The British Steelies Society

Hi folks, as I've posted recently I've not been too well for a while now. Two weeks ago I was rushed into hospital following a blood test, to cut a long story short I've been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, which is a form of blood cancer. It's not the worst blood cancer but not good news.

There's no cure, but it can be suppressed with good prospects of a long remission, around 10 years on a good response to treatment & there are secondary and 3rd treatments to prolong this. The prognosis I'm getting from my consultant is hopeful for a good outcome.

I have 3 compressed vertebrae due to damage by the cancer & this is where the intense pain I have been suffering is coming from. Makes it hard to play steel, pedals OK but levers put too much strain on the back atm. I'm on a good pain relief course, so have been relatively pain free which has been a great relief.

So, my case is currently being discussed by the consultants over the next 2 weeks at the Western General in Edinburgh re the details of my treatment. There is a standard course of treatment for this condition but they may tweak this to suit. I have an appointment in a couple of weeks with the consultant to outline the treatment, after which it will start immediately. This involves 4 outpatient chemo treatments, then a rest for 1-2 months, then I go into the Western General for a 3 week intensive chemo course. Whilst I'm there they will harvest stem cells from my blood and have a stem cell injection into my bone marrow.

All going well, they will then put me on a bone healing procedure, the consultant says my vertebrae should heal back to almost normal.

So this time next year, fingers crossed, I will be in remission.

I'm keeping positive about it and intend to spend a lot of time recording music, not much else I can do anyway.

They've started me on intense 4 day steroid bursts to prepare my body for the chemo, they fill the blood with adrenaline, getting about 2 hours sleep a night and jiving about like a youngster

Oh Geoff! - really sorry to hear this. I can't relate to the blood thing, which must be devastating to know, but I can relate to back pain through several knackered discs.
You are in your thoughts, keep positive; Tony.

Shock news indeed, Geoff. On the upside, it sounds like you're in good hands with such a comprehensive plan for treatment and in a year's time you're back on top.
Meanwhile, I'm wishing you, and yours, all the best, and am looking forward to hearing what you come up with on your dream machine, you know I always enjoy a bit of 'Lefty' Noble.

Geoff, That is quite a detailled story and it looks like the medical team are very competent and confident. It is good to hear that You are so positive and strong willed,with that attitude You will certainly beat this. I send My best wishes to You and look forward to hearing of Your progress.
Billy

Geoff. That's shocking to hear. You will and can beat this awful thing.. Stay strong and positive and you will be playing steel again fairly soon.

Best wishes to you and yours

Geoff, what can I add to what others have already posted.
So sorry to hear that bad news.
My best wishes to you and hope all will go well in months to come.

Geoff, all I can do is wish you the best of luck in your upcoming treatment.
If you’re offered help from MacMillan carers take it, they are brilliant.
Keith.

Guys, thank you all so much for your kind support, it means a lot to me.

As I said, there has been a lot of research into this condition the past few years as they see it as a condition which is more easily suppressed & they now have a lot of varied options to deal with it, so it gives me hope.

I had been told that the McMillan carers are fantastic and we have a McMillan centre opposite the hospital so I'll get in touch with them at some point.

I can't praise the staff at the hospital enough, they were absolutely brilliant, the NHS is such a treasure. I went into hospital on a Monday afternoon, by evening they had completed an in depth blood analysis, by lunchtime Tuesday I had, had a chest x-ray, a full MRI scan of my spine & CT scan of my neck & head. By Tuesday evening they had a 95% accurate analysis of the condition which was confirmed on Thursday evening following a marrow extraction analysis.

Thanks you John, truly appreciate it. I know you have recently had a hard time yourself and hope you are still coping well with your own tragic loss.