Dean P. Demos

Okay. Patty and I saw my oncologist, Dr. Goldklang, today. He said the rise in my kappa light-chain number is a warning that myelome is trying to rev up. So, he is sending me back to my stem-cell transplant Dr. for consultation and testing. Dr. G. wants me to have a petscan and possibly a bone-marrow biopsy to clarify what my plasma cells are doing.

So, we wait for an appointment with Dr. Scott Solomon. I am blessed to be close to the Blood and Marrow Transplant Center at Northside Hospital and their physicians who have one of the world’s best survival rates for transplants. Also possible is that Revlimid, the medicine I’ve been taking since 2012, may be losing its effectiveness. In that case, there are other approved medicines to replace it to maintain my remission.

I am not fearful. “The Lord is my Shepherd and I lack NOTHING.”

Thanks for your prayers. I just want to be faithful and be used of God.

Also, Patty wants me to stay around.

My oncologist, Dr.. Gerald Goldklang, has my blood drawn beforehand and sent to the lab so he can look at my results when he sees me. Today is the day I see him. I’m taking Patty because one category of my numbers is up. Really up. It could mean a myeloma relapse. I will give a report after we talk.

I have noticed a decline in the way I feel recently. One possibility is that the medicine I have been taking since November of 2012 is starting to lose its effectiveness. The good news is that the FDA has approved several treatment drugs that can take the baton hand-off from Revlimid. So, we shall see what he says.

My life is fully dedicated to prayer, serving the ones I love, and just trying to give support and love to those who need it … family, neighbors, acquaintances, anybody I come in contact with. Any strength God gives me is applied in that way.

As David said, “I will fear NO EVIL; for Thou art with me.”