Myeloma researchers and physicians gathered at the 2011 International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) earlier this month to discuss the current under­standing of the biology and treatment of multiple myeloma.

Highlights from each day of the workshop were covered in the Beacon’s daily updates from the meeting.

Now that the IMW has ended, however, and there has been some time to digest all that happened, it seems like a good time to ask: What were the key themes and learnings from the conference?

To answer this question, …

I have written about the challenges and frustrations of “watchful waiting” here in the past.

I believe this is one of the most challenging aspects of living with multiple myeloma—sometimes all we can do is watch and wait for our myeloma to return.

But something exciting happened to me today, which has changed my whole attitude about this.  I would like to share the details with you now.

During a follow-up appointment with my myeloma specialist, Dr. Melissa Alsina …

Results of a recent Italian study show that a four-drug combination regimen of Velcade, Doxil, dexamethasone, and thalidomide may be more effective than two- or three-drug combinations for multiple myeloma patients who have relapsed or are resistant to prior treatment.

“This study clearly reinforced the idea that aggressive therapy, even in the second-line relapse setting, is of great value,” said Dr. Mario Curti, a hematologist at Los Alamitos Medical Center in Los Alamitos, California, who was not involved in the …

Most of us with myeloma have probably experienced those days when some drug side effect has ruined an otherwise perfectly good spring day, or summer afternoon.

In the first year of my post-stem cell transplant days, I managed to find myself in the hospital on Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day weekends.  How exciting.  On one of those stays, I clearly recall sitting and reading a book by the room’s open window, listening to revelers late in the night …

A group of leading myeloma specialists, known as the International Myeloma Working Group, recently collaborated to develop guidelines for the proper management of bone disease in multiple myeloma. The group recommended that patients with bone disease should be treated with standard dosages of intravenous bisphosphonates. A minimally invasive procedure called kyphoplasty may also be considered to reduce bone pain and improve functional ability.

Dr. David Roodman of the University of Pittsburgh presented these findings at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) …

Last week I shared a few of the higher profile, public figures who have inspired me in my fight against multiple myeloma.

This week I would like to concentrate on the extraordinary people who work behind the scenes to help those of us with multiple myeloma.  They don’t get as much notoriety or praise for what they do, but they each inspire me to get up and get going every day.

Caregivers top the list.  I have been there, so …

Friday was the last day of the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) in Paris.  The agenda for the day was briefer than the previous days of the conference.  Talks ran from the early morning through mid-afternoon.

The morning began with a session in which myeloma specialists presented consensus reports on vaccination and infection prevention, the management of anemia, blood clots in deep veins, and bone disease.  The Myeloma Beacon will be covering these reports in more detail over the next few …