The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will kick off its 54^th annual meeting next Saturday, December 8. This year’s meeting will run through Tuesday, December 11 and will be held in Atlanta.

Similar to past years, over 20,000 people are expected to attend the meeting to listen to experts from around the world discuss current research regarding the biology, diagnosis, treatment, and progression of various blood diseases, including multiple myeloma.

The ASH meeting, along with the American Society of Clinical …

After a routine blood test, Yolanda Brunson-Sarrabo was diagnosed with myeloma in 2008 at the age of 38. Like many patients before her, Yolanda was unfamiliar with the term "multiple myeloma" prior to her diagnosis.

"[My husband and I] were just kind of mind boggled, it hit us so quickly. I wasn't sure what myeloma was. I had never heard of it," said Yolanda.

After her initial diagnosis was confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy, her doctor planned to put …

Findings from a recent retrospective study indicate that a second autologous stem cell transplant may be an effective and safe salvage therapy for certain relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

In particular, the researchers found that the second stem cell transplant was particularly effective for patients who did not progress for at least 12 months following the first stem cell transplant.

For patients who relapse more quickly, the researchers recommend salvage therapy with novel agents, such as Velcade (bortezomib), …

I imagine people with spouses and sig­nif­i­cant others have someone who helps them remember. It would be hard to erase the marks of disease from life. For those of us who are unpartnered, it’s easier to pretend – to revise the myeloma story as needed.

Forging new rela­tion­ships may be perilous. Dating involves telling tales and revealing secrets.

Living far beyond the initial trauma of receiving a multiple myeloma diag­nosis is a blessing. In my case, I regard my journey …

I’m writing this column a few days before Thanksgiving, on a bright and glorious fall day.

There’s a little excitement in the air, as we prepare to take the train to Washington D.C. to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal with our extended family. We are eager for the trip, as this is a year we are especially aware of how much we have to be thankful for.

It’s cool outside, but I’m using a computer in a warm, well-lit room …

A group of researchers in India published a study recently that had me jump to two conclusions.

Their research followed 170 autologous stem cell transplant patients over the years, starting around 1990, to see how these multiple myeloma patients fared.

There is, of course, good news and bad news.

The first takeway seems to be that you can make a case that things are getting better.

The research adds to the body of knowledge indicating that novel agents are …

During the upcoming annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), which will be held December 8 through 11 in Atlanta, results will be presented from clin­i­cal trials involving a number of poten­tial new drugs under devel­op­ment for the treat­ment of multiple myeloma.

In particular, results for newer, lesser known agents that are in the early stages of clin­i­cal devel­op­ment will take center stage. These agents in­clude ARRY-520 (filanesib), BHQ880, circularly permuted TRAIL, daratumumab, dinaciclib, …