When I look back on the last five years, I can see real changes in my life due to having had myeloma, including at least two years of intensive cancer treatments.

Before I was diagnosed, I was active physically and enjoyed jogging, working out at a gym, singing in a choir, playing bagpipes in a band, and doing Pilates classes.

Pilates, as done on floor mats, includes strengthening and stretching exercises with the aim of building a strong core.  Taking …

A sub-analysis of recent Phase 2 clinical trial results indicates that Pomalyst in combination with low-dose dexamethasone is effective and safe in multiple myeloma patients with high-risk chromosomal ab­nor­malities who did not re­spond to prior therapy.

The findings were presented by Dr. Paul Richardson of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) in Kyoto, Japan, this past Sunday.

In the new analysis, high-risk patients were defined as those with a deletion in chromosome 17 (del17p) or the …

One of the most common clichés in the cancer world is “one day at a time.”  However, I think that it is human nature to look ahead, to plan, to envision where you will be at a certain point in time.

We all have things that we are looking forward to: events, milestones, and trips.

I’m planning to go to Washington, D.C., in two weeks to visit my son. I’d like to take that big trip in 3 months. I’ve …

Initial results of an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial show that Kyprolis in combina­tion with Revlimid and low-dose dexa­meth­a­sone may be effective and safe in high-risk smol­der­ing multiple myeloma patients.

Specifically, the results show that all patients responded to the com­bi­na­tion ther­apy, with 75 per­cent of patients achieving at least a near complete response.

Progression-free or over­all survival results are not yet available, though, to indicate whether the com­bi­na­tion ther­apy delays pro­gres­sion to myeloma or extends over­all survival.

Dr. Ola …

Findings from a small, retrospective French study show that an autolo­gous stem cell transplant followed by a reduced-intensity donor stem cell transplant may lead to long-term control of multiple myeloma.

With a median follow-up time of seven years, the five-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 26 percent and 52 percent, re­spec­tively.

The results of the current study also show that myeloma patients who receive a donor transplant as part of their first-line of treatment appear to benefit more from …

I just finished re-reading my column from last month on the topic of denial about death and dying.  The column generated so much discussion, I wanted to write a follow-up.

Let me start by clarifying my take on denial:

We all need to grieve or emotionally deal with our diagnosis in whatever way works best for each of us; I would never be so presumptuous as to tell someone how they should do that.

Denial can be a magnificent …

Multiple myeloma specialists have begun to gather at the 14th Inter­national Myeloma Workshop to review the latest findings in the field of multiple myeloma. The meeting started in Kyoto, Japan, earlier today and will run through Sunday, April 7.

The International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) is a scientific meeting that focuses solely on myeloma-related research findings. It takes place every two years at locations around the world.

The research presented at the meeting will cover all areas of multiple myeloma, including …