Cliff Long's Health Update (as of 6/24/01)

    Over six years ago, I underwent neck surgery for an injury received while playing squash. The basic cause of the problem was diagnosed as multiple myeloma cancer. The surgery was quite serious due to some slowness in diagnosing a broken neck (they thought muscle spasms). I have some tingling in hands and feet, and am not as tall as I used to be, but am able to get around OK - just not as fast as I would like. I have had some pain, but pain pills take care of most of the problem and the pain at the moment seems to be mostly in my left leg and hip. This, along with some weakness in the leg makes it a little hard to get around except with a walker or wheel chair. This has only been a problem over the last few months, and we are looking for ways to eliminate this leg problem.

    The really good news is that I'm getting along OK, and doing a whole lot better than I expected. I still get an IV infusion of a drug called Aredia (bone strengthening) every four weeks and right now am on Dexamethesone. I seem to be able to handle the Aredia and the Dex fairly well with no serious side effects. Some of the other chemo/drugs that I have been on to treat the disease have caused side affects and a need to change treatments.

    I've retired from teaching, but am still involved in some mathematics and still get over to the office occasionally. I'm blessed with a wonderful family and caring and concerned friends without whom I don't know how I would have managed the experiences of the last six years - especially the first. I certainly look forward to each new day and hope that you are enjoying them to the fullest.

    Here's the history on this thing as it developed, if you really want to know: the problem, the first update , the second update , the third update , one year update , second year update, fourth year update.