My initial reaction to the question of whether there are too many therapy choices for multiple myeloma is, “What a nice problem!”

It looks like the newest myeloma therapy, carfilzomib, will be widely available to relapsed/refractory patients soon.   Pomalidomide shouldn’t be far behind, along with a half dozen new drugs that enhance the effectiveness of Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Velcade (bortezomib).

Soon, multiple myeloma patients may be treated with four-, five-, and even six-drug combinations.

This is …

Last week I visited Wisconsin to attend the myeloma support group I had been a member of before moving to Florida almost three years ago.

My wife Pattie and I were members of the Wisconsin group for several years.  We became close friends with many of the members, and I have kept in touch with them.

It was exciting to return!  But it was also a bit “touch and go,” if you would excuse the pun.  At support groups, handshakes …

I just returned from my first air travel since my stem cell transplant in July.

It has been ten weeks since my stem cells were infused back into my body and seven weeks since I returned home.

All of this begs the question:  Should I wear a protective mask in the airport?  How about on the plane?

Those of you who read my column regularly know I normally take an aggressive stance when it comes to what I can and …

As promised, I would like to share my thoughts on the important question:  Is treatment for multiple myeloma a privilege or a right?

After reading some of the comments and emails following my column about battling my health insurance company, it is clear that a number of readers strongly feel that treatment for multiple myeloma—or any type of health care, for that matter—is definitely not a right.

Although my opinion differs, I shouldn’t be surprised by this.  Support for …

Whether you agree or disagree that private insurance and Medicare should always pay for every necessary multiple myeloma-related medical procedure or treatment, it’s clear that they don’t always.

The key word here is “necessary.”  The insurance company or Medicare may not agree with what you and your doctor feel is necessary.

The example I used in last week’s column illustrates this perfectly. Although Revlimid (lenalidomide) is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as …

Learning that you have multiple myeloma can be a shocking, life-changing experience.  It certainly was for me!

There are tests, painful procedures, lots of drugs, and the anxiety of whether your treatment is working.

Being diagnosed with multiple myeloma was tough enough without having to battle my insurance company to pay for the therapies my doctors recommended.

In some ways, I found dealing with my insurance company at the time was more stressful than living with my cancer.

At age …

Last week I shared how my wife, Pattie, and I were both experiencing a post-stem cell transplant let-down.

I am already starting to feel better about feeling better.  I wish I could say the same for Pattie.

In addition to her post-transplant hangover, I believe Pattie is also experiencing “multiple myeloma burnout.”

Pattie isn’t very open about her feelings.  So I was surprised the other night when she shared how difficult it is for her to deal with multiple myeloma …