVID or the flu, now I need to take additional precautions. Shades of the Bubble Boy!

As we head into the holidays, I’m trying to navigate how much risk I’m willing to take on in order to celebrate with friends – even if they are vaxxed, boosted, masked and often gathering outdoors. Because my friends will also be seeing and celebrating within their own circle of family and friends, this creates a somewhat dizzying ripple effect as far as staying safe from COVID, the flu and other infections. I’m also planning to keep things in check by asking my friends take antigen tests before any get-togethers.

All this is a lot to take in. There are days when it all seems unreal, especially when I’m not feeling fatigued or in pain. When I was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015, I had no obvious symptoms. At the time, it was hard to believe that this was actually happening to my body since initially there were only lab tests to indicate there was a problem. For the time being, I'm still trying to keep up with daily routines including cooking, exercising and gardening. It goes without saying. One day at a time.

I'm bolstered by all the ongoing good wishes and prayers from my friends and family. Thanks one and all.

Monterey Pines, Pudding Creek Beach, Fort Bragg, CA