Founder Story

Andreia, I'm delighted to be offered this opportunity, and hope other warriors may find my experiences and attitude useful in forging their way forward through uncertainty. Increasing awareness and identifying early symptoms can save lives.

My journey to diagnosis was a long and tedious one. In 2015 I noticed a couple of areas on my legs had developed darker patches. They were about 2" in diameter, and barely noticeable. A month or two later some fatty deposits appeared around my eyes, a condition called Xanthelasmata. Xanthelasmas are deposits of excess cholesterol.

I couldn't understand this at all. I was fit, hadn't eaten processed foods in 15 years, and had a healthful diet. I visited my Primary Care Physician, and after a series of tests he confirmed I had hypercholesterolemia. The rest of my blood-work was perfect. This explained the fatty deposits, but not the cause of a breakdown in my metabolism. He had no answer for the dark patches on my skin. "Part of getting old', he said. I was beginning to feel exhausted around this time too.

My morning hikes tend to be around 3-4 miles on moderate to advanced trails, and my calves began aching after about a mile into my trek, which was unusual. I didn't realize this was bone pain at the time.

My mother had died from mesothelioma, and I randomly decided to visit her oncologist to see if he had any answers. Sure enough he detected MGUS, a precursor to Multiple Myeloma, a terminal blood cancer caused by a genetic defect that breaks down bone.

I was 57 at the time, and was told that MM may or may not develop, and it was impossible to determine the outcome. This terrified me. The MGUS diagnosis sent me into a spin for a few months, but it did explain the symptoms I was experiencing.

The uncertainty of not knowing what was wrong with me had been replaced by the uncertainty of the MGUS progression. There was no question I'd reached a pivotal point in my life. Managing my mental health was a challenge, and still is at times. Connecting with nature, daily meditations, my photography and guitar playing all contributed to keeping a level head and embracing acceptance. Then there's my 14 year old dog Rupert. He brings joy to everyone, which pleases me, and we have a beautiful relationship.

How has cancer affected my daily life? That's a big question.

I'd moved to Sedona from Scottsdale (100 miles away) only a few weeks before I was hospitalized for the first time. Having sustained vertebral, rib, and sternum fractures, I couldn't move, and had no friends around to look in on me. I was effectively paralyzed.

Fortunately, a dear friend from Scottsdale came to visit once a week for about six months. She drove 300 miles to take me to treatment, and stayed for a couple of days to care for me. Eventually I was able to open the car door on my own and tackle the 9 hour round trip myself. The trip meant losing a day per week, and the companionship. The impact cancer has on the routine and mental health of caregivers and loved ones is easily overlooked. This woman gave up her life for me.

I had an active lifestyle before hospitalization and was in good shape, but after months of lying in bed in pain and with little appetite, I'd lost all my muscle mass and was down to 100 lbs. I couldn't raise a glass of water to my mouth for weeks, and would often have to urinate in the bed if I couldn't reach the bedpan in time. All of the basic motor skills that are second nature to us all, had become Herculean tasks, overnight.

My ribs would occasionally fracture, and even breathing was hard. I'd moved from 1,000ft elevation to 4,400ft, and suffered from pneumonia twice. One night I suddenly awoke drowning in the fluid in my lungs. That was a very scary moment and I didn't think I'd make it. I had to learn how to live by taking half breaths for a long time, and work out how best brace myself for a sneeze or a cough until my ribs and spine had fully healed.

Learning how to walk, use my hands, wash my hair, breathe, etc, are things we take for granted. When all of these skills disappear at once, and the pain in re-learning them unbearable, the impact on your daily life is enormous, both mentally and physically.

After my friend returned to her own life, I found a nurse to visit me five days a week. She'd cook, launder the sheets, hose me down in the shower, and give me my medications. It was a very humiliating experience. I was also paying out-of-pocket, and eventually had to cut it back to three days a week as the money started to run low. The days she didn't visit were hell. I'd lie in bed with nobody to talk to, and nothing to look at other than a fence outside the patio door, and an array of medications.

At my first Physical Therapy appointment, the practitioner told me I may not be able to lift my arms again, and the following day the Covid lockdowns began, leaving me to work out rehab on my own. I referred to YouTube videos for patients with spinal injuries, and followed an exercise regimen prescribed by the physical therapist. I had to learn how to get out of bed on my own, walk and use my arms without moving my spine.

The weekly drive down to Scottsdale for chemo was exhausting. Every bump in the road vibrated through my spine, and I'd often need to pull over due to hand and leg cramps that made it Impossible to drive. Tiger Balm and Gatorade were always on hand, but it could take half an hour for the cramps to settle. I made good use of the journey, though. On the way home I'd pull off the Interstate, drive a couple of miles off road, explore a little and take in a short meditation. I'd shake off a full day of sitting down and completely clear my head of any stress brought on by the drive. After about a year of this, I managed to get treatment moved closer to home, which gave me a new lease on life. Even though the new infusion center was only 20 minutes away, I would still stop on my way home for a hike and to decompress.

Coming down with Multiple Myeloma was the beginning of over four years of isolation. Isolation has been as punishing emotionally as the cancer has been physically. There's been no social life, intimacy or much laughter all this time, and there's always a feeling of being alone and lonely.

Shortly before I was diagnosed with MGUS, I'd found purpose. This is something most wish for but it eludes many. My purpose made me fight back when I saw the lights in hospital one day, and has kept me focussed and busy this whole time. Purpose gives me the drive to tackle any challenge that comes my way. Courage doesn't play a role at all.

Part of my purpose is to influence others to connect with nature for it's proven healing properties. My photography is a vehicle to promote those benefits, and I'm living proof of how getting out on the land has been a significant aid in my physical recovery, and mental health management.

My treatment plan has been relatively tame. There's a weekly infusion of Velcade by subcutaneous injection in the abdomen. It burns a little, but it's over and done with in a couple of minutes. Sometimes I can experience bruising at the injection site, which can be painful for a few days. The treatment also includes a number or oral medications; Dexamethasone, a steroid, Acyclovir to control infection, Duloxetine which helps with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and low dose aspirin to avoid blood clotting. The Dex can keep me awake for a few days, and every couple of weeks I can get bad bouts of diarrhea. Overall, my GI function has been good. I've never taken so many medications before, and it can get a bit depressing.

Pharmaceuticals are only part of my treatment plan. Proper hydration is key to flushing as many toxins from the liver and kidneys as possible. Up to a gallon of water a day can be tough going sometimes, and there are days when I don't manage this. Diet and exercise are also key. My diet has been clean for 20 years or so - no processed foods, organic wherever possible, very little dairy, and fruit and vegetable smoothies. After my first hospitalization, and for several months thereafter, I barely had any appetite. Smoothies were all I could stomach, other than some scrambled eggs 2-3 times a week. The smoothies are packed with nutrients and topped up with coconut water have provided the best possible source of natural treatment, along with occasional pre-biotics if my stomach is unsettled.

Since selling my vehicle, the biggest hassle is getting to and from the lab for my weekly blood draw, and to chemo. Fortunately, medical transport is covered by my insurance, however I probably spend 3-4 hours a week making the bookings, often enough the driver doesn't show up, and there's lots of hanging around in unmasked environments. This creates unnecessary stress on top of the unpleasantness of the treatment. I lose 2 days a week on average, whereas before, I'd lose only around half a day to the process.

Myeloma is rare enough for many not to have heard of it. I hadn't. It is a terminal disease with life expectancy after diagnosis of around five years. If treated properly, patients can live relatively normal, relatively pain free lives. As I mentioned before, diet and exercise are key, and so if you take an integrated approach to managing your cancer, you can live well beyond the average.

As with any cancer management, mental health is very much a component of the treatment. Grief and fear hit you in the face all at once, and it can be difficult to function or think clearly for weeks, even months. For the first couple of weeks, I lay in bed and cried myself to sleep. Then one day I started focussing on acceptance. Once I had established that, everything became much easier. I could begin thinking about rebuilding my body, looking beyond my bedridden state, and defying the average.

The internet and Web 3 allows us to educate others for free, and globally. I've recorded a number of short films myself, where I talk about a particular crisis, and how I find peace and balance. Using Discord, for example, as a platform to provide a qualified group of people a number of support services, including patient experiences by cancer type, is something I'm looking forward to working on in the weeks ahead.

This is an excellent question. The needs of the patient and caregiver are quite different. Neither is prepared for cancer's arrival, and they may not possess the necessary coping skills.

When you're fighting for your life, there's no time to mince your words, but opiates can make it difficult to think clearly at times, and they can cause bouts of anger. Not everyone's tolerance for "cancer talk" is the same, and it's important to consider the impact your words may have on others. Especially your caregiver.

Patients and family caregivers undergo anxiety and grief together, but from different places. I think it's important for both parties to seek mental health counseling early on in the cancer journey. There will always be tough moments, but by establishing boundaries and expectations early, the relationship can be protected. Establishing a "safe word" is a really good idea.

There are some boilerplate symptoms common to all of us. Shortness of breath, weight loss, what may feel like aching muscles, excessive fatigue, or sharp bone pain are all strong indicators. You may not necessarily experience the onset of all of these symptoms at once, but if any of these things persist for more than a week or so, I would go straight to your primary care physician and ask for some blood tests to be run.

Poor healthcare habits don't bring on this sort of cancer as it stems from a genetic defect; however, having a clean, well-balanced diet, combined with a regular exercise regimen, will give you a fighting chance of extending your life beyond the average as a Myeloma patient, as it would for any other cancer type.

Sadly, the "American Diet" of fast and processed foods has become a global staple. Along with it, high levels of childhood obesity and type II diabetes, which can lead to cancer. I think one way we can help reduce these rates is by introducing food education in schools, but transferring this to the home kitchen is challenging for lower-income families, particularly time-poor single parents.

Thank you. As an individual, I believe it may have an impact, although it's challenging to gauge the extent of it. Some individuals have publicly stated that my cancer journey has transformed their lives and provided them with a sense of purpose, which has been incredibly humbling. However, striking the right balance between sharing aesthetically pleasing content and discussing a cancer narrative is complex. Similar to real-life interactions, many individuals tend to shy away from the topic due to its distressing nature.

I am of the opinion that a more effective approach to raising awareness and providing support to both warriors and caregivers involves creating a centralized platform for all cancer-related resources. This platform could resemble what you've already established with the Tutti Frutti Women initiative, with additional features such as an anonymous chat room for sharing experiences and a bulletin board categorized by cancer type, of which there are 200. Developing a marketing strategy that is engaging or incentivizing in some way could help attract individuals to the platform. It would be beneficial to conduct some testing to determine the most effective approach.

I strongly believe in the importance of communities collaborating and thinking outside the box. Engaging with industry groups, unions, hobbyist communities, and other organizations could provide exposure to potentially millions of individuals.

Andreia, firstly, I will not be alone in thanking you for everything you're doing to increase awareness and support for the cancer community. The passion, energy, and commitment you're putting into the Tutti Frutti initiative are evident to everyone who comes across you, and I'm excited for the future of the venture. Potentially, hundreds of thousands of lives will be saved as Tutti Frutti continues to grow. Power to you!

In parting, I have a personal message to other warriors; whether or not you have someone by your side on your cancer journey, there will be times when you'll feel alone and scared. Every new symptom, not-so-great blood test, bad reaction to a drug, or unsettling oncologist visit are all high-stress moments your brain needs to process. Try to find some time away from the noise on a daily basis to help bring you into balance. Meditation, getting close to nature, practicing yoga, or playing an instrument are all good methods for relaxing the mind.

If you're bedridden and have smartphone or TV access, spend an hour a day watching nature documentaries or movies. It doesn't make the reality of what's going on go away, but it will help bring you calm.

At times, you may get angry and take it out on a family caregiver. Do your best to remember that they're not trained in this, and their stress levels skyrocket when they're with you. Apologize when necessary and let them know how important a role they play in your life.

Some of your friends may disappear. It's heartbreaking when that happens, but not everyone can cope with cancer and death stuff, and it's important to recognize that. Sometimes, those who say they can handle authentic conversations often can't when it comes down to it. It's important to recognize that, too. Otherwise, you'll go bananas.

Having almost died at the beginning of my cancer journey, I can tell you there's nothing to fear. Much love to you all.