(Posted
6:30 a.m., Feb. 5)
Ottawa-Orléans
MP plans to run for reelection in wake of positive test
results
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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After undergoing dialysis treatment for the
past three months the prognosis for Ottawa-Orléans
MP Royal Galipeau is looking bright. Ottawa Sun photo
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Ottawa-Orléans
MP Royl Galipeau has set his sights on the next election
after getting some good news in his battle with cancer.
Galipeau
was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form od blood
cancer after he had broken rib while trying to stifle
a sneeze. Blood tests showed that he had unusually high
levels of calcium and creatinine, a chemical waste molecule
generated from muscle metabolism.
My
doctor told me, Get yourself over to the emergency
at the General Hospital right now; youre on the
verge of cardiac arrest, he said.
Multiple
myeloma represents one per cent of all cancers and two
per cent of all cancer deaths. It is treatable but has
no known cure.
The
67-year-old Galipeau was immediately put on dialysis eoght
hours a day for eight straight days. The dialysis was
gradually scaled back over the last two months and was
stopped entirely more than a week ago.
On
Monday, he got his latest test results back. The verdict
-- his creatinine levels have continued to fall, which
means his kidneys are once again functioning properly.
His
long term prognosis is good considering multiple myeloma
has no cure. Doctors have told him he can expect to live
another seven to 15 years.
Despite
the treatments, Galipeau has never stopped serving his
constituents.
Even
when I was flat on my back in the hospital bed, I returned
phone calls in the morning and the afternoon, he
said.
The
only thing he cut back was his omnipresence at bean
suppers and community events.
The
only treatment hes now receiving is acupuncture,
which he began in December on a friends advice.
Ive been going three times a week, he
said. Quite frankly, it energizes me every time.
Going
forward, Galipeau said hell have to be closely monitored,
with weekly blood tests for the foreseeable future.
His
next blood test is Friday. They anticipate that
the results will continue to get better.
In
the meantime, Galipeau isn't going to let hs illness or
the possibility of a recurrence slow him down. After all,
he has work to do and constituents to serve.
(This
story was made possible thanks to their generous support
of our local business
partners.)
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