Arnold Goodman's Archive

Arnold Goodman wrote a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon from February, 2011 through July, 2014. He passed away in July, 2014. Arnie was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2006. He lived with relapsed/​refractory disease and had been treated with multiple drug regimens. He was a practicing ear, nose, and throat physician in Tampa for 20 years before the demands of his disease forced retirement in 2010. Arnie was married to Merle, who wrote a special guest edition of Arnie's column after he passed. Merle and Arnie had two children. Arnie tried to stay physically active and loved to swim, kayak, cycle, and read.

Arnold Goodman has written 37 article(s) .

[ by | Nov 13, 2013 12:40 pm | 25 Comments ]
Arnie’s Rebounding World: The Bucket List

When I was in my thirties and early forties, before I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, I had a group of friends with whom I would take annual “guy” trips.  These trips usually involved traveling to a rustic area of Maine or Colorado and camping, kayaking, hiking, and any other manly adventures we could incorporate.

Of course, since I have been diagnosed with myeloma and have become progressively more immersed in my treatments, these trips have fallen by the wayside. …

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[ by | Oct 8, 2013 12:18 pm | 26 Comments ]
Arnie’s Rebounding World: Keeping It Real

Several years ago, well before I had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, we had a family friend who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer.  He was one of these relentlessly upbeat, positive people, and of course, he approached his disease in the same way.

Despite the prognosis and all appearances to the contrary, he refused to accept any outcome except that he was going to “beat this thing.”   Now I cannot speak to what he was secretly thinking or …

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[ by | Sep 10, 2013 12:31 pm | 17 Comments ]
Arnie’s Rebounding World: Sometimes The Long Term Is A Series Of Short Terms

This was a very big summer in our household for family events.

My parents had their sixtieth wedding anniversary, my oldest nephew got married, and my daughter spent a month working in New York.

I was able to travel to and enjoy all of these events.

I mention this only because a year ago, when I started hearing about these upcoming festivities, I was in the hospital for my bone marrow transplant.  It was far from clear that I was …

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[ by | Aug 13, 2013 12:48 pm | 24 Comments ]
Arnie's Rebounding World: Hope Is Not A Strategy

I recently met up with an old friend of mine for lunch.

After exchanging the usual pleasantries, he began to relate to me his current dilemma.  Due to changes in the business environment, it seems that the model that his business was based upon was quickly becoming economically non-viable.

He wasn’t complaining or pounding his fists on the table about the unfairness of the world.  He simply related to me how he had been out networking and exploring all of …

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[ by | Jul 16, 2013 12:17 pm | 18 Comments ]
Arnie’s Rebounding World: Medical Uncertainty

I have always been a huge believer in second opinions; however, one of the most stressful and anxiety-provoking things is when the experts do not agree.  I am then in the position of having to sort through the differ­ences, try to under­stand how they have arrived at different conclusions, and then try to make a deci­sion based on available and usually inade­quate information.

It’s not exactly news to anyone with multiple myeloma that there are a lot of medi­cal decisions …

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[ by | Jun 10, 2013 1:17 pm | 15 Comments ]
Arnie’s Rebounding World: Waiting For The Next Shoe To Drop

A couple of months ago, I wrote a column about how my multiple myeloma treatments over the last couple of years have made any kind of planning ahead almost impossible. For better or for worse, my treatments have forced me to truly live life one day at a time.

There is a corollary to the “one day at a time” mantra. Lately, I have been “waiting for the next shoe to drop.”

I am now 10 months out from …

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[ by | May 14, 2013 1:28 pm | 13 Comments ]
Arnie’s Rebounding World: A Daughter’s Perspective By Dori Goodman

This month, my column is actually written by my daughter Dori, who expressed interest in writing an article from her perspective.  I am, of course, proud of her for doing this.

Dori was in fourth grade when I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  She is now 17 years old and a junior in high school.  She loves fashion, travel, and writing.  My number one priority is to make sure I am around for her graduation a year from now.

For …

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