Man keeps rare cancer under control with MultiCare’s help

In late 2020, Les Sanderson, 58 at the time, fell off a ladder at home. At the hospital, a CT scan revealed the fall caused a spinal compression fracture.

The scan also revealed something unexpected: There were concerning lesions throughout his skeleton.

Les, who lives in Spokane, underwent further tests and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare type of cancer.

“My dad has had severe back issues and several back surgeries in the past,” says Michelle Sanderson, Les’ daughter. “If he hadn’t had the CT scan, we probably wouldn’t have known about the cancer.”

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are white blood cells that make antibodies and help the body fight infections.

When plasma cells multiply and become cancerous, they crowd out the normal antibodies. This can impact the body’s ability to fight infections and cause medical conditions that affect the bones and kidneys.

Bones can become weak and fragile because the cancer cells produce substances that break them down.

“The tumors were eating away at his bone marrow,” Michelle explains. “His bones were so brittle. At one point he was coughing and his sternum snapped in half. He had three compression fractures in his spine and several broken ribs.”

Daughter advocates for her dad

In addition to the multiple fractures, Les’ kidneys were failing. The proteins made by multiple myeloma can clog up the kidneys’ filtering mechanism, leading to kidney dysfunction or failure.

“He was in the hospital for about a month,” Michelle recalls. “They had him on some heavy narcotics for pain. He aspirated. That’s when he really went downhill.”

Les’ body filled with fluid. He was put in a 72-hour induced coma.

“He was so close to dying,” Michelle says. “After the induced coma, they started him on dialysis.”

Normally 235 pounds, Les says when he left the hospital, he weighed 130.

“They were surprised I made it out of the hospital,” he says.

Les was initially treated for multiple myeloma at a health care facility outside of MultiCare and was undergoing dialysis at the same time.

“I received a few chemo treatments there, but then they cut me loose,” he recalls. “They told me I had six months to live. I thought, ‘I don’t want to die.’”

“It was terrible and traumatic when the other facility decided not to treat him. But I wasn’t going to take that for an answer,” Michelle says. “I knew he had a fighting chance, and I had to find a doctor who’d take a chance on him.”

“MultiCare … seemed like they really cared about me and accepted me into the family. That was a neat experience.”

That’s when they found Brett Gourley, MD, of MultiCare Cancer Institute – North Spokane.

“Before I found Dr. Gourley, I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to continue,” Les admits. “At the other place, I felt like I was a number and on a production line. MultiCare wasn’t like that. They seemed like they really cared about me and accepted me into the family. That was a neat experience.”

After Dr. Gourley talked to him about treatments, Les says he knew MultiCare was the place he wanted to be.

“When we had our first meeting with Dr. Gourley, he said they were going to do everything they could,” Michelle recalls. “We felt reassured because even though it’s a rare cancer, Dr. Gourley had treated it before. I wanted someone to make a game plan, and he did just that.”

Although multiple myeloma does not have a cure, it can be controlled.

“Treatments for multiple myeloma have significantly improved over the past decade. At MultiCare Cancer Institute, we currently use four-drug therapy, which consists of an immune modulator, immune therapy, steroids and a proteasome inhibitor,” Dr. Gourley says. “This is a standard regimen, and it is very effective.”

Les continued with dialysis while he had chemotherapy treatments. He took bone strengtheners and kept his calcium levels up by drinking a lot of milk.

Becoming himself again with cancer in remission

“When Les came to us, he was in pretty rough shape. He was in a wheelchair, in kidney failure and had spinal compression fractures,” Dr. Gourley explains. “Fortunately, he responded incredibly well to the treatment.”

Les’ health began improving. As his myeloma got under control, his bones started healing, his kidneys became stable and his pain levels went down.

Now, he’s out of the wheelchair and off dialysis. His weight is back up to 206. His cancer is in remission and he’s on maintenance therapy, which means he only needs a monthly shot.

“It’s a joy taking care of Les,” Dr. Gourley says. “It makes me happy to see someone who was having such difficulties to turn around and be doing so well. Yes, he still has appointments, and cancer is part of his life, but he’s able to live his life and do the things he loves.”

And he’s doing just that. Michelle reports that her dad can do things he couldn’t do for some time, including working on his car.

“It was a long journey to get to this point,” she adds. “But he’s slowly becoming himself again.”

Les says he appreciates all the support he received along the way from his wife, daughter, and the doctors and nurses at MultiCare.

“There’s not enough I could do to show my appreciation,” he says. “If it weren’t for Dr. Gourley, I wouldn’t be here.”