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Doing a bit more research today, after a first visit to a cancer center as a prospective patient. The center and the doctor I spoke I with were both impressive, technically and humanly. And according to much of what I’ve read, I was projected to take the standard therapeutic regime of (a) 1-3 counter-MM induction drugs, (b) harvesting of stem cells, (c) heavy dose chemo to kill marrow cells, including MM cells, and (d) stem cell transplant to reintroduce my stem cells in order to graft into and repopulate the bone marrow cavities without or with drastically reduced MM. (See the link I posted a couple days ago for more specifics on drugs & chemo: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2006866-overview.)

This article boggles me, especially when they talk about life expectancy, because a cure has existed for this disease and all blood cancers for several decades. Its a harsh and dangerous treatment, but if successful it gives patients a chance at a long term life after cancer. Should it not be up to the patient to evaluate whether they would rather try to cure their disease with a bone marrow or stem cell transplant (like I did) rather than dying slowly with the “Standard Care” protocols over the short time frames discussed in this article? It is a crime not to give patients all their options, and it ought to be a law! Shame on any medical professionals that do not discuss this lifesaving option with every MM patient!

Stage 3 multiple myeloma: Life expectancy and outlook

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321048.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_country=US&utm_hcp=no&utm_campaign=MNT%20Daily%20Full%20%28non-HCP%20US%29%20-%20OLD%20STYLE%202018-02-27&utm_term=MNT%20Daily%20News%20%28non-HCP%20US%29

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects bone marrow and plasma cells. People do not usually have symptoms until they reach stage 3.