November 2024

Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer; also known as Kahler’s disease which is a cancer of the plasma cells, a type of white blood cells in the bone marrow.  Multiple myeloma fools the body into thinking cancerous cells are normal plasma cells, and thus the cancer multiplies for years unchecked.  If untreated, multiple myeloma attacks the bones, immune system, kidneys, red and white blood cells.  Early and ongoing symptoms of multiple myeloma are anaemia.  Multiple myeloma remains a relatively rare cancer.

The causes of multiple myeloma are not clear.  Research suggests, like many other cancers, can be related to exposure to toxic chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, lack of certain nutrients in the diet, toxic foods and unclean water.  There is a close correlation between multiple myeloma and a condition called ‘monoclonal gammopathy’ or MGUS where there is an excess of protein molecules, called immunoglobulins in the blood.

Somewhere back in time I must have experienced a genetic mutation that my body didn’t self-correct.  The mutation became my body’s new normal and myeloma cells replicated unabated.  To date there is no cure for multiple myeloma, but it is treatable and highly manageable which is encouraging.  Survival rates are anywhere from 2 to 5 years depending on what stage the cancer was at when diagnosed.  There are many people with multiple myeloma that continue to survive 10 to 12 years or more.  Personally, it is my intention to survive as long as I possibly can.  Every day is a new day.

“You have to be willing to give up the life you planned, and instead,
greet the life that is waiting for you.”
— Joseph Campbell

When I look back at my life and ask the question—why me—how did this cancer infiltrate my body and why didn’t it get diagnosed sooner?  Many questions.

First off, I worked in corporate administration all my working life; exposed to fluorescent lighting and all of the businesses that I worked for were also manufacturing facilities which used chemicals and toxic substances that we as employees where subject to either physically or airborne through the ventilation systems.  Why did I get cancer and the people I worked with did not?

Second, I grew up with parents that were very much into gardening.  They used fertilizers and I helped them with the lawns and gardens and then adapted their methods into my life for a period of at least 30 years until my son introduced me to organic, biodynamic and permaculture agricultural and gardening practices.  Thus, for the past 20 years I have lived a life eating and growing organic foods.  Again, I ask the question, why did I get cancer?

Looking at my diet, however, working in the environment that I did, I adopted the habit of consuming many cups of coffee over the course of the day, eating and drinking at my desk.  I have to admit, my diet for most of my life up until the past 18-20 years has not been the healthiest, but it was better than the average household.  My father was a smoker and a heavy drinker.  Growing up in an era where cigarette smoking was considered fashionable and normal, it was difficult to not be exposed.  However, I never smoked, but I did consume alcohol as it too was the normal.  My parents were heavy social drinkers and when entertaining it was normal to have several bottles of wine on the table, beer or other alcoholic beverages for before and after meals.

So, I still have still not figured out where or how this cancer infiltrated my body.  In 2017 I fell off a ladder and broke my right femur bone just above the knee.  The surgeon, who set my leg, told me that that x-rays and what he saw in surgery, indicated that I was in the beginning stages of osteoporosis, which is another one of those silent diseases that is characterized by weak, brittle and porous bones.  My GP (General Practitioner or Family Doctor) sent me for bloodwork and a bone density test which came back confirming the initial signs of osteoporosis.  The bloodwork showed some concern over one of my kidneys, however, second blood test shows no concerns.  We agreed to follow up every two years.  It is my belief, to this day, that had my GP at the time done a deep dive and ordered more extensive blood tests that the early stages of multiple myeloma would have been identified.  Had that been the case, the myeloma would have been Stage 1 and completely treatable.

This leads me to where I am today.  In my personal story, I indicated that I experienced severe pain in my right shoulder that migrated to my spine and within two months I was admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery to remove a tumor from my spine that was the size of my thumb that consumed my T4 to T6 and blocked the spinal fluid from flowing.  Had my GP at the time sent me for an MRI or CT-Scan; the tumor would have been identified and I would more than likely not be paralyzed and living my life in a wheelchair.  All the shoulda-woulda-coulda’s don’t count!  What is–is what it is!  I cannot go back in time and change things.  I can only go forward from here.

I have always been attracted to alternative health.  I have worked with numerous alternative health practitioners over the years.  I have worked with reiki and have a masters degree in reiki myself.  For well over 30 years of my life I have worked out in a gym twice a week, practiced yoga, gi-gong, tai-chi as well as creative dance.  All throughout the covid years, I only came down with covid once.  I have had the usual spring and fall cold or flu and I have been exposed to my grandchildren’s ongoing illnesses that they bring home from school with no adversity.  My immune system has been strong and healthy by all indications.  For the past year, I have spent 7 out of 9 months on my back in the hospital and not once did I get covid, a cold or any type of viral or bacterial infection.  During that time, I did not take any vitamin supplements, only what the hospital allowed, which was only vitamin D and a calcium pill daily.  I went back on my daily supplement regain after I was discharged home.  I feel that I remain healthy to this day as far as my immune system goes.

There is so much with regards to current health care system that frustrates me and that I just cannot get my head wrapped around.  One of the most frustrating things I experienced with doctors and nurses in the hospital was being treated like someone that is not supposed to know.  I would ask a question and simply getting a blank stare or a change of the subject.  It was as if they all went to school or had a course on how to deal with patients.  I found that I got more answers and more honesty from the PSA’s, transporters and maintenance people.  I feel that the medical system is under obligation to promote and administer chemotherapy, radiation and surgery as the only treatment for cancer when there are many alternatives plus supplements that they won’t consider because they under obligation to the system that pays their salaries.  Forgive me if I am wrong.

I am a digger, a researcher and I have read many books, watched many videos and have done my share of internet browsing.  I have made it a passion of mine to be educated and knowledgeable about everything that crosses my path.  This is who I am; I have created this website to help others on their journey; may it be cancer or a spinal cord injury or a chronic illness or a disability.

Over the past year, I have met many people with many different types of cancer and I have met many people experiencing a disability for the first time.  I have listened to their personal stories, felt their pains, their frustrations with the medical system and their uncertainties about the future.  I realize that I need to be grateful for my life as it is, as things could be far much worse than they are.  I have a wonderful family and support group that are there me for which I am extremely grateful for.  If there was ever any blame to be placed upon anyone or anything in my life that may have contributed to me being where I am, I offer forgiveness from my heart.  Hoʻoponopono!

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift
– that’s why it’s called ‘the present.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt

Kathryn