back to square one then

When you look at all the photographs and videos I've uploaded to this blog, it's easy to forget sometimes why I started the whole thing.  It was originally to give me something to do to take my mind off the struggle of dealing with having multiple myeloma.

Over the years I've documented my stem cell transplant, a glorious period in remission which despite the constant back and other pain was at least stable to a degree, my relapse in 2023 and the two years or so after where nothing much really happened.

And now it seems we're back where it all started.  Sort of.

Mt recent blood tests revealed levels of paraproteins higher than when my spine crumbled in 2014.  And it seems my care team are now concerned I may have developed lesions (plasma cystomas) on my bones which could eventually lead to fractures.

So, I need to have a series of scans to see if they're right and, if they are, what steps come next.  It's likely that will involve radiotherapy which is something I have endured previously but sadly too late to prevent my spinal fracture, and it is a procedure that did make me very unwell and crushingly tired.

To say I'm not looking forward to the scans would be an understatement, and I am dreading what might follow.

They say everything comes and goes around and it seems with my health at least that may be the case.  If only the same could be said of my wardrobe...

Anyway, talking of being back where we started, here's a picture of an old friend.

Nikon Z6, Viltrox 14mm f4
1/25th of a second at f11, ISO 100
tripod, self-timed release