From Kidney Stones to a Cancer Diagnosis

My story—or journey, as I prefer to call it—began in December 2023. I was having severe pain in my right kidney area, which led me to the emergency room for a CT scan. It was discovered that I had a massive staghorn kidney stone. In the process, it was also discovered that I had cancer in my T11-T12 area, my left rib area, and a desmoid mass in my stomach.

I was in unbelievable pain, requiring lots of pain medication. I was admitted to the hospital, and so began my painful journey. I met with a urologist, a surgeon, and an oncologist. The urologist performed two surgical procedures: one to place a tube from my kidney to my bladder to dissolve the stone, which required me to wear a drainage bag. The kidney issue needed to be addressed before anything could be done about my cancer.

After many tests, MRIs, and CT scans, it was determined that I had B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. I had a second surgical procedure to dissolve the remaining stone, and the tube was removed. Once my kidney began to heal, I had a biopsy on the T11-T12 area. My body was going through so much trauma and pain.

My oncologist started me on radiation for the B-cell lymphoma, which put me in remission but caused a compression fracture in my T11-T12 area. After many trips to the ER and relying on pain medications, I finally began infusions for my stage 1 multiple myeloma. Those first four months were grueling, with horrible side effects. I went once a week for treatments.

Now, I am down to going only once a month. I still experience a few side effects but nothing like before. I make it a point to go to the gym three times a week and do lots of walking and stretching.

I am 78 years old and feel blessed that I can function fairly well with limited side effects and pain. Being diagnosed with cancer is a life-changing experience. On December 8, it will be one year since this cancer journey began.

Hearing that my multiple myeloma bone marrow cancer is not curable stays with me every day. Mostly, I pray for quality in whatever life I have left.