My name is Andy, my father has been diagnosed with MM

Andyde

Hi all, this a great site first of all. My father just had surgery over the weekend after finding a tumor embedded in his spine; causing him to start loosing sensation in his legs, bladder control issues, and numbness from his mid section down. I write this as I sit next to him in the hospital as he recovers. His spine was being compressed from the tumor which turned out to be Multiple Myeloma, but now making a fast recovery from surgery.

I am just now starting to research on what this is and really, where it came from. This has taken our family by surprise and we struggle to understand and accept this illness.

Hope to be of help to anyone else experiencing the same struggle.

brainman

Hi Andyle. I am very sorry about your father's MM. My experience with MM is small... my ex farther-in-law and a father figure to me died of multiple myeloma after a 6 year struggle.

What kind of treatment is he receiving: chemo? radiation? both? My ex father-in-law received both during his battle.

I am moving this post to the Multiple Myeloma Forum since you will receive more replies there. However, I am leaving a "shadow" of it in its original location.

You and your father are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Andyde

Hi Jim-

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We still do not have a clear direction as to the type of treatment, most likely Chemo and radiation. He is still recovering from the surgery and doctors want to make sure he is strong enough before heading into the next phase of treatment.

Sincerely-
Andy

brainman

Andy, what was the purpose of the surgery? Was it to debulk the tumor to relieve the pressure on his spinal cord or just a biopsy?
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Andyde

Jim-

The purpose was exactly that, the tumor was compressing the spine canal so much that he was loosing sensation in his legs, ultimately not allowing to walk or stand on his own. He is being moved today from his recovery room to the rehab floor.

We are all amazed on fast he has recovered, showing great improvements.
We are yet to get under away with the treatment and I am trying to do as much research as I can on a good diet to keep him strong during the next phase.

Any thoughts on that and or suggestions? There is so much out there about do's and don'ts

Thanks for listening -

brainman

Since each of our situations are different, it is hard to predict what will come next. Often, they use radiation on localized tumors. I remember that my FIL had several radiation treatment over the course of the years... radiation targeted at specific bone areas where the MM appeared. But he also was on chemotherapy. It is likely that your father will go through the same course of treatment. Since the radiation will hinder the healing from his surgery, they will wait until it is healed before irradiating that area.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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