Shawn Philpott (right) in Newfoundland, 5 months post transplant.

My journey with multiple myeloma began in the spring of 2017, I was 56 years old. It was the May long weekend and I was busy doing the usual yard work and gardening when I noticed my hips were bothering me. It was nothing like the usual hip flexor pain because the pain just wouldn’t subside. I blamed it on a long hockey season and work outs on the elliptical at the gym. Nevertheless, I decided to see a physiotherapist the following week. Through the months of June and July the pain intensified and spread to my back. Simply walking around was starting to be difficult and nothing seemed to help. My family doctor scheduled an MRI in early July which revealed a fractured vertebra. While this was surprising to me, cancer never crossed my mind as I felt otherwise fine and had never been in the hospital in over 50 years. I made in through my family vacation in Newfoundland that July but the symptoms persisted and intensified. 

I was back in Ontario on July 30 and was unable to get out of bed the next morning. I was taken by ambulance to Humber River Hospital in Toronto. I spent the next 3 days undergoing multiple tests to determine what was wrong. X-rays and MRI indicated multiple fractures and lesions in my vertebrae and ribs. I was on very strong pain medication, but Barb, my wife, remembers every detail. All test results pointed to one diagnosis – multiple myeloma. I had never heard about multiple myeloma before then. Immediately following diagnosis, I was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for a round of radiation for my vertebrae to try reducing the swelling and alleviating the pain of the fractures. Both Humber River and PMH were wonderful and caring throughout this whirlwind process.

In September 2017, I started chemotherapy treatment at Humber River. I was on the CyBorD regimen along with a monthly bone strengthener treatment. It was then that we learned about the Multiple Myeloma March in Barb’s hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo. Being at the early stage of my treatment and still suffering from significant back pain, walking 5 km was not an option for me, but my wonderful sisters-in-law stepped up and formed the “Walk on for Shawn” team. They, along with their husbands, formed a small team of four and became the top local fundraisers at this annual walk.  

The back pain was debilitating because of the damage caused by the vertebrae fractures and lesions. I was on heavy painkillers to try to alleviate the pain. In October 2017, our nurse practitioner recommended a procedure called vertebroplasty, which in effect cements and reinforces the fractures in the vertebrae. The procedure involves the use of a large needle inserted into the spine. The procedure was a success and for the first time in months I could actually bend over and touch my toes. 

With the back pain relatively under control, we stayed focussed on the CyBorD treatment to which I was responding quite well. It was at this point in my treatment (pre-transplant) that Barb and I decided to get married and make it official. At that point we had been together for 8 years, and together we are raising 5 wonderful kids now ranging in age from 14 to 21. With a small ceremony we celebrated our blended family. The honeymoon would follow once I was healthier.

Shawn with his wife, Barbara Rigway, and their five kids.

Shawn ringing the Courage Bell at Princess Margaret following discharge from the transplant day hospital.

By Christmas 2017 and after four rounds of CyBorD we were ready for my autologous stem cell transplant at PMH. We learned that I would be an outpatient for the transplant. Although daunting at first, I would not have it any other way given the choice. February 11 2018, was the big day. After several months of treatment, the actual procedure was a little anticlimactic! My journey had already required a lot of efforts and the next step was not going to be easy. With the help of Barb, our wonderful family and friends, we made daily trips to the PMH – no matter how “crappy” I felt. The 14 ^th floor nurses were wonderful. With a few minor bumps along the way, I was officially discharged from treatment on March 28. I rang the “courage bell” that I had watched some many others before me ring. I remember the applause, smiles and few tears by all in attendance. You meet a lot of brave patients, caregivers and staff throughout this process.

One year after my diagnosis, I was determined to participate in the second annual Multiple Myeloma March in Kitchener Waterloo. We changed our team name to “Walk on With Shawn” as I was able to complete the 5 km walk. Our entire family, including our kids, my mother and all our siblings and spouses joined in to support our cause and my journey.

Shawn at the Kitchener-Waterloo Multiple Myeloma March, 7 months post transplant.

Today, I am back at work on a full-time basis. It is a new normal. I have learned to take it easy when I need to and know now that if I don’t listen to my body, I usually pay the price for it. I am getting back to the activities I love. I am once again coaching our daughter’s Leaside Wildcats hockey team and doing gardening and yard work. I continue my monthly visits to the HRH and overall I am doing well. I have had conversations with recently diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and try to help if I can. I’m so looking forward to that honeymoon – spring 2019 in Mexico with our 5 kids. I’m trying to convince Barb and the kids to do some scuba diving with me…We will see.

Shawn Philpott

To find a local support group in your area or for information on how to start one,

visit  www.myeloma.ca   , under " Find Support ".