Babs' Update-Oncologist Visit
Mom dialed me in for her meeting with her oncologist, Dr. Heddinger, on Tuesday of last week. Here is the update I sent to my family as soon as I got off the call.
"Just got off the phone with Grandma and her cancer doctor.
Since he's still not 100% sure it's multiple myeloma that's causing her neck and shoulder pain, he wants her to go see the pain specialist and see what options they can offer her for pain control. Multiple myeloma bone pain generally responds well to radiation, and since her neck and shoulder pain have not, he wonders if it could be arthritis pain or degeneration of the bones.
Grandma does not want to be forgotten by Dr. Heddinger, and since the idea of cancer is obviously on her mind, she wants the myeloma to be monitored on a regular basis. She and Dr. Heddinger agreed on a 6-month schedule.
If the pain specialist treatment helps with her pain, then she goes back to being considered to have "smoldering myeloma," which is not treated. It's not causing a problem, so leave it alone.
If the pain treatments don't help, then she goes back to the cancer doctor and they can try to treat the myeloma. The treatment is inconvenient with side effects. Pills for 21 days, then a week off, in addition she goes in for a subcutaneous shot each week. She cannot give herself the shot. Side effects include constipation, lethargy, etc.
Based on other tests they have done, Dr. Heddinger feels very certain this is not a different type of cancer that has moved into the bones. This is not a thyroid or breast cancer recurrence.
So, pain specialist next week. Back to Heddinger in 6 months to have blood work done to see how the myeloma looks. A bone marrow biopsy could be done, but hopefully won't be needed. Fingers crossed for the pain specialist."
On a fun side note, thanks to the Alexa device Teresa got for Mom, we can have easy video chats. There's a "drop-in" feature where it automatically connects to the device that is set up next to Mom's chair. It plays a tone and keeps the screen blurred at first to let Mom know there is an incoming visit. This has been much easier than her having to hold her phone for a video call, for example.
What I discovered accidentally is that Mom's google devices respond to my voice, through the video screen. What that means is that if I "drop-in" and Mom isn't there, I tell her google home to start playing piano music, so when she comes in the door later, she has a gentle reminder that I tried to call.
Mom sees the pain specialist on Monday. I'll update after that meeting. Prayers, good wishes, and healing thoughts always welcome.
