How can I cope with fear of multiple myeloma relapse?

Hi John Glad to hear u had a successful bone marrow transplant. Can I ask how old u are? I have CMML. It was suggested that I get a bone marrow transplant but at my age 73, they say I have a 50-60% chance of not making it & 50% chance of it returning within a year. I am seeing 2 hematologist/oncologist. One is also a naturopathic dr. He has me taking many supplements: capsules of green tea, Berberine, turmeric, vit D& C. I also take papaya extract & dandelion root extract. And I drink 4 oz of carrot juice 2xaday and 1 wheat grass shot. I’ve been doing this for 4 months and my hemoglobin went from 9.7 to 10.7 and platelets are now at 102.

Hi Joanie. I'm very sorry for your situation but you have a long way to go.I believe a positive attitude and a strong will to live means everything with what we are all going through. I'm glad your doctors have put you on very good supplements and you seem to be improving. I'm now 55 and I had to travel to India for my bone marrow transplant due to lack of facilities in my country. I still go there for monitoring.I was previously there in April and May this year. I also ensure I have a good diet and do a little bit of exercise on daily basis. For bone marrow transplant at your age I don't much and it's good to rely on the advise of your doctors. The oldest person who I know did it is 65 years . I'm now fighting cancer among the most vulnerable patients in my country through a foundation that I started.

What country do you live in? Thanks for your reply and encouragement.

I live in Kenya in Africa. Kenya is known for it's great wildebeest migration and diversity of culture with 42 tribes and much more. It has warm tropical climate throughout the year with beautiful landscapes from the great rift valley to the snow capped mount Kenya. To the East is the Indian ocean with beautiful white sand beaches and world class hotels.

Sounds beautiful, but medical care is limited, I assume.

Yes it's a really beautiful country with hospitable people. Medical care is available even in renown private hospitals like the Aghakan but expensive for the ordinary people.However for more advanced medical care, we prefer to go to India which is like a tradition because it's more affordable and highly professional and specialized.

We also prefer to go to India because they do very good follow up.They have connections with local doctors here who do the management.They also come to see us regularly and we are also able to get affordable medicine from India. Like now I have my local hemato-oncologist but my Indian doctor is the Chief of hematology at Apollo hospital Gujarat Ahmedabad, he is Lt Gen(Rtd) Velu Nair, a very renown doctor with an outstanding career in hematology.

I really wish you well in your treatment and health

Thank you!

Hello Joanie and how are you doing today?

Thankfully I’ve been doing ok. I will get more blood work done on Monday. Hoping that everything is stable

The anxiety about potential relapse is completely understandable and shared by many in the cancer community. While uncertainty about the future can feel overwhelming, many people find that connecting with others who understand this journey and focusing on building coping strategies for managing these fears can be incredibly helpful. Consider reaching out to fellow community members who may have navigated similar concerns, and don't hesitate to discuss these feelings with your care team who can provide guidance tailored to your specific situation.