In February 2015 my husband and I found out we were pregnant after two losses. We were both excited, but also worried as our last pregnancy ended after 13 weeks. Once we passed the 13-week mark, we both started to breathe a bit better. Each day, week, month that went by we were able to plan more, but a few more items and even finally felt ok about announcing the soon to be new arrival on the way.

In August 2015, at my third trimester appointment, my doctor was getting more concerned about the elevating protein levels in my urine. Usually, while pregnant, elevating protein levels in urine is coupled with rising blood pressure, but my blood pressure was low and at a good level consistently. In that appointment, he got on the phone and got me an appointment with a nephrologist for that same day since both he and the nephrologist thought maybe there was something wrong with my kidneys. After speaking to the nephrologist about family history among other things, she ordered labs be done to see what the issue could be. So, off to the lab I went to complete the labs for the nephrologist and my third trimester labs.

All week, all the labs were coming back normal. The last lab to come back caused some concern and so she called me to let me know she was referring me to hematology since the result was that my “bone marrow was producing abnormal protein.” This was spilling over into my kidneys and eventually into my urine. I was of course curious at what that could mean, so I Googled that phrase. What came up scared me. The only thing coming up in the search was “multiple myeloma blood cancer.” I had never heard of this cancer before, which made me even more concerned.

The next day I received a phone call from hematology scheduling me for an appointment just two days later. On August 19, 2015, my husband and I walked into the hematology/oncology office hoping for the best, but when my oncologist came in, he could not contain the news from seeping out of him. The look on his face said it all. I had multiple myeloma blood cancer. We talked about treatment options for the rest of my pregnancy (however long that would be since the estimate for delivery was atl 30-31 weeks and I was at 28 weeks), scheduled me for scans, more blood draws, and we did a bone marrow biopsy in the exam room that day.

Luckily, I was also given a new OB (although, I really liked my regular one) since I was considered high risk. I really liked the high-risk OB too, though. Between my scan appointments, weekly labs and weekly appointments to check on our son, I ended up having to go on maternity leave early. Luckily, after starting on steroids and an antibacterial medication, we were able to hold out until I was 35 weeks along to deliver. Our son came out perfect! He needed no NICU time and both he and I were doing so well, they allowed us to go home a day early after my cesarean section.

Five weeks after my c-section, I started induction chemotherapy which luckily was once a week. After the first six-week round, my cancer numbers had dropped tremendously. We were referred to Stanford Medical Center for my stem cell transplant and I started the intensive outpatient process on May 1st, 2016. The process was getting my Hickman line, high doses of chemotherapy, healthy stem cell apheresis (with having to shave my hair when we got home from that part), more high doses of chemotherapy, and finally, on June 6, 2016, I received my healthy stem cells back.

In July 2016, I started on maintenance chemotherapy and have been on the same treatment every other week, with a few breaks here and there due to Covid and other things going on. I have been very lucky and blessed to have had an amazing support unit in my husband and extended family and friends. In January 2020 I was accepted to be a part of a hiking trek team to Greenland with the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). Due to Covid, the trip was postponed, and our team finally traveled to Iceland and then Greenland in July 2022. When I started to train for the hike, I was walking almost every day. Up to 13 or 14 miles at a time. I then started to run again, and since 2020, I have walked or run around 40 half marathons. It’s never easy. I still have my bad days with a lot of pain, but listening to my body and finding what works for me is what helps me through this life LIVING with cancer.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in your bone marrow. The typical patient at that time was a 60+ year old African-American male. I was a 37-year-old white pregnant female. Also, at the time, the average life span of somebody diagnosed with multiple myeloma was 3-5 years. Luckily, with all the new treatment out there, people are living 20+ years and can have a mostly normal life.

I cherish every day of my life. I live it as fully as I can. I have learned that with patience, I can do anything. I have taught myself to paint, draw, crochet, and advocate for multiple myeloma, letting people know that this cancer affects more people than just older men. More and more young people are being diagnosed with this cancer. There needs to be more information and more advanced testing for younger people. In 2015, if I hadn’t been pregnant, I am sure I would not have known I had multiple myeloma for years possibly. I was not having any of the usual symptoms. If I was, they were the same symptoms as being pregnant, like back pain (I had bone lesions from T12 and all through my lumbar spine), tiredness, mental fogginess, and frequent urination to name a few.

In the end, I plan to live as long as I can. Hoping to bring more awareness to MM and raise funds to help find a cure.

Disclaimer

Member comments have been lightly edited for length and clarity. This content is for general informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of any organization or individual. The content should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.