I recently heard that women’s tennis legend Chris Evert announced she is now cancer free. She had ovarian cancer and in a recent interview Evert shared, "my sister's death saved my life." Early testing/detection (for the same BRAC1 gene as her sister), fueled by her unfortunate enhanced awareness, created the optimum situation for her diagnosis and ensuing prognosis, treatment and outcome.
Fortunately, we are hearing this news more and more frequently as time passes and science advances. Each time I hear this news I am delighted for another of my fellow cancer brothers or sisters. But each time I am also reminded that I will never be cancer free (at least not yet). Multiple Myeloma is incurable, but not terminal. Treatable to a stage of extended maintenance for a duration of sustained control that is unknown yet so optimistic that at least in my case the Onc team can't even calculate how long this current contained condition will continue until a relapse occurs. And "relapse" is even too strong of a word. Because once a pattern of increased myeloma cells begins to trend in my body, and only after all other containment interventions have been exhausted, then would a second stem cell transplant occur; which means the Maintenance clock starts counting all over again. Five more years, ten more years, fifteen more years - who knows?
I'm not jealous or bitter or angry, because:
A) That won't change my situation
B) I am being monitored so closely for the slightest trend of increased myeloma cells
C) By the time that even begins to develop, a cure will either exist or be right around the corner (it practically already is)
In the meantime, I will continue to cheer for those who attain their true freedom, pray for those who are still struggling to achieve that goal, and mourn for those who were so much less fortunate than I am.
