DavidEmerson's Journey with Plasmacytoma

Several months of neck pain turned our to be a single plasmacytoma in C5 diagnosed 2/94. Initial surgery included removing the plasmacytoma and connecting C4-C6. The site was then locally radiated. No therapy for the rest of '94. http://peoplebeatingcancer.org/about-david

The single plasmacytoma became full blown multiple myeloma about a year later and I underwent initial chemotherapy of 5 courses of vincristine, adriamycin and dexamethasone, (VAD) I then underwent two coursed of cytoxan in 9/95 and an autologus peripheral blood stem cell transplant in 12/95. Undergoing an auto bmt was a huge mistake.

The side effects listed- cataracts, irritable bladder, chemobrain, lumbo-sacral plexopathy, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy- are the main short, long term and late stage side effects that I have experienced from my induction chemo, radiation and auto bmt.

I underwent local radiation to my neck soon after my diagnosis 2/94 and again upon my second relapse in 10/96. The second local radiation to my iliac crest resulted in sterility and lumbo-sacral plexopathy or nerve damage.

An appointment with my oncologist on September 27th 1997 became a turning point for me. My onc told me that "nothing more can be done for you..." In fact, I had undergone aggressive conventional therapies and from my onc's point of view, I had relapsed repeatedly and there really was nothing more that conventional oncology could offer. I decide to take responsibility for my health and begin learning about what other cancer therapies were out there and what might help me. I chose to have an appointment at the Burzynski Research Institute (BRI) in Houston Tx in 11/97 and began antineoplaston therapy (ANP) on 11/3/97. I achieved complete remission by 4/99 and have been cancer free ever since. http://peoplebeatingcancer.org/about-david

Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer meaning survivors always relapse. Always. Knowing this, when I achieved complete remission 4/99, I decided to work hard to stay in remission as long as possible. I exercise, supplement, eat organic fruit and veggies (mostly) and detox (hyperthermia) in an effort to stay cancer free. As of today, 2/1/12 I have been cancer free since 4/99.