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Writer's pictureBrad Hanson

Sobering Facts of Life




Some years ago, my Father began to display the first effects of Alzheimer's including the tell-tale signs of confusion and forgetfulness. Recently, my oldest brother died from complications from frontal lobe Dementia. I often ponder what it must have been like to watch your body fail before your very eyes and know that you can do nothing to impede its progress.


I find myself staring squarely at this eventuality myself. After a recent trip to MD Anderson including a full body MRI and "fun" blood work, the results show that I have bone involvement. However, my blood work spoke a different story and my markers now show progression to Stage 1 Multiple Myeloma. The concern I have for my future pails in comparison to what my father and brother experienced as they watched their mental faculties slowly escape their grasp.

the title of this blog is "Living Through Cancer" after all so I intent to write about living my way through treatment and the inevitable side effects that surly will come my way

I am told that we caught this transition to Stage 1 as early was possible, only because we watched and waited for this eventuality. Blood tests every few months by my many doctors watched the steady climbing of the Myeloma markers as my body slowly marched into treatment.


Do not feel sorrow or pitty for me! The title of this blog is "Living Through Cancer" after all so I intent to write about living my way through treatment and the inevitable side effects that surly will come my way. My prognosis is excellent having no bone involvement or other medical conditions that could complicate coming out on the side with my cancer in hibernation.


Today, Multiple Myeloma is incurable but new novel drug therapies are being approved by the FDA every year and I plan to be involved as a patient advocate helping people cope with the emotional carnage newly diagnosed patients experience every day. Advocasy can also mean working with doctors and drug companies ensuring the patient voice and experience is considered through the development and trials for new therapies.


God is bigger than Cancer and He will see me through my trials.

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