Good evening Cathyann:
Thank you very much for the update. I wish you many many many years in the smoldering stage. Your clinical trial is very consequential and important, as it relates to potentially cutting off active multiple myeloma at its root, before it becomes active. My own opinion (non-medical professional) is that the monoclonal antibodies in the future will turn out to be good for the pre-active multiple myeloma conditions.
Pls keep us updated on the study. Also, as you are a knowledgeable doctor in the field, I am looking forward to your unique perspective. Good luck to you and your family. JPC
Forums
Re: Joining the Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Club
Thanks, JPC. I don't know that I will know anything about the study results any sooner than anyone else. From my perspective, I'll just be having more frequent testing than I would otherwise, plus a bunch of quality of life questionnaires.
I consider myself lucky that this study was available to me so easily. The inclusion criteria were very narrow, and I qualified. The lab where I get my blood drawn is literally right next door to my office. I can walk to the hematology clinic without even going outside (and this is Cleveland, so there are times that's a huge plus). I won't need to miss work for any of the study requirements (or not often, anyway).
The funny thing is that until last July, I was practicing at the Cleveland Clinic, which is a bigger "name" institution, but if I was still working there, I probably wouldn't be in any study at all. Now I'm at MetroHealth Medical Center, the local county hospital (affiliated with the medical school at Case Western Reserve University), and I have a chance to make a difference.
I'm not really a "knowledgeable doctor in the field." My area of specialty is medical ear, nose, and throat, and am trained in teaching communication skills to health care professionals. The last time I studied this stuff was in medical school, when there was "benign monoclonal gammopathy" and multiple myeloma, and nothing in between. I do have a head start being able to read and understand the medical literature, but there's a lot I still need to ask my doctor. He just gets to use bigger words when he answers.
Thanks so much for the support.
Cathy
I consider myself lucky that this study was available to me so easily. The inclusion criteria were very narrow, and I qualified. The lab where I get my blood drawn is literally right next door to my office. I can walk to the hematology clinic without even going outside (and this is Cleveland, so there are times that's a huge plus). I won't need to miss work for any of the study requirements (or not often, anyway).
The funny thing is that until last July, I was practicing at the Cleveland Clinic, which is a bigger "name" institution, but if I was still working there, I probably wouldn't be in any study at all. Now I'm at MetroHealth Medical Center, the local county hospital (affiliated with the medical school at Case Western Reserve University), and I have a chance to make a difference.
I'm not really a "knowledgeable doctor in the field." My area of specialty is medical ear, nose, and throat, and am trained in teaching communication skills to health care professionals. The last time I studied this stuff was in medical school, when there was "benign monoclonal gammopathy" and multiple myeloma, and nothing in between. I do have a head start being able to read and understand the medical literature, but there's a lot I still need to ask my doctor. He just gets to use bigger words when he answers.
Thanks so much for the support.
Cathy
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CathyAnn - Name: CathyAnnCleveland
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/22/2016
- Age at diagnosis: 56
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