Currently, there are three major controversies in multiple myeloma patient management: early versus late transplant, treat or observe ‘high-risk’ smoldering myeloma, and whether to use maintenance therapy. The latter is predominantly an issue following autologous stem cell transplantation.

In May, one of the world’s premier medical journals, the New England Journal of Medicine, published three articles about clinical trials comparing Revlimid (lenalidomide) maintenance versus observation.  In two of the studies, Revlimid maintenance was given following autologous stem cell transplantation.  …

This past May, I was traveling on a flight from Calgary to Victoria, British Columbia, to attend a seminar in needle arts, which is a passion in my life.  I have been taking classes and doing projects in embroidery since 2001.

The flight was delayed. When we finally boarded, I and all the other passengers found that the aircraft had been switched from a jet plane to a Dash-8, a smaller propeller-type plane.  My seat assignment was still the same …

Results from a recent German study suggest that a combination of Revlimid, Treanda and prednisone is active and well tolerated in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Findings from the Phase 1 trial were presented at the 17^th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Amsterdam last month.

A previous Phase 1 study showed that Treanda (bendamustine), in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron), is well tolerated and highly active in patients with relapsed …

Although thankful for the quiet month celebrated in my last column, the joy was short-lived.  Right after my column was published, my sister Deana, who has multiple myeloma, developed a head cold.  At that point, we were off to the races, as the saying goes.

Following instructions, Deana called her oncologist Dr. Agha immediately and was prescribed ciprofloxacin (Cipro).  Her condition was not improving, and according to my trusted Assistant Team Captain, our sister Darrie, Deana didn't look good. …

During the second day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago last month, Dr. Amrita Krishnan from the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, gave a presentation on the current status of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Dr. Krishnan started her presentation by saying that in the United States, multiple myeloma patients make up the largest group of cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplantation.

An autologous (own) stem …

After writing with a broad brush about caregivers from a patient’s perspective last month, I promised to “think back and dig deep to remember how I felt and coped when I wore a caregiver’s hat” while I watched over and tried to help my lovely wife, Pattie, while she battled her cancer.

Being cared-for by my wife – and having taken care of her while she battled three different cancers for over six years – I have a somewhat …

For one day each week, my children have a special nickname for me. It’s Tyrannosaurus Dex!

I suppose that it is fitting that a wise-guy has wise-guy children!  Here’s how I earned this tongue-in-cheek moniker.

Like many multiple myeloma patients, I have a love / hate relationship with the potent corticosteroid, dexamethasone (Decadron), also called dex for short. I love that dex offers positive health benefits to many of us facing a diagnosis of myeloma. Conversely, I hate that …