Trials of Remission

The term remission is a term that brings comfort and relief for many, and there are those who also feel “What’s the catch”?

Multiple myeloma has a way of resurfacing for some, and the jury is out if it’s really more than most scenarios. The journey is one that reaps some highs and lows, and you really never know how things work themselves out. When I found out I was in remission...the way my family and I have dealt with it has been staying in the moment of glee. We’re talking about the blood here, so it can be a touch-and-go process.

Comfort terms

There is an unspoken relief of “YES, I got this behind me," though that's not the consensus for others who have been there, and now I'm met with relapse monkey wrenches. The word, however, is a high point no matter how long or short-lived it is. I thought of it as a break from what comes along with active treatment:

• Needles
• Frequent Bone Marrow Biopsies
• Treatment Hiccups (Nauseous)
• The Set-Up Process
• Frequent Labs

The peak of a break from all mentioned is a good thing, as well as the comfort of possibly keeping this cancer at bay.

Long or short

How long does remission look like? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer and as I always say- everyone is so different. What worked for one is a whole different outlook for someone else. The word remission is a plus no matter how long it lasts for…the longer it is the better! Some people have had a long stretch of 20 years, whereas others their remission lasted as long as a couple of months. When a relapse occurs it brings about the questions of what did I do wrong to kick start this thing yet again, and as of now we just don’t have those answers of how and why, yet that is. The future is bright as the treatment options have exploded in the last 10 years. The options of what to consider - well we have more possibilities to choose from in the likelihood we need to head back to the drawing board.

Back to true normal

Well, things don’t necessarily go back to how life was prior. There does tend to be that monkey on your back with anticipation of the “what if’s”. It’s hard to explain but though you embrace that sigh of relief you become slightly paranoid:

• Hum, that cold feels a little different this time
• That joint pain feels different than before

There always seems to be something entering the mind could this be a relapse? I think this is just the reality, we just don't know how long this peace lasts. I think it's safe to say for many it becomes a lifelong “Thing”. A “Thing” that we add to our new life as survivors in how we proceed in our day-to-day. It’s one of those "it just is" moments. Live, Love, Laugh!

The time to fight is now, with integrity, grace, hope, and a smile….when you feel like it