First, let me again thank each of you who have been kind enough to answer my questions. My husband has the most positive outlook on this, but being the nervous wife who is trying to hold it together, I am looking for all types of information to gather before we go to the oncologist this Wednesday. As I told my husband of 18 years, I have kissed a lot of frogs in my lifetime and I am not letting him go anywhere. Anything else beside good health and a near normal life is unacceptable!
With that I read this week that Tom Brokaw was diagnosed with this in February of this year and that after treatment this month he is feeling well and almost in remission. Does anyone know if he had the cell replacement or chemo?
Thank you again for all your help!
Forums
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Chrisbo wrote: "Just because someone is a so-called celebrity, we shouldn't put them on a pedestal, unless they have done something to help others.This is just my opinion."
[Moderator's Note: Chrisbo has since removed her posting from this thread.]
This isn't the first time I've seen an opinion like this stated. Here's mine:
Yes, Tom Brokaw is a celebrity. He was a news anchor, and because of the popularity of TV, his sharing of news was seen by many people over his life time.
No, we shouldn't put him on a pedestal.
We also do not have the right to demand from him something we would not demand from, oh, your brother, father, mother, cousin, aunt, or anybody else who you may know and love. He owes us NOTHING.
If he ends up raising money for multiple myeloma because he attends a dinner or a fund raiser, or because he has given money, that's nice. But famous or not, 'pedestal' or not, he's dealing with exactly the same disease the rest of us are, is not going to be cured any more than the rest of us are, and his chances for remission, fame or not, are pretty much the same as that of any of us who have the same level of disease and the same treatment.
His fame isn't going to protect him from the side effects of chemo. His fame isn't going to keep him in remission, and his fame does not obligate him to change his life, retirement, and plans with his family to satisfy those of us who somehow think he 'owes us' something.
Because he doesn't.
So, if he does good things, wonderful. I'll honor him.
If he does not, I won't blame him.
I hope he does, but it's HIS life, not yours, and not mine.
[Moderator's Note: Chrisbo has since removed her posting from this thread.]
This isn't the first time I've seen an opinion like this stated. Here's mine:
Yes, Tom Brokaw is a celebrity. He was a news anchor, and because of the popularity of TV, his sharing of news was seen by many people over his life time.
No, we shouldn't put him on a pedestal.
We also do not have the right to demand from him something we would not demand from, oh, your brother, father, mother, cousin, aunt, or anybody else who you may know and love. He owes us NOTHING.
If he ends up raising money for multiple myeloma because he attends a dinner or a fund raiser, or because he has given money, that's nice. But famous or not, 'pedestal' or not, he's dealing with exactly the same disease the rest of us are, is not going to be cured any more than the rest of us are, and his chances for remission, fame or not, are pretty much the same as that of any of us who have the same level of disease and the same treatment.
His fame isn't going to protect him from the side effects of chemo. His fame isn't going to keep him in remission, and his fame does not obligate him to change his life, retirement, and plans with his family to satisfy those of us who somehow think he 'owes us' something.
Because he doesn't.
So, if he does good things, wonderful. I'll honor him.
If he does not, I won't blame him.
I hope he does, but it's HIS life, not yours, and not mine.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Although I don't know that much about Tom Brokaw, and haven't yet read any of his books, I think that he has already raised the 'profile' of multiple myeloma by sharing the fact that he also has the disease. Anytime that the name of the disease is published in the mainstream press, the awareness generated has to do some good.
Since it is a little known of, rare cancer, it's good to have any details of what it is (e.g., a blood cancer, a cancer of the bone marrow, the plasma cells, etc.) 'out there'. Probably anyone attending the said fundraising event will learn more about his medical condition, and that may be published somewhere afterwards! I agree with Dianaiad, that he should only share what he feels comfortable with to the media.
Since it is a little known of, rare cancer, it's good to have any details of what it is (e.g., a blood cancer, a cancer of the bone marrow, the plasma cells, etc.) 'out there'. Probably anyone attending the said fundraising event will learn more about his medical condition, and that may be published somewhere afterwards! I agree with Dianaiad, that he should only share what he feels comfortable with to the media.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Tom Brokaw is a disappointment. I agree with previous posts that Mr. Brokaw owes us nothing, but as a high profile journalist and author he is in a position to do a lot of good for the myeloma community.
Advances in myeloma treatment and the potential for a cure will only be brought about by people and organizations with connections and influence. I think Mr. Brokaw has missed an opportunity to not only help the myeloma community but also himself and his legacy.
I wish him and his family the best, and I hope he will eventually see that the power of his celebrity can lead to advances in the treatment of myeloma and the hope for a cure.
Advances in myeloma treatment and the potential for a cure will only be brought about by people and organizations with connections and influence. I think Mr. Brokaw has missed an opportunity to not only help the myeloma community but also himself and his legacy.
I wish him and his family the best, and I hope he will eventually see that the power of his celebrity can lead to advances in the treatment of myeloma and the hope for a cure.
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Dano - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Mr. Brokaw appeared on the "Today" show last week. He spoke briefly about myeloma but, didn't go into detail.
"Tom Brokaw is beating his cancer," AZ Central (originally USA Today), September 11, 2014
"Tom Brokaw is beating his cancer," AZ Central (originally USA Today), September 11, 2014
"During a segment called "Ask Tom Brokaw Anything," he told the audience, "Actually I'm doing fine." He went on to say, "I've gotten some very good news in the last week. I hope that within six weeks, I can be on a drug maintenance program. The myeloma (an incurable cancer of the blood cells found in bone marrow) appears to be gone. I've got one more marker to get down, then I'll be all right."
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Jerseygyrl - Name: Kim
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My Loved One
- When were you/they diagnosed?: February 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
I think you all have to remember that Mr. Brokaw appears to be a myeloma patient that may be well served by the currently available therapies. He was diagnosed in his mid 70's and appears to be responding well to his current therapy. For patients like him, treating the disease as a chronic one is a good approach.
"Brokaw notes that, "I had great resources and a great family and I was in good shape going in. so I'm very conscious about what other cancer victims are going through. It doesn't always work out well. This will not go away away, but we can manage it chronically and that's all I can ask."
- "Tom Brokaw says he's beating his cancer," USA Today, September 11, 2014
For someone his age being cured is not that important. I think he is setting a good example for older patients as he continues to work occasionally and is not allowing the myeloma from stopping him from living.
Robin Roberts has been outstanding for younger blood cancer patients like me. Not only has she brought awareness for more people to become donors so more younger blood cancer patients have the opportunity to be cured of their disease via allogeneic transplantation, she is back at work and doing better than ever. She has received a new contract with ABC and has opened her own production company.
(See, for example, this video: "Robin Roberts Launches Rock'n Robin Productions," ABC News, September 3, 2014.)
Certainly does not look like or sound like someone that had a life threatening disease!
My experience has been similar to Robin Roberts in that I have been disease free since my allo and my quality of life has returned to what it was prior to being diagnosed with blood cancer. That is important as younger patients like me that go back to work and resume our "old" lives. We do not want to be looked as people that cannot be our "old" productive selves in the work place.
I could see an older blood cancer patient not seeing why someone like Robin Roberts experience is so inspirational for a younger patient like me since they are not candidates for a potentially curative allogeneic transplant and are not concerned about continuing a career. I think both Robin Roberts and Tom Brokaw are great role models to the subgroup of blood cancer patients they are part of.
Mark
"Brokaw notes that, "I had great resources and a great family and I was in good shape going in. so I'm very conscious about what other cancer victims are going through. It doesn't always work out well. This will not go away away, but we can manage it chronically and that's all I can ask."
- "Tom Brokaw says he's beating his cancer," USA Today, September 11, 2014
For someone his age being cured is not that important. I think he is setting a good example for older patients as he continues to work occasionally and is not allowing the myeloma from stopping him from living.
Robin Roberts has been outstanding for younger blood cancer patients like me. Not only has she brought awareness for more people to become donors so more younger blood cancer patients have the opportunity to be cured of their disease via allogeneic transplantation, she is back at work and doing better than ever. She has received a new contract with ABC and has opened her own production company.
(See, for example, this video: "Robin Roberts Launches Rock'n Robin Productions," ABC News, September 3, 2014.)
Certainly does not look like or sound like someone that had a life threatening disease!
My experience has been similar to Robin Roberts in that I have been disease free since my allo and my quality of life has returned to what it was prior to being diagnosed with blood cancer. That is important as younger patients like me that go back to work and resume our "old" lives. We do not want to be looked as people that cannot be our "old" productive selves in the work place.
I could see an older blood cancer patient not seeing why someone like Robin Roberts experience is so inspirational for a younger patient like me since they are not candidates for a potentially curative allogeneic transplant and are not concerned about continuing a career. I think both Robin Roberts and Tom Brokaw are great role models to the subgroup of blood cancer patients they are part of.
Mark
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Mark11
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
I am really glad to hear that Tom Brokaw and Robin Roberts, both well known celebrities, are doing well in their battles with blood cancers. Treatments are improving all the time, and hopefully more newly diagnosed patients will be able to experience these good results also.
But there are still many myeloma patients who are struggling with the disease. Some also have, or have had in the sad case of them passing away from myeloma, access to the best health care available anywhere. So it would be nice to hear a celebrity elaborate more on the disease and its various forms, if they felt confident to do so. That would be a service to the whole community I think.
I keep waiting for Mr. Brokaw to make a comment here, since I thought most patients do read the Beacon!!
But there are still many myeloma patients who are struggling with the disease. Some also have, or have had in the sad case of them passing away from myeloma, access to the best health care available anywhere. So it would be nice to hear a celebrity elaborate more on the disease and its various forms, if they felt confident to do so. That would be a service to the whole community I think.
I keep waiting for Mr. Brokaw to make a comment here, since I thought most patients do read the Beacon!!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
I think Brokaw served those of us with multiple myeloma well enough in just making his disease public. It never hurts to inform more of the public, and his disclosure does that.
multiple myeloma has gotten a lot more attention in the last 20 years and certainly the treatments have increased at a staggering pace. We've all benefited from that. More exposure won't dampen that.
multiple myeloma has gotten a lot more attention in the last 20 years and certainly the treatments have increased at a staggering pace. We've all benefited from that. More exposure won't dampen that.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Not sure this information is all that dramatically new, but many news services are reporting today that Tom Brokaw has said that he is "in remission". Also, he apparently will start maintenance therapy soon.
Here's an example of one of the stories:
"Tom Brokaw says his cancer is in remission", CNN Money, Dec 21, 2014.
It starts out:
Apparently he said in September that "The myeloma appears to be gone. I've got one more marker to get down to 0-0 and then I'll be all right."
He did say at the time, however, that his myeloma will not completely go away, but it can be managed.
("Tom Brokaw Says His Cancer 'Appears to Be Gone,'" The Hollywood Reporter, Sep 11, 2014)
Here's an example of one of the stories:
"Tom Brokaw says his cancer is in remission", CNN Money, Dec 21, 2014.
It starts out:
"NBC great Tom Brokaw is ending the year with good news: His cancer is in remission.
"A year ago my future was more uncertain than I cared to acknowledge but now I face the New Year with very encouraging news," he wrote in a letter NBC News said was distributed to staff. "The cancer is in remission and I will shortly go on a drug maintenance regimen to keep it there."
Apparently he said in September that "The myeloma appears to be gone. I've got one more marker to get down to 0-0 and then I'll be all right."
He did say at the time, however, that his myeloma will not completely go away, but it can be managed.
("Tom Brokaw Says His Cancer 'Appears to Be Gone,'" The Hollywood Reporter, Sep 11, 2014)
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Does anyone know if Tom Brokaw had a stem cell transplant (SCT)? When I hear maintenance therapy, I think of therapy post SCT, but after reading through things on the web, I can't find anything about Brokaw going through a transplant.
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Melpen - Name: Melissa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 5, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57