Pat’s Place: What Can Long-Lived Multiple Myeloma Survivors Teach Us?
Last week I shared a list of traits long-lived multiple myeloma survivors—those of us fortunate enough to have lived ten years or longer after our myeloma became active—tend to have in common.
The one overriding trait the large majority of long-lived multiple myeloma survivors share is determination and focus.
That is as close to a magic bullet as I can find. Living with multiple myeloma isn’t easy. In order to stay alive, we need to be determined to do so. We need to tell ourselves: “I want to live. I will do whatever it takes to live with my cancer.”
Just like in sports, the arts, or building a career, focusing on your end goal helps make all of the little ups and downs a bit easier to handle.
Sometimes some of us forget we have cancer. That’s OK—as long as you don’t take your “eye off the ball” and start forgetting to take your medication, exercise, eat right, and make your scheduled appointments.
Last week I promised you a “closer look” at some of the common traits long-lived myeloma survivors share. Check-out some specific suggestions a number of these survivors shared with me:
- Learn all you can about multiple myeloma and your treatment options.
- Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Don’t be afraid to seek a second or third opinion.
- Rely on your “gut” to help you make the right treatment decisions.
- Take care of your overall health. Continue to see your regular doctor and get yearly check-ups.
- Keep your body strong! Eat lots of good food and exercise regularly.
- Reduce stress by becoming organized. Write everything down.
- Try not to feel sorry for yourself.
- Carefully balance hope and reality. Try to do everything you can, but accept the things you can’t change.
- Surround yourself with positive people.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help—but don’t rely on it unless you must.
- Expect set-backs, and try not to let them get you down.
It is important to remember that you don’t have to live every suggestion from this list in order to live a long time with multiple myeloma, just as taking the advice of these long-lived myeloma survivors won’t guarantee you a longer life.
But maybe it’ll help. So I’m going to heed their advice whenever I can. Feel good and keep smiling! Pat
If you are interested in writing a regular column to be published on The Myeloma Beacon, please contact the Beacon team at .
Nice list Pat.
I enjoy your column, Pat. Especially got a kick out of this- "Expect set-backs, and try not to let them get you down."
When I talked to our long time general practitioner about Dom's upcoming Stem Cell Transplant a few years ago, he said, "Nanette, honey...Warn him that ants will show up at his picnic.... brush 'em off and keep focused".
As you know, those pesky ants certainly did appear!
Best Wishes-
Nan
What Lori--nothing to add? Come on--you are the queen of lists! Pat
Thanks, Nan! It does make it easier if you are focused on the end result, don't you think? Pat
Pat:
Thank you for sharing this very wise article with us. Every MM patient would benefit by reading it. The list has already found a home on the refrigerator, an area of the home I am sure to frequent more often than not!
Sean
Pat - great article - again. We look to you and others who have traveled this road - and you certainly pave the gravel to make it smoother for us (caregivers as well as patients).
Nanette - I've used your saying about the ants on several occasions - love it! We've had our share of ants but at least they weren't red ants!!
Take care everyone - having another snow storm here in Kansas - so ready for Spring.
Rex and Kay
Pat, Thanks for the great article. I hope to be one of those old timers someday! Another to add to your list, which I got off another blog. Make your informed decision about treatment and don't look back and second guess yourself. I had to get three opinions to feel comfortable enough to make my decisions.
Haha Pat! Congratulations!
Hi Pat, I just started Velcade treatment for MM. I"m 69 and my blood chemistry are all normal except my protien level is 30. It had been 8-13 for 3 years but with my most recent blood test in Feb.2011 it has shot up to this new level. What do I do now? What cal I expect? Thanks for Blog, Don LaMontagne of Whidbey Island, Washington
Don-
Sorry your myeloma is acting up! There are lots of places to get info about your situation. The Myeloma Beacon Forum. Also MyMultipleMyeloma dot com. The IMF's website, Myeloma dot org.
There is a young, excellent myeloma expert near you at the University of Washington named Dr. Vij. You might consider looking him up.
Good luck and email me with questions anytime. Click on my name below the title of this article, and you'll find an email address for me on the page with the list of my columns.