I understand that it’s not unusual for any family that is touched by cancer to face a number of difficult decisions.  But from my work with other types of cancer, and my experience acting as my wife Pattie’s caregiver when she had cancer, I have learned that those of us battling multiple myeloma are forced to make a lot more decisions than most.

Sure, second opinions are common after any cancer diagnosis.  But many other cancers can either be cured …

Results from a small German study indicate that a stem cell transplant using the patient’s own cells, followed by a transplant using cells from a donor, may improve the prognosis of multiple myeloma patients with high-risk chromosomal abnormalities.

Patients in the study who had high-risk chromosomal abnormalities had similar rates of molecular remission, which is a more stringent form of a complete response, and progression-free survival as patients without high-risk chromosomal abnormalities.

According to the German researchers, their findings show …

My circle of creative-thinking friends once likened my up-and-down battle with multiple myeloma to being subjected to a series of wildly unpredictable storms.

I suppose that it’s true.

Using my friends’ template, I do sometimes find myself immersed in a rather serious medical situation akin to a violent assault of lightning, thunder, and torrential rains. At other times, I put up with a cold or infection that clings to me like a fog and nags me like an inconvenient drizzle. …

The results of a recent retrospective analysis show that long-term treat­ment with the combination of Revlimid, clarithromycin (Biaxin), and dexa­methasone – commonly abbreviated "BiRd" – is effective and safe in newly diagnosed myeloma patients.

Furthermore, the study did not find any significant association between long-term Revlimid (lenalidomide) therapy and an increased risk of developing secondary cancers.

“We did expect these results. It was our sense from following patients who have been treated with lena­lido­mide [Revlimid] long-term and have not received any genotoxic therapy …

Results from a recent, small-scale study conducted at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston suggest that three Velcade-based combination therapies given at lower doses over a short period of time may be safe and effective in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients .

In particular, two out of the three combinations showed overall response rates of above 90 percent, and all combinations were associated with few side effects.

Based on their findings, the researchers conclude that the tested combinations are …

The results of a recent retrospective study show that the use of novel agents for the treatment of multiple myeloma may not have a negative impact on subse­quent stem cell collection and transplantation.

The study's results stand in contrast to previous research that has suggested that Revlimid, one of the most commonly used novel agents, may have a nega­tive effect on stem cell collection.

Factors in the current study that were found to be associated with stem cell col­lection failure …

The great American writer E.B. White once began an essay, “I am a man of medium height.”

Those words echo in my head as I begin this introduction to my new column at The Myeloma Beacon. How do I put on paper in so many words who I am?

I am a woman of medium height, 5’8”, more or less, which probably makes me a little taller than E.B.  White was. I’ll be 57 years old come spring. I live …