Re: [morehouse78:610] Fwd: Letter from a Tampa hospital bed…from Charles W. Cherry II
Theodore Jones
On Oct 24, 2019, at 22:38, Charles W. Cherry II <cche...@gmail.com> wrote:
------------ Forwarded message ---------
From: Charles W. Cherry II <cche...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 24, 2019 at 10:05 PM
Subject: Letter from a Tampa hospital bed…from Charles W. Cherry II
To: Cherry Charles II <cche...@gmail.com>To family and selected friends:
I am reminded of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in which he had time to “think long thoughts and write long letters.” Though this letter will never be a literary classic, a fairly long hospital stay does give you an opportunity put some things down in writing.
For those of you who did not know, I was diagnosed with a fairly rare form of cancer, multiple myeloma, in April 2019. The diagnosis came as a consequence of some aberrant protein readings that my primary care physician and I had noticed at my last six-month checkup.
She ordered a more specific test that also showed abnormal readings, then referred me for a hematology-oncology evaluation. After about 45 days of testing, including urine, blood, various scans, and a bone marrow biopsy, the diagnosis was confirmed.
From the Mayo Clinic:
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Plasma cells help you fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs.
Multiple myeloma causes cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow, where they crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications.
It's not clear what causes myeloma. Doctors know that myeloma begins with one abnormal plasma cell in your bone marrow — the soft, blood-producing tissue that fills in the center of most of your bones. The abnormal cell multiplies rapidly.
Because cancer cells don't mature and then die as normal cells do, they accumulate, eventually overwhelming the production of healthy cells. In the bone marrow, myeloma cells crowd out healthy white blood cells and red blood cells, leading to fatigue and an inability to fight infections.
The myeloma cells continue trying to produce antibodies, as healthy plasma cells do, but the myeloma cells produce abnormal antibodies that the body can't use. Instead, the abnormal antibodies (monoclonal proteins, or M proteins) build up in the body and cause problems such as damage to the kidneys. Cancer cells can also cause damage to the bones that increases the risk of broken bones.
In my particular case, myeloma cells took up 85% of the bone marrow in one of my bones when it was discovered. Thankfully, there is a standard protocol involving chemotherapy shots and pills, steroids, and ultimately a stem cell transplant using my own cells that is expected to lead to complete remission.
I started the healing journey in May, beginning with rounds of chemotherapy (two weeks of medication followed by one week off) which lasted for a total of four rounds until August. the cancer decreased by 95% over the course of the four rounds. At that point, my healthcare team thought it would be excellent to move up the proposed stem cell transplant from December until October.
Again, from the Mayo Clinic:
A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into your body to replace your damaged or diseased bone marrow. A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant.
An autologous stem cell transplant uses healthy blood stem cells from your own body to replace your diseased or damaged bone marrow. Using cells from your own body during your stem cell transplant offers some advantages over stem cells from a donor and it is an option if your body is producing enough healthy bone marrow cells. Those cells can be collected, frozen and stored for later use.
Undergoing an autologous stem cell transplant involves:
· Taking medications to increase the number of stem cells in your blood. You'll receive medications that cause your stem cells to increase in number and to move out of your bone marrow and into your blood, where they can be easily collected.
· Filtering stem cells from your blood (apheresis). For stem cell collection, a needle is inserted into a vein in your arm to draw out your blood. A machine filters out the stem cells and the rest of your blood is returned to your body.
· A preservative is added to your stem cells and then they're frozen and stored for later use.
· Undergoing high doses of cancer treatment (conditioning) to kill your cancer cells.
· Receiving an infusion of stem cells. Your stem cells will be infused into your bloodstream, where they will travel to your bone marrow and begin creating new blood cells.
This accurately describes where I am right now. On October 21, I was admitted to Moffitt Cancer Center here in Tampa, finished chemotherapy that night, rested for the day, and my own stem cells were infused into my body yesterday. I’m expected to be in the hospital for another two weeks or so to recover from the chemotherapy and to allow the stem cells to do what they do and make new bone marrow. After that, I expect to be seen as an outpatient basis daily for another week before I am cleared.
For those of you who knew my condition, thanks for the calls, emails, texts, etc. For those who did not know, I solicit your prayers and positive vibrations sent my way. The major side effect I’m fighting right now is neuropathy (nerve pain) in my feet and fingers, which has resulted in numbness alternating with a substantial level of pain that has preventing me from getting around as actively as I used to. Medications have not worked, so I’m doing this the natural way with physical therapy, daily exercise, and some natural topical ointments that have given me some relief.
My brother Glenn, 813-267-7348, is the key points of contact for updates, as I would like to focus on the healing process for the next three weeks. My motivation is to get back to the activity level I enjoyed pre-diagnosis as best I can.
One thing I do know is that God ain’t through with me yet. I love you all.
Chuck/Charles/#2/Cherry
Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., PublisherFlorida Courier (http://flcourier.com)Sharing Black Life, StatewideDaytona Times: (http://daytonatimes.com)The Black Voice of East Central FloridaMailing address:P.O. Box 48857Tampa, FL 33647phone (office): 813-319-0961fax: 813-628-0713phone (mobile): 813-267-7342E-mail:
Brothers, if you know the email address of a '78 classmate, please send to me at cche...@gmail.com. Admission to this listserve is by invitation only. Thanks...Chuck
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calvin vismale
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