Surviving & Thriving from Cancer/ Multiple Myeloma

12/14/2025

Fighting Cancer: I never said it would be easy...but it is worth it! Never ever give up. Surround yourself with top oncologists who specialize with your specific cancer. If those doctors cannot give you an answer, find one that will.

Get a second or third opinion if needed. Make sure you feel the protocol is giving you the best chance.

Record your doctor visits and share with your loved ones.

Your job is to have faith...stay positive...envision you are replacing those cancers cells with perfectly healthy new cells as God intended.

Look around and remind yourself daily of all the things you are grateful for in your life....no matter how small those things maybe.

This maybe the best chance you have so do it with love and determination. You are a warrior.

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05/13/2025

My aim is to inspire everyone to take control of their health on this site. I'm committed to ensuring that everyone makes the best choices for their well-being. We're facing a critical situation where Medicaid is facing cuts, including Obamacare. Seven million six hundred thousand people who have insurance through the Affordable Health Care Act may lose healthcare under Medicaid. It's essential to recognize that being critically ill is only part of the challenge; being ill without insurance can be catastrophic. If people lose insurance and need hospital care, emergency room visits, or life-saving surgery, the hospital may or may not provide it, and those who can't pay may face financial ruin. Does this truly align with our vision of a healthy America? If you or a loved one is affected, I urge you to reach out to your congressman or woman and make your voice heard. This isn't about giving away healthcare; it's about making it accessible and affordable for all Americans who qualify and want health insurance.

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01/28/2025

Insurance today is critical!
According to the National Health Insurance
"Thirty-four percent reported that they or someone in the family had gone into debt because of cancer, and 3 percent said that they or their families had filed for bankruptcy as a result of cancer. Forty percent reported making other financial sacrifices."

I know I had a good Humana policy but when a had a rare life threatening cancer, my policy deductibles and my drugs were very expensive. My insurance just didn't cover everything. I couldn't work because the cancer was eating my bones and I was in a "coffin" of pain. I had to "rest" every afternoon for 3 to 4 hours. Chemo was brutal.

The point is, while I kept up my insurance payments, my insurance didn't pay for everything and I qualified for and used medicaid to assist with the additional bills. I didn't collect any other benefits although I am sure I would have qualified. Now medicaid is being stopped by the incoming president. It is not a problem for anyone who does not need it. If you had told me 1 year before I was diagnosed with cancer I would be needing and using medicaid, I would have said no not me. The point is there are some programs that are in place for a reason.

Likewise I have said this before ,but if you are on Medicare, do not use Medicare Advantage. Yes there is an advatage when you are HEALTHY. However, if If you get cancer and need the very best physicians and specialists, they will not take anyone with Medicare Advantage. The only thing worse than having cancer is having it and not being able to see the best doctors because your physician won't recommend them or they are out of your network. This is another reason why 34% of the people who have cancer go into debt. Do not self insure. Get the best policy you can and act as if your life depends on it.

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12/06/2024

This is taken from The New York Times Reed Abelson who writes about Health. This is critically important regarding receiving the best care and having the confidence you will have coverage,

"UnitedHealthcare and other insurers have been the subject of scrutiny over denial rates in their private Medicare Advantage plans. Last fall, the majority staff of a Senate panel released a scathing report on insurers’ refusal to pay for care for older people who have suffered falls or strokes. UnitedHealthcare, in particular, was cited for a surge in denials for what is called post-acute care. Under United’s system of prior authorization, the report found, the denial rate for post-acute care increased to 22.7 percent in 2022 from 10.9 percent in 2020."

With this Medicare Advantage Plan you could be denied care or pay personally for your huge hospital and doctor fees. These medical expenses can result in personal bankruptcy.

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06/19/2024

I received a phone call from a co-worker in my daughter's office who was upset about her friend suffering from cancer. It had metastasized and causing her a lot of pain. She wasn't tolerating morphine. I explained that some cancer centers may in fact have pain specialists who treat northing but pain. I had one years ago and she only dealt with cancer patients. We talked about Oxycodone as pain relief. However Oxycodone lasts approximately 4 to 6 hours and you have to time it right so you do not suffer the consequences of breakthrough pain. Tramadol is not as strong and has has been referred to as a non- narcotic narcotic. This mean it can be taken for a longer period of time without the same withdrawal sysptoms and feeling of addiction that you can get after taking oxycodone for a long period of time.

These decisions should be reviewed with a pain specialist or doctor who treats cancer patients. In addition, there are other things that can help supplement your recovery. I found this on the Mayo website and have used several of these options to improve my overall well being from these integrative therapies. "Some people find some pain relief through acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, relaxation exercises, meditation and hypnosis." Use several techniques to find out what works well for you or for your loved one.

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04/29/2024

Working daily to stay out of the fear when diagnosed with cancer is diificult but not imposssible. I have been diagnosed and mis- diagnosed and awaiting long weekends to hear if I have cancer over the years. I always think to myself.....no matter what I think...no matter how I try to self diagnosis....it is futile to worry until I know all the facts because no matter what I think....it won't be accurate. I know this is easier said than done. So I work really hard focusing on the outcome I desire and allowing the universe to bring it to me. I also think about all the good things I have going on. It can be work or relationship related. I take out my gratitude list each morning and review all the good things that are going on in my life. I am looking to find peace and tranquility in this moment and give gratitude.

03/17/2024

Staying centered means staying focused on what outcome you are want. Focus on what results you want everyday and set your intention....then allow and believe in the possibility. Do not judge or doubt. Even if things look bleak, do not waver but focus on what you want. This focus is you telling the universe and your inner spirit and soul that you are working to get better. Believe, Believe, Believe

12/28/2023

Setbacks. Anyone who has had a major health concern has certainly experienced sertbacks. Working through cancer is no exception. The goal is to be very clear with your goal. Can you clearly see yourself obtaining the results? Become fanatical in your singlemindness of purpose. Don't focus on the day but on the final outcome you are looking to achieve while allowing the universe to bring it to you. Work towards the outcome you want to achieve. Use your intuition. Is your current protocol working? Do you need a second opinion on the best course of action? I am not suggesting changing doctors...I am sugggesting are you on the right course of action? Patients can get a second opinion and have their doctors do a consultation together and the patient can continue treatment with their own doctor.Are you eating right and getting enough rest? Focus everyday on what your goals are. As the saying goes...."How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

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12/06/2023

Self care everyday is important to keeping us on track with our mental and physical health. In these hectic times whether we are dealing with cancer or are in remission.

I was fortunate enough to work with a special woman named Ethel who worked with cancer patients back in 2006 when I was diagnosed with Plasmacytoma with Amyloid. Ethel instructed me to do what she said or she would no longer work with me. While she wasn't charging me for this valuable and life changing information, she was adamant about my following her instructions.
We started charting my health condition on a weekly basis. I recall I was very bad health with a tumor located on my spine eating away at my 7th and 8th vertebrae. It also reduced my 8th rib to tiny shards of bone. I was in a coffin of pain everyday.. all day.
Ethel started our first session with telling me to repeat an affirmation every day.

"Every cell, organ, nerve, bone and organ in my body is working in complete harmony according to God's plan. Anytime a cell is damaged or has died, it is being QUICKLY REPLACED with a perfectly HEALTHY new cell as God intended."

She instructed me to say this as often as I could. Sometimes I said it out loud or to myself. I would repeat it in the morning as I took a walk around our small man- made lake near our home, I would "plant " these affirmations on every tree I saw. Placing these affirmations on various branches, I was "rooting" my intention to the universe and planting this positive message within myself.

After my 10 hour operation with 3 surgeons at MD Anderson, I was told by an oncologist there I would get the cancer back in 2 years. I looked at her and said to myself she was wrong. I used this affirmation to keep cancer free. The healing from the operation took five years but my faith in staying healthy was never in doubt. This past Thanksgiving it has been 17 years since I was diagnosed. Having Faith and having this important tool can make a difference as your mind is most important to your health.

11/11/2023

Self Nurture. To give yourself some quiet time and a peaceful mind. This is difficult for those going through cancer as well as those who are the care takers. Mindful meditation is one way to clear your mind. You can do this at anytime and it can take 10 minutes. Take a look at the following link from Mayo Clinic. You deserve to feel less stressed and it is just one simple but effective way to clear your mind.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858 #:~:text=Meditation%20can%20produce%20a%20deep,physical%20and%20emotional%20well%2Dbeing.

Learn quick and easy ways to meditate, no matter where you are.

09/23/2023

Fighting Cancer with Faith Hope and Love.

Cancer is really debilitating on so many levels. Chemo and radiation takes a very physical toll. Trying to cope with the cancer mentally and the worrying of how you will get through it, can be quite overwhelming too.

In this time it is so helpful to have faith in a higher power. you were created healthy and whole when you first arrived. Think back how healthy you were. Lay down each day and take 10 minutes to visualize the areas within you that need to be healed and imagine a white healing light of energy lingering over those areas that need healing. Mentally replace those damaged cells and cells that have died with healthy new ones. Imagine that your higher power really wants you to be restored......and then simply allow it. Do not judge it...just allow. Keep practicing this exercise daily. If you fall asleep after completing this it is fine.

Hope is to want the very best outcome in a given situation. It is saying to yourself and the universe that anything is possible. So stay hopeful during this time. Allowing yourself to be open and being hopeful allows more positive results.

Love is the greatest and most powerful emotion we can have. If you love someone, love your family. love your life or passionate about what you do, this love propels you forward. Allow yourself to draw strenth from the love all around you.
Faith, Hope and Love are the cornerstones to leading a cancer free life.

08/13/2023

I would like to reflect on pain related to cancer. Many people who are diagnosed with cancer really have little or no pain weeks after surgery. Those with Plasmacytoma or Multiple Myeloma are not so lucky. I also see friends who have had major back surgeries struggle wih the decision and balance of trying to find relief while facing the fear of becoming addicted.

When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I came to realize that there are pain specialists who actually prescribe treatment for those suffering with pain and cancer. My cancer pain specialist told me "Whether you survive your cancer or not, my job is provide you a pain free life."

Here is what I found out:

1. If you have a massive back surgery or any other that requires you to take an opiod, do it with the understanding that your body needs it to heal. What I am saying is if you are in constant pain, your body needs to rest to heal. If it is fighting break- through pain, it cannot rest and healing will be more difficult.

2. Ask your physician to come up with a plan. How long should you expect to be on the drug? Can you wean down or exchange it for a milder drug in a certain period of time?

3. What are the side effects of the drug you will be prescribed and how can you combat them? Many opiods are constipating.

4. What other methods are open to you? Acupuncture, message therapy, Qi Gong, Mindfulness Meditation, yoga, pilates reformer with a physical therapist are just a few things that may assist you as well as a radio frequency ablation, nerve blocks or steroid injections. All these choices should be discussed with your doctor.
Remember that opiods are not meant to be on forever.

I had the worst conceivable pain with my cancer eating my spine. I was on the stongest fentanyl patch combined with oxycodene, lyrica, celebrex and a few additional drugs while going through the cancer and after the surgery. After 18 months, I started exhibiting sysptoms of the sweats, my body was jittery and I was unable to cool down from just using a hair dryer or taking a walk. I was bloated and constipated too. I switched to methadone but it wasn't long before I had the same issues. Meanwhile I tried massage therapy for two reasons. First it got me to relax, as my muscles were "locked up" from being in pain. Second my muscles were tight from the trama of a 10 hour surgery to reconstruct my spine. So where the hardware went across my back, those muscles were no longer relaxed or working. The pain was also exhausting. Even with all the drugs I was on, every afternoon I had to nap for 2 to 3 hours.

So I slowly and methodically transitioned from fentenal to methedone to tramadol . Tramadol is called the non- narcotic narcotic because your body does not exhibit the same side effects as the stronger opiods. When you transition any drug you never do it cold turkey. Always follow your doctor's direction including when the doctor tells you to take a drug. Not taking it as prescribed may result in "Break Through Pain" and is not effective when your body is trying to heal.

Using drugs, doing some type of mild exercise for my body as well as the meditation and massage therapy was the 3- prong approach that allowed me to see slow but staedy improvement over time. I always say it is not a sprint but a marathon.

I was told I would be on narcotics for the rest of my life. Today I am on nothing. Did it take a plan and hard work? Yes it did. I added a radio frequency ablation on my back four years after my operation which seemed to help a lot and in the last stage of my recovery I did pilates reformer with a trained physical therapist who specilizes in pilates reformer. The results from the pilates reformer were amazing. Not only in terms of reliving pain but also increasing my stamina. I no longer needed naps everyday.

If you or your loved one is suffering from pain, know that you have choices and it starts with a plan and discussion with your doctor.