HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-09-20, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2000.
New treatment gives man a second chance
For the Team
Dave Bowles of Grey Twp., who recently under
went stem cell transplant to treat multiple
myeloma, volunteered last week to lead this
past Sunday’s Terry Fox Run in Brussels. He
gives much credit to his wife, Karen, for his
recovery. “Anyone who has to go through some
thing like this should
their side,” he said.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
When Dave Bowles offered
to lead this year’s Brussels
Terry Fox Run as its Team
Member, it was an expression
of gratitude.
“This event supports cancer
research. It's because of
research that Dave has anoth
er chance,” says his wife,
Karen.
Bowles, a trucker and
farmer from Grey Twp. was
42 years old and enjoying
good health. Then in May of
1999 he began experiencing
severe pain in his ribs. Trips
were made to the doctor but
suspecting that it may be a
farm-related injury nothing
was done.
Then after a particularly
excruciating night, and further
complications including
blurred vision Bowles made
his fourth trip to the physi
cian. Blood and urine tests
showed high protein levels
and anemia. Also, pneumonia
had set in.
He was admitted to the hos
pital in Listowel where med
ical staff suspected Bowles
may have multiple myeloma.
According to information
from the Canadian Cancer
Society, multiple myeloma is
a form of cancer where the
plasma cells undergo a change
in the bone marrow and multi
ply faster than normal.
These cells reproduce and
excrete excessive amounts of
a type of protein, which accu
mulates in the serum and
inhibits the production of nor
mal antibodies.
As the cells increase they
also interfere with the normal
growth of red blood cells,
white blood cells and
platelets, causing anemia,
infection and bleeding
episodes that ultimately lead
to bone marrow failure.
Unlike cancer cells in the
lung and breast, plasma cells
only occasionally form solid
tumours. Instead it travels
through the skeletal system.
As the disease progresses
plasma cells eventually
have someone like her by
spread to bones that do not
contain the blood cell-produc
ing marrow.
The most common symp
tom is bone pain particularly
in the backbone or vertebrae.
Other symptoms include
fatigue, abnormal bleeding,
repeated infection and gradual
weight loss.
Though generally consid
ered an older person’s illness,
striking most people who are
over 60, multiple myeloma is
found in people under the age
of 40.
“The stats are changing. We
had just always figured Dave
was never in the stats,” Karen
says of her husband.
“I’d never been sick a day
before,” Dave added. “They
say when you are older the
disease progresses gradually.
Making welfare work.
Your success is
helping others succeed.
But when you're young it’s
like going off a cliff. You’re
okay, then all of a sudden —
bang.”
Bowles was transferred to
London’s Westminster
Campus from Listowel the
next day where after being
treated for pneumonia he
began chemotherapy.
Also discussed was the pos
sibility of stem cell transplant,
a procedure which had been
done less than 10 times in
London.
The chemo was done on an
outpatient basis. Bowles was
hooked to a “power pack” on
Monday which released
chemo into his system until
Friday. This happened once a
month until October.
“By the end I was hoping it
was over,” says Bowles.
Though medication has made
chemo more tolerable, his
legs and face were quite
swollen and he was lethargic.
“I always knew by Friday it
was going to wear me out.”
Oct. 16 he had injections of
Stemgen and Neupogen in
preparation for the stem cell
transplant. Home care nurses
visited to give the injections.
Harvesting the cells,
Bowles says, worked like a
cream separator. “I lay on the
table for eight hours while
they drew blood out of one
arm, spun the cells out, then
put it back in the other arm.”
The cells were then frozen.
The next month his body
was cleansed with two high
doses of chemo, then full
body radiation for 12 minutes.
Then the stem cells were
returned to his body.
As his immunity dropped
he was kept in isolation and
took every antibiotic “thrown
at him.”
Nine days later he was sent
home. “Fatigue was the big
thing. I could pretty much
crawl to the top of the stairs
but that was about it. It was a
long time to come back. It’s
cent of
expect.
little by little by month, not by
day.”
Now on pills for bone pain
and drugs because of the burnt
nerves in his feet, Bowles
says the doctors feel he came
through the ordeal quite well.
“I’m about 80 per . _
where I was before, which it
about what I can
That’s pretty good.”
Mutliple myeloma is incur
able, but treatable. But with
the progress through research
Bowles is optimistic. “My
hope is that in 10 years they,
will have something even bet
ter to treat me."
For now, his condition is
continually monitored. “The
doctors won't say he’s cancer
free. It's under control,” says
Karen.
Taking to the pavement
With the sun shining and cool breezes blowing, residents from Brussels and
area hit the trail Sunday afternoon to help raise cancer research funds on the
20th anniversary of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope.
Congratulations to the entire
team in Huron County.
Since 1995, the Harris government has been
reforming the welfare system and the results
have been tremendous. The welfare caseload
in Ontario has declined by more than 50 per
cent and a big reason for this success has
been the hard work of people in communities
like Huron County
Taxpayers demand high standards and the
team in Huron County has not only met, but
exceeded those standards. Huron County is
one of the top 10 communities in Ontario
to exceed its work-for-welfare placement
target. Placements offer welfare recipients
the chance to get practical work experience,
skills and the self-confidence to get and hold
a job. The efforts of senior management,
the caseworkers, and the entire welfare staff
are making a huge difference in the lives
of many people.
Moving people from welfare
to work benefits us all.
® Ontario
community nurses, whom
they say were excellent and to
the friends and family who
have continually supported
and helped them.
His decision to volunteer to
lead this year’s Terry Fox Run
came after “ a little persua
sion” from Karen. “I had
picked up a pamphlet but did-
This year’s run nets $3,500
It has been an amazing
accomplishment for Brussels
and area residents over the last
seven years.
With people walking, run
ning and biking, the commu
nity has raised $32,186.04
including more than $3,500
pledged at Sunday’s Terry Fox
Run . -
n’t know who to get in touch
with,” she says. “When I read
in the paper that they needed a
Team Member I felt Dave was
a real good candidate for
this.”
“Research is what this run is
about. It’s the reason I’m here
and I live a pretty good life
now,” says Bowles.
Marking the 20th anniver
sary of Fox’s Marathon of
Hope, Ontarians raised a
record $7.7 million this year
for cancer research.
With the run now taking
place in countries around the
world, Canadians pledged $14
million of the total $20 million
raised.