Boyd: 'I am cancer-free'

Kelly Boyd says the hard part of his cancer treatment has passed.

Boyd, 69, sounded relaxed when he discussed the next phase of treatment a stem cell transplant.

For three weeks beginning Friday, the Laguna Beach city councilman will stay at City of Hope hospital in Duarte while doctors draw blood and extract white blood cells, Boyd said.

Doctors diagnosed Boyd with multiple myeloma in February and he has undergone chemotherapy treatment since.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell present in bone marrow, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Plasma cells normally make antibodies to help fight infections.

In the last 10 months, Boyd has given himself chemotherapy shots at home with the help of his wife, Michelle.

"The big part I've been through," he said.

As of last week, the cancer was in remission.

"I am cancer free," Boyd said.

This weekend, doctors planned to give him two half-hour sessions of chemotherapy, which Boyd called a "heavy dose."

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Boyd: 'I am cancer-free'