The results of two recent European studies provide new insights into minimal residual disease detection and its potential value in the treat­ment of multiple myeloma.

The first study, carried out in Spain, used two different methods to detect mini­mal residual disease (MRD) in myeloma patients.  The study found that the two methods led to similar results, and that MRD levels may be a better predictor of patient prognosis than traditional measures of treat­ment response.

The second study was conducted by …

I recently had my first quarterly checkup since completing my treatment earlier this year. My lab results showed that everything (red and white blood cell counts, immunoglobulins, etc.) was back in the normal range, or very close to it, and there was no sign of M-proteins. The doctor indi­cated I looked to be in great shape and wished he were as fit as I am.

As a side note, when people say they wish they were as fit as I …

A recent retrospective study by researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston shows that multiple myeloma patients with the chro­mosomal abnor­mality t(11;14) have better outcomes after stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion than patients with high-risk chromosomal abnormalities.

However, the progression-free and overall survival of patients with the t(11;14) abnormality were not as good as those of patients with normal chromosomal profiles.

According to the study investigators, these findings are consistent with other studies that have shown that patients with any …

For a little over two years now, I have been a staff mediator at our local Juvenile Court.

Our court established a mediation department over a decade ago to try a dif­fer­ent approach to settling cases. Most of them involve unmarried parents trying to resolve custody and visitation issues. My role is to help the parties com­muni­cate with one another and try to reach agreement on arrangements that are best for the children.

I am not a judge or magistrate; …

This year’s Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) is cur­rent­ly being held in Stockholm. It started earlier this week and will run through Sunday, June 16.

A substantial amount of myeloma-related research will be presented during the EHA meeting during both oral presentations and poster pre­sen­ta­tions.

This article summarizes some of the important myeloma-related findings that are expected to be presented during poster sessions today and to­mor­row. A previous article covered the key findings that will be pre­sented …

In this new age of the Internet and the ability to communicate online with others anywhere using a personal computer, many people turn to ‘cyberspace’ to find information, to find new contacts, and to ask medical questions.

Consider that ‘surfing the net’ is not strenuous at all and is available to most myeloma patients, even if they have been injured, are in the hospital, or are resting at home. There is an international aspect to it also, which gives us …

Physicians and researchers have started gathering for the 18th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), which will take place in Stockholm this year.  The first education and poster sessions of the meet­ing will take place tomorrow, Friday, June 14.  Additional sessions of vari­ous kinds are scheduled for both days of the weekend, until the meet­ing ends early Sunday afternoon (European time).

The research presented at the meeting will cover all areas of hematology, which is the study of blood, …