We got the results of the PET scan today and got punched in the stomach again. The PET scan was lit up pretty good. It showed 7 areas of activity: 2 areas of the spine, the T3 on the right and L5; the right scapula; the 6th rib on the right side; the sacroiliac joint; the right sacrum; and posterior sacroiliac. I would've been pretty surprised if nothing showed up, but wasn't quite ready for all of that! With all that said, we still aren't sure of the treatment. We have an appointment Tuesday with my radiation oncologist and hopefully he can treat all the lower back/hip stuff (sacroiliac joint, right sacrum, posterior sacroiliac). No wonder I was hurting so much down there! We go back to St. Louis Friday the 5th to meet with the doctor and discuss treatments. We anticipate I'll start with some kind of chemo to try and get things under control, but we'll see what the doctor says.

I'm not really sure what else to say. We were really looking forward to a boring 2010, but it looks like I have some work to do. I'll just do what I need to do and keep a smile on my face. When we find out more I'll let you know.

So it looks like the adventure's going to continue. I got the results of the bone marrow biopsy yesterday, and my M-Protein was elevated, higher than when I was originally diagnosed. What that means is that the doctors believe the myeloma is still active. It also means that I'm not a candidate for a second stem cell transplant, but that's not too disappointing! I was scheduled for a PET scan Friday, but the machine broke and I'm now scheduled for Wednesday. The PET scan should show any areas the myeloma's active in, and will hopefully show what's going on with my hip/back.
That's all we really know right now. We need to wait for more test results before determining any course of treatment. Other than the hip/back thing I feel really good, so I don't anticipate any problems with treatment, I'm just ready to be done with the pain and discomfort.
Though this obviously wasn't the news we wanted, I remain positive. I'll keep fighting and keep you informed of any new test results and updates.

I went to St. Louis yesterday for my 100 day checkup. I had lab work, visited with the doctor, then had a bone marrow biopsy. Everything went fine and it will be about a week before I get results from the biopsy.
I've been experiencing some back and hip pain again the last several weeks. I had a skeletal survey (x-ray of every bone in the body) and an MRI of the entire spine recently and both came back clean. The doctors don't think it's cancer related, rather avascular necrosis or micro fractures. Avascular necrosis is a disease most prominently of the hip where the bone in the joint dies due to lack of blood flow, and can be advanced from chemo, radiation and steroids, all of which I've had. The micro fractures could've come from weakened bones caused pretty much by the same treatments.
I'll probably get a PET scan pretty soon to try and pinpoint the cause of the pain, and if that doesn't show anything probably an MRI of the hip area. I'm ready to be pain free for a while, oh, and while I'm at it, maybe cancer free too!