My friend, Richard, from our myeloma support group, is a big-time baseball fan.  He loves spring training, so he talked me into going to a game a couple of weeks ago in Dunedin, Florida.  It’s about an hour drive from my home.  The Toronto Blue Jays were playing the Minnesota Twins.  The park is very retro–a throwback to the days before most spring training ball parks had sky boxes.

Think that something as simple as how a medication is delivered can’t make a significant difference?  Wait until you read about this…

I just noticed that the first link was broken from yesterday’s post that contained links to important Myeloma Beacon columns–and several other resources about peripheral neuropathy (PN).   It is fixed if you would like more background information and helpful suggestions from past years.

Yesterday I noted how “my peripheral neuropathy (PN) is off-the-charts lately.”

Things don’t always go as well as we expect, right?

For every one comment that shows-up below an article or post run on this site, I receive between three and a dozen emails.

I have heard from a number of you via email asking, “How am I feeling?”

Consecutive M-spike nonoclonal protein readings of 0.5–and now 0.6–seem to confirm my autologous stem cell transplant failed to vanquish my multiple myeloma.

So, did you do your homework and read the articles about peripheral neuropathy (PN) I suggested yesterday?

If you have been reading my blog at all the past few weeks, you already know I have been suffering from a sudden, serious case of peripheral neuropathy (PN).

Lots to cover this morning…

I’m guessing most of you have seen one of the movie versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.  You know, the movie where aliens visit earth, using human bodies as hosts to take over the world.

This is not good news, especially for someone like me who takes a lot of Tylenol everyday to help mute my bone pain and peripheral neuropathy symptoms:

I completed my third infusioin of Velcade/dexamethasone yesterday around 3 PM.  Several hours before I was scheduled to begin, I experienced a severe pain in my left side.

Multiple myeloma news runs in cycles and streaks.  The calendar revolves around the two largest U.S. hematology and oncology conferences:  The American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) meetings in June, and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meetings in December.

Lori Puente, author of Riding The Wave – Multiple Myeloma, recently wrote an excellent overview of peripheral neuropathy from a multiple myeloma caregiver’s point of view.  She has graciously agreed to allow me to reproduce it here:

Last month I was invited to join a pre-ASH group of multiple myeloma patients who were experiencing peripheral neuropathy (PN).  I wanted to share my notes and thoughts about the almost three hour round table event with you.

My blood work is back from my three month check-up last week at Moffitt Cancer Center.  Everything looks fine.  My body continues to tolerate my maintenance regimine of 10 mg Revlimid (no dex) 14 days on and 14 days off.

August 1st, I wrote an article based on a multiple myeloma patient’s suggestion for using creatine as a supplement to help with peripheral neuropathy, hand tremors and muscle wasting: Great Advice Concerning Using Creatine As A Supplement By Multiple Myeloma Patients With Serious Peripheral Neuropathy.

Here are parts of a press release Onyx, makers of the new drug, carfilzomib, released last night at 6:00 PM: