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Despite the fact that I feel in top form I have developed Waldenstrom's Disease. It only affects 1,500 people per year in the U.S. and I am one of them. After all, I can't just get any ole common disease.

Definition



Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is a rare, chronic cancer of the immune system that is characterized by hyperviscosity, or thickening, of the blood.

Description

Waldenstrom's (Waldenstrom, Waldenstroem's) macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoma, or cancer of the lymphatic system. It was first identified in 1944, by the Swedish physician Jan Gosta Waldenstrom, in patients who had a thickening of the serum, or liquid part, of the blood. Their blood serum contained a great deal of a very large molecule called a globulin. Thus, the disorder is called macroglobulinemia.

Lymphomas are cancers that originate in tissues of the lymphatic system. All lymphomas other than Hodgkin's disease, including WM, are known collectively as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. There are 13 major types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and others that are very rare. Other names that are sometimes used for WM include: lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytic leukemia, macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom, primary macroglobulinemia, Waldenstrom's syndrome, Waldenstrom's purpura, or hyperglobulinemic purpura. Purpura refers to purple spots on the skin, resulting from the frequent bleeding and bruising that can be a symptom of WM.

WM is classified as a low-grade or indolent form of lymphoma because it is a slow-growing cancer that produces fewer symptoms than other types of lymphomas. WM most often affects males over the age of 65. Frequently, this disease produces no symptoms and does not require treatment. It has not been studied as extensively as other types of lymphoma.

Lon this is awful news to get anytime of the year. Your in my thoughts and prayers I know you can beat this. :yh_hugs

sending get well love to you Lon :-4

Sorry to hear that Lon but glad your on top form and sounding as cheery as usual.

Best wishes to you and your family:-6

Lon,

I hope you are one of those who lives well in spite of it all. It isn't easy to hear the "C" word no matter what kind it is. Stay strong.

Hugs to you, and a candle I shall light tonight. :-4

My love and thoughts are with you Lon:-4

I'm soooo sorry Lon:-4 I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for the info, nomad.



A hug for ya, Lon.

So sorry to hear that Lon, stay strong :yh_hugs:yh_hugs:yh_hugs

Lon it's no wonder some people loathe Christmas. Keep smiling, I'm sure all of FG thoughts will be with you, mine certainly are.

your in my thoughts Lon. Not much that words can say.

I can't think of much else where a "low-grade or indolent" is something to applaud Lon. I know you don't want it and I know we hope you can get rid of it but don't you go training it up to be less indolent, let it sloth as much as it likes.

spot;746292 wrote: I can't think of much else where a "low-grade or indolent" is something to applaud Lon. I know you don't want it and I know we hope you can get rid of it but don't you go training it up to be less indolent, let it sloth as much as it likes.


What he said. Just talk it into remission.

Take care sir. I hope things work out well. Be safe and try to enjoy the holiday regardless. I can fed-ex you some brownies if you'd like.

Lon I too am sorry to hear this news.

You don't know how I first hoped this was just one of those things you were pulling our leg about, like you like to do. I still wish that it was.

Ive come here a dozen times to utter something but my thoughts seem trite.

Nomad;746468 wrote: Ive come here a dozen times to utter something but my thoughts seem trite.


Hardly trite and much appreciated. It's not that big a deal Nom. I am feeling great and plan on croaking with it, rather than from it. I have had eight straight days of Chemo incl. Xmas eve and Xmas day. I finish up tomorrow and then have some blood tests to see the results of the chemo. I am tolerating this whole procedure quite well and will be playing tennis Thursday as usual.

Maybe I'm nuts, but I view this whole thing as just another adventure in the saga of living. At my age I'm just happy to be on this side of the grass.

No one could have put it better.

Carpe Diem.

Lon;746479 wrote: Hardly trite and much appreciated. It's not that big a deal Nom. I am feeling great and plan on croaking with it, rather than from it. I have had eight straight days of Chemo incl. Xmas eve and Xmas day. I finish up tomorrow and then have some blood tests to see the results of the chemo. I am tolerating this whole procedure quite well and will be playing tennis Thursday as usual.

Maybe I'm nuts, but I view this whole thing as just another adventure in the saga of living. At my age I'm just happy to be on this side of the grass.


:wah: You've got the attitude to beat this, best wishes to you and yours this holiday season.

Lon;746479 wrote: Hardly trite and much appreciated. It's not that big a deal Nom. I am feeling great and plan on croaking with it, rather than from it. I have had eight straight days of Chemo incl. Xmas eve and Xmas day. I finish up tomorrow and then have some blood tests to see the results of the chemo. I am tolerating this whole procedure quite well and will be playing tennis Thursday as usual.

Maybe I'm nuts, but I view this whole thing as just another adventure in the saga of living. At my age I'm just happy to be on this side of the grass.


Thats a remarkable attitude. I admire that. I strive for that in my life but I fail miserably on a daily basis.

Ive actually thought to myself in the past how liberating it would be to get sick so I could feel alive. Terribly skewed I know but it too often seems we dont start playing our hardest until the last few minutes of the game because we know time is running out.

Nomad;746482 wrote: Thats a remarkable attitude. I admire that. I strive for that in my life but I fail miserably on a daily basis.

Ive actually thought to myself in the past how liberating it would be to get sick so I could feel alive. Terribly skewed I know but it too often seems we dont start playing our hardest until the last few minutes of the game because we know time is running out.

This is a completely selfish request but if your up to it Id like to know how you cope along the way in your journey.

It might be beneficial in more ways than you know.

If you remain private then of course your decision will be respected.

Is this out of line ? Crude ?

I apologize if it is.


Not out of line and no apologies necessary. It's a beautiful Xmas morning here in California and we have finished opening presents. I drove the 4.2 miles to the Center to get my 7 AM shots and was the only car in sight at that time. 13 years ago I had Prostate Cancer and had one of the best guys on the west coast do my surgery. Five years later I was declared clean of cancer and was able to donate blood again. At the time I was diagnosed, I was sure I was going to die and it gave me a real wake up call to life and living. I decided right then to not delay doing the things I wanted to do and to share the things I wished to share. And I must say, the last 13 years have been a blast. I have done things I always wanted to do and been places that I always wanted to visit, and fortunately had the resources to bring it about. We have had to postpone our annual trip to New Zealand that we usually take in November and have canceled a cruise from Lisbon to Barcelona and then on to Rome that we had planned for May. Hopefully, by late spring I will be through with treatments and into some kind of remission, at which time we will resume our travel plans. I am a assertive pro-active person Nom and when faced with a major decision, face it head on and get on with it. I look at some of the poor souls at the Treatment Center that look as if they died 5 days ago and feel fortunate that I feel as well as I do. I have never been afraid of death or dying, just the process, and if I didn't wake up tomorrow, I have no regrets. I have much life left in me and plan make good use of it. BTW--there is no connection between Waldenstrom's and Prostate Cancer. Strange isn't it, as an ex smoker, I always figured I might get Lung Cancer.

Merry Xmas All

Thanks for the beacon. I mean that. I need inspiration and a good kick in the ass from time to time.

Its snowing like crazy right now. I think Ill go play in it.

Lon....I want to be like you when I grow up!!:D:-4



Well.... not a man, but that attitude, I admire you for your strength and love for life. My grandfather is the same way....you remind me a lot of him (he is MUCH older though:wah:) He has fought cancer twice and won, he loves life to the fullest, and is a great example for us young chaps that think we have it so bad with the daily stresses of life.....



Sending a big hug to you and yours!:-4

If anyone can handle the treatments, and beat this... you can Lon. If its true what they say about attitude beating disease, your a shoe in to go down in the books as the quickest remission the docs have ever seen. Bummer to get this news anytime, but Im glad you have the support of loved ones.

My thoughts are with you Lon - stay strong :-4

i cant beleive it lon keep strong