I turned 54 today.  Suddenly, birthdays take on a new form of significance.  When you boil it down, the goal of all this cancer fighting is to stack up birthdays and keep ‘em coming.    I now look at birthdays as tokens earned for achievement.  And things you earn are somehow more enriching and satisfying.  So, I’m going to pamper myself as much as I possibly can today and endeavor to keep earning more and more birthdays.  I do hope all of you will be joining me for the ride….by taking care of yourselves, eating right and keeping active.  

 

Today’s birthday will be rather unlike any others I’ve celebrated.  I’m scheduled for the infusion center today for a dose of Velcade.  This may seem odd, but aside from the fact that I have to go there and the reason I have to go there, I really don’t mind going to the infusion center.  I actually kind of like it.  Main reason is that the nurses there are so incredibly nice to me.  I’ve been going now for about 7 months and have gotten on a first name basis with most of them.  To a person, they are just wonderful, caring folks and I look forward to seeing them and chatting it up with them. We joke around a lot, although I can only needle them figuratively, whereas they actually stick needles into me.    I know they’ll have a cupcake or something for me today (they know it’s my BD, it’s in the chart!).  

 

Beyond that, I’m expecting a fairly normal day.  Going to work.  Having dinner out with some friends at a Greek restaurant.  Deleting spam from my inbox..  But I will probably do some self-indulgent things.  Maybe get a massage.  Take a bike ride with Bob Dylan on the Ipod.  Crack open a bottle of some really expensive wine (after the bike ride…not before).    

 

Nothing new to report on the Myeloma front.   I’m into phase 7 (out of 8) of the induction therapy.  I’ll be meeting with my primary oncologist next week to discuss Dr. Durie’s recommendations (see previous blog).  Meanwhile, I still feel fine both physically and emotionally.  I’m even having an easier time tolerating the steroids…they don’t seem to wind me up quite as much as they used to.    

 

As always, I appreciate hearing from any and all of you on the posting to this blog.  And I also know that, for whatever reason, some attempts to post just don’t seem to work.  Whenever that happens, e-mail greeting are always appreciated as well.  Just keep in touch.  I love hearing from you.