Warsaw Resident Discusses Battle With Multiple Myeloma
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The condition is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for producing antibodies. In multiple myeloma, collections of abnormal plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow, where they interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
“When I was first diagnosed the advertised survival rate was, after five years of being diagnosed with myeloma, 35 percent live. Now after five years there is a 60 percent survival rate,” Watson said.
Watson has lived 10 years since he was diagnosed at age 54. He was diagnosed May 2004 by Dr. Douglas Sawyer, a Kosciusko Community Hospital family physician.
After the diagnosis, Watson retired as a pilot for Zimmer, where he worked since 1977.
“The blood cancer eats away at the bones. I had five compression fractures in my spine,” Watson said. “I had never heard of the disease and in current statistics there are only 20,000 new cases in the U.S. per year, so it’s a rare disease.”
Watson said he began researching the disease and discovered there is no cure.
He went to two specialists in Indianapolis. He prepared for a January 2005 stem cell transplant by having chemo to help knock his myeloma blood count down, and prepared for the extracting of his stem cells.
A stem cell transplant, also called a blood or marrow transplant, is the injection or infusion of healthy stem cells into the body to replace damaged or diseased cells.
He was at Indiana University Simon Cancer Center for recovery for two weeks, and it took him a total of six months to recover.
He was in remission for four years without treatment, then the myeloma came back.
He has been on bortezomib and lenalidomide medications since 2009.
Watson received chemo treatment from Dr. Rafat Abonour, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, once a month where he received his transplant. He also receives chemo treatments twice a month from Dr. Musaberk Goksel at Center of Hope Cancer Care Center at Kosciusko Community Hospital.
Abonour started Miles For Myeloma, a three-day bike journey that is Oct. 3 to 5 to raise funds for the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center to assist with myeloma research. Abonour started the ride 10 years ago.
“I sing the praises of Dr. Abonour because he is helping to find a cure for the disease,” Watson said.
The 240-mile ride begins at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis and continues to McCormicks Creek State Park outside Bloomington, Terre Haute, and ends at The Scottish Rite Auditorium where a dinner is held for Abonour’s patients and their families. At the dinner guests receive information on new treatments and research for Myeloma.
Abonour participates in the ride along with his family and colleagues.
The Watsons have volunteered for the ride for nine years. They will drive a truck and serve as a “pit crew” for the cyclists and have helped plan the ride.
The Watsons have sent out letters to friends and family to help raise funds for myeloma research. Bicyclists who participate in the ride also raise funds.
The ride has raised more than $2.5 million in the past nine years.
“Research is the only way to find a cure for the disease,” Watson said.
Watson provides advice and said those who have myeloma should see specialists.
His wife, Becky, said it is important to have a support group.
“In the beginning it was so scary and I felt like I was going to lose him, and it has been a journey seeing him go through the transplant,” she said.
To donate to the Miles For Myeloma fund, visit www.cancer.iu.edu/m4m[[In-content Ad]]
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The condition is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for producing antibodies. In multiple myeloma, collections of abnormal plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow, where they interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
“When I was first diagnosed the advertised survival rate was, after five years of being diagnosed with myeloma, 35 percent live. Now after five years there is a 60 percent survival rate,” Watson said.
Watson has lived 10 years since he was diagnosed at age 54. He was diagnosed May 2004 by Dr. Douglas Sawyer, a Kosciusko Community Hospital family physician.
After the diagnosis, Watson retired as a pilot for Zimmer, where he worked since 1977.
“The blood cancer eats away at the bones. I had five compression fractures in my spine,” Watson said. “I had never heard of the disease and in current statistics there are only 20,000 new cases in the U.S. per year, so it’s a rare disease.”
Watson said he began researching the disease and discovered there is no cure.
He went to two specialists in Indianapolis. He prepared for a January 2005 stem cell transplant by having chemo to help knock his myeloma blood count down, and prepared for the extracting of his stem cells.
A stem cell transplant, also called a blood or marrow transplant, is the injection or infusion of healthy stem cells into the body to replace damaged or diseased cells.
He was at Indiana University Simon Cancer Center for recovery for two weeks, and it took him a total of six months to recover.
He was in remission for four years without treatment, then the myeloma came back.
He has been on bortezomib and lenalidomide medications since 2009.
Watson received chemo treatment from Dr. Rafat Abonour, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, once a month where he received his transplant. He also receives chemo treatments twice a month from Dr. Musaberk Goksel at Center of Hope Cancer Care Center at Kosciusko Community Hospital.
Abonour started Miles For Myeloma, a three-day bike journey that is Oct. 3 to 5 to raise funds for the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center to assist with myeloma research. Abonour started the ride 10 years ago.
“I sing the praises of Dr. Abonour because he is helping to find a cure for the disease,” Watson said.
The 240-mile ride begins at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis and continues to McCormicks Creek State Park outside Bloomington, Terre Haute, and ends at The Scottish Rite Auditorium where a dinner is held for Abonour’s patients and their families. At the dinner guests receive information on new treatments and research for Myeloma.
Abonour participates in the ride along with his family and colleagues.
The Watsons have volunteered for the ride for nine years. They will drive a truck and serve as a “pit crew” for the cyclists and have helped plan the ride.
The Watsons have sent out letters to friends and family to help raise funds for myeloma research. Bicyclists who participate in the ride also raise funds.
The ride has raised more than $2.5 million in the past nine years.
“Research is the only way to find a cure for the disease,” Watson said.
Watson provides advice and said those who have myeloma should see specialists.
His wife, Becky, said it is important to have a support group.
“In the beginning it was so scary and I felt like I was going to lose him, and it has been a journey seeing him go through the transplant,” she said.
To donate to the Miles For Myeloma fund, visit www.cancer.iu.edu/m4m[[In-content Ad]]
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