Cured or not cured?

After almost two years of learning that I had cancer, my meeting with the doctor two days ago completely changed my way of thinking about the goal of life after cancer.  Apparently, the medical definition of the word "cure" is different from my way of thinking.  The doctor said multiple myeloma is incurable.  I've heard that many times but refused to accept it.  I've also heard doctors say that results for a few patients are "curative."  It gets confusing, wondering if the disease has ever been "cured."

The answer is awkward but simple.  To the medical establishment, a cure means all multiple myeloma cells are gone.  There is no sign of the cancerous cells left in the body.  Apparently, that hasn't been accomplished for this particular cancer.  So does that mean all myeloma patients are doomed to a shortened lifetime of cancer?  This is where she changed my way thinking entirely.  The answer is no.

There is an indication that a tiny amount of cancerous cells are still in my body, so few that samples of the bone marrow contain zero myeloma cells.  My new immune system and the small amount of a chemotherapy drug taken daily are enough to keep those cells from growing.  I don't have any signs of the disease, just a very few cells hiding somewhere in my bone marrow.  Seemingly healthy people may have the same thing, but their immune system is constantly keeping those bad cells at a low count so the body is not negatively effected.

The bottom line is, as the doctor said to me two days ago, "You don't have multiple myeloma any more."  She explained that having cancer is being sick or showing symptoms of the disease.  Although I contain some bad cells in my body, they are at such a low level, it doesn't effect my life or my way of life.  I can certainly live with that.  I may not be "cured" but I'll tell the world that I no longer have multiple myeloma.  I had cancer, now I don't have cancer.  That sounds sure sounds like a cure to me!