My Treatment

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.