A heart-warming story

I came home from a doctors appointment one day a few months ago and checked the voice-mail. I had a message from Dr. Cuthbert.

Dr. C was the hematologist that I was referred to 2 years ago when it was first discovered that I had MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance). He was located in Etobicoke (where my family physician is) and we decided to stick with him until the point that I needed treatment.

Dr. C is a lovely man. He is older...not sure how old...and he is from Antigua and is the consummate gentleman! So caring and compassionate, and smart. The absolute perfect doctor! During my MGUS, I had blood work drawn every 3 or 4 months. I would meet with Dr. C and he would go through the results and openly discuss what was probably happening in my body. When we got to the point, last May, where the diagnosis changed from MGUS to Smouldering Myeloma, (which means it is confirmed to be cancer, but is asymptomatic so no treatment is necessary yet), he was reluctant to do the bone marrow biopsy until he really needed to do it to save me from having to have this painful procedure more than once. That's the kind of sweet, kind man he is.

In August, when the x-rays indicated that there were bone lesions in my skull, we worked together to make some decisions regarding next steps. First, I needed to book my trip to Italy and Greece. :)

While I was away on my trip he was going to confer with some colleagues on my x-rays to ensure it was absolutely myeloma and at the point of needing treatment. Since Multiple Myeloma is not curable, and the treatment is very invasive and intense, it is best to do nothing as long as possible. There are 4 symptoms that they look for that indicate when treatment needs to begin. The acronym CRAB is used to describe them.

C is for calcium...sometimes calcium is leached out of the bones into the blood resulting in calcium rich blood or hypercalcemia. This makes the blood thick,and sluggish causing organ damage and poor circulation. I did not have this.:)

R is for renal failure. This is kidney damage. The cancerous IgG proteins and free-light chain proteins that my bone marrow was producing can cause significant damage to the kidneys, resulting in full kidney failure. I did not have any signs of kidney damage. :)

A is for anemia. I did not have any signs of this. :)

B is for bone damage or bone pain. Myeloma causes lytic lesions to form...these are small punched-out holes that form in the bones. I had evidence of several small lesions in my skull. (Yes, you can interject with myriad jokes about holes in my head.)

Because I had one of the four symptoms, it meant it was time for treatment. I was no longer smouldering...I had active multiple myeloma. :(

As I said, Dr. C was going to confer with colleagues to confirm the diagnosis and if it was active MM he would contact Juravinski to confirm that they could take me there. I did not want to lose Dr. C as my oncologist, but since he was connected with the Trillium group of hospitals, it would mean my 4 months of induction chemo would be in Brampton and the Stem Cell Transplant would be at Princess Margaret. It would be much closer for travel for me to transfer to an oncology team out of Hamilton or Niagara.

When I got back from my trip, he confirmed what we already suspected. I needed treatment, I was an excellent candidate for SCT (stem cell transplant), and Juravinski would definitely take me. I was going to miss Dr. C. He asked to be kept in the loop on my medical reports and such and told me that at any time if I was worried or concerned or had questions, he would be happy to help and was only a phone call away.

So....back to the top, and the voice mail message that he left me. He said he had been receiving reports on my progress and was aware that I was soon going to have my SCT. He said he was confident I would do well, he wished me good luck and reminded me that if I ever needed him, to just pick up the phone.

Can you imagine? This man is so busy already with his own patients, hadn't seen me in 7 or 8 months, and yet he took the time to call me just to wish me well. There are some wonderful people in this world!!!

:)