Treatment Time

The coming months were every 2 month appointments with my oncologist and regular blood work. We were taking the "wait and see" approach, at my request.

I got to the point where I asked Genevieve, (R.N.) to come to an appointment with me. Dr. I______ laid out the prognosis, treatment,etc. She told me to take the treatment. Dr. I______ also said that by the end of the year, as fast as my numbers were going badly, it would get to the point where he couldn't help me.

Gulp! Decision time. I remember crying in the office & he was so sweet, took my hand and tried to comfort me. Anyway, I said I would take the treatment.

That began my Revlimid regime.  

I had to sign some papers and answer some questions with the online pharmacy that would dispense it.  It came by Fedex the next day. I took 1 capsule for 21 days, then had 7 days off. Along with the revlimid, I took 40mg of a steriod, dexamethason. I hated the thought of "poisoning myself", but what choice did I have? Myeloma has no cure, it's only treatable.

The medicine cost me , with insurance, $30 a month. I saw on one of the papers that the pharmacy charged the insurance company over $10,000 for a one month supply!

Poison or not, I felt better now. I remember telling the Doctor I should have started treatment when he first suggested it. I would have too, had I know how much better I'd feel.

The revlimid and dex went on for 8 months.

I didn't get much info at my appoints really. Dr I____ never volunteered any solid information that I could absorb and I didn't usually ask any questions. I must have had the shortest appointments of his day. They usually went something like this:

Dr:  How are you feeling?

Me: good

Dr. Your numbers look good

Me: they do?

Dr: yes, I'm, pleased at what they are.

Then home I'd go to wait another month for my next appointment.