Author: Beth

This is a response to a question I asked:

Dear Beth:

I did see it and had mentioned it in my e-mail, but I guess it was a
little buried in with the other stuff. The M-spike was too small to
quantify from this recent visit, which is what these days we call a
near-CR, but since it seems to be dropping maybe a CR is in sight as
well!

RO

I’ve been worried about some abnormal lab results. Usually I don’t have any abnormals except for the MM. This time I have elevated calcium, phosphorus, LDH, WBC and abs neuts. The WBC and neuts are from the dexamethasone. I didn’t know about the LDH, so I asked my dcotor, and his response was:

“As for the LDH, this is a very non-specific test, and can be elevated for any of a number of reasons, with myeloma being only one of them. Since your protein level was too low to quantify on the SPEP, however, I would not be worried about that.”

The calcium, he said would be dealt with by the Zometa infusiuon. I never had high calcium before, and it has only started being that way since I began taking a daily calcium +D supplement. I have stopped that as of yesterday!

I will be seeing an endocrinologist on June 2nd. He can help me with calcium levels, the glucose intolerance I have on dex days and the hormone levels that must be messed up from dex! I know there must be some, because I have amenorrhea. Aside from the obvious, amenorrhea is nice because my RBC and HGB are waaaaay up! Check my labs and you’ll see. In Jan last year, my HGB was 13.0 and RBC was 3.96. A few days ago, they were 15.6 and 4.84. A little lower in May, but Aunt Flo was here last week for the first time since last summer.

It’s a dex night and I am up at 2:00 am. I have to take a sleep aid and get to bed!!

Start date and time
5/29/2004 10:00AM

End date and time
5/29/2004 10:00PM

Agenda
A opening ceremony at the beginning of the event with the survivor lap immediately following. Luminaria ceremony is at dusk and then the closing ceremony is about 10 pm that night.

Additional Information
A luminaria is a sand-filled bag with a lighted candle which is placed around the track in honor of someone who has or has had cancer or in memory of someone who has died of cancer. They can be purchased before or during the event for $10.00 each.

Appropriate attire
Casual

Location and Contact Information

Location
Pine Crest High School
HWY 15/501
Southern Pines, NC 28388

Contact
Amy Millard

Phone
(910) 949-2599

Email
ahmmeow@mindspring.com

I adopted a dog named Buddy a few months ago, and he is a wonderful dog. He’s 5 years old, and full of energy. Over the weekennd, he stole a stick of butter from the counter top, so I’ve started calling him “Budder.” I’m assuming he ate the butter and paper, because there’s no evidence of it anywhere. He and I have been going to obedience class the last 3 weeks. He’s doing pretty well. He’s a smart dog, and is older than the rest of the dogs in the class.

A while back I posted a URL for a site we created and hosted for a young lady named Amber, who was suffering from osteosarcoma. Amber succumbed to her disease a few days ago, after a long struggle and much suffering. Her family asked that donations be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in her name.

Now that there are blog spammers, all comments submitted will have to be approved by me before they’ll appear. I’m pretty quick at approving during waking hours.

I’ve been very disturbed by our treatment of the Iraqi POWs. I grew up in a time where there were lots of WWII vets in the community and the Viet Nam war was dragging on, and there were reminders about how terrible war can be. We had men who had lost limbs in Europe or the Pacific, and girls who were a little older than I was wore POW bracelets to support the soldiers who were captured in Viet Nam. I have always been very proud of anyone who served in the military. It’s not something I could have done, and I admired their courage and commitment.

I know that the events at the Iraqi prison were carried out by a few, but I am ashamed none-the-less. Those people have tainted all of us, I believe. I think they should be harshly dealt with. We’re Americans, and we have to be better than the others.

I’m not comforted by the interviews I saw on TV with other soldiers who seemed not to care that this happened. Being that we’re near Fort Bragg, where one of the soldiers involved (the woman in the pictures) is being detained, there’s been a lot of local coverage. Some of the Ft. Bragg soldiers who were interviewed said that they don’t see anything wrong with what happened!

A Korean War POW and a WWII POW were interviewed to get their thoughts on the matter. The Korean War vet was tortured himself. Both men were heartbroken that this would happen. Are Americans different now? More cruel? More violent?

This was from someone on the list. I just extracted this small part:

“I am 40 myself and have been told by a lot of folks that if I can make it 5 years and stay reasonably healthy, the MM world will look far different than today, just as today it is far different than 1999.”

I have had this notion myself. I believe it!