An international panel of multiple myeloma experts, known as the Inter­national Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), recently released a consen­sus statement on risk stratification for patients with multiple myeloma.

Risk stratification refers to the classification of patients into different cate­gories based on likely disease outcome.

The new IMWG risk stratification, for example, has three risk categories: low-risk, standard-risk, and high-risk.

In the new system, determination of a patient's risk classification is based on three factors: a patient's disease stage according to …

This summer was an unusual one here in Calgary. In June, after weeks of rain, a severe flood devastated parts of our city. The bike and pe­des­tri­an pathways and bridges that are heavily used along our river banks were partially washed out. The system was closed for awhile, until assess­ments and initial repairs could be made.

This impacted most of us here. I use the pathway system quite a lot, ei­ther on foot or by bicycle. I was relieved when …

Results from a recent French study based on data from clinical practice indicate that vitamin K antagonists and low-molecular weight heparin are more effective than aspirin in preventing clots during myeloma treatment with the immuno­modu­la­tory drugs thalidomide or Revlimid.

Specifically, 7 percent of patients receiving aspirin developed blood clots, compared to 3 percent of patients receiving low-molecular weight heparin and 0 percent receiving a vitamin K antagonist such as warfarin (Coumadin).

Interestingly, the rate of blood clot formation was lowest …

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 …

A recent Greek study looks at the efficacy and safety of Revlimid plus dexa­metha­sone for re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients in ‘the real world’ -- that is, in patients being treated in standard clin­i­cal practice rather than clin­i­cal trials.

The study's findings con­firm that Revlimid (lena­lido­mide) plus dexa­metha­sone (Decadron) is effective and safe in day-to-day use among re­lapsed myeloma patients.

The majority of the patients in the study (77 per­cent) responded to treat­ment with Revlimid and dexa­metha­sone, …

Three months ago, my painful right hip was replaced.  Recovery has been swift and rewarding.  I’m able to kick in the pool again when I swim, take long walks, and not wake up in the middle of the night with my myeloma-ravaged hip joint throbbing.

But all my news on the pain front isn’t good.  Back before I was diag­nosed in 2007, my myeloma had been systematically attacking my bones for years.  My ribs, lower back, pelvis, and right femur …

A new retrospective study provides insight into the benefit the new mye­lo­ma drugs Kyprolis and Pomalyst may provide to patients who are re­sis­tant to, or cannot tolerate, both Velcade and Revlimid.

The study's results highlight how challenging it can be to find an effective treat­ment for patients who are “dual refractory” (resistant to both Velcade and Rev­li­mid).

Patients in the study who received either Kyprolis (car­filz­o­mib) or Poma­lyst (poma­lido­mide, Imnovid) after becoming dual refractory had longer over­all …