More than twenty presentations about studies involving Pomalyst were pre­sented at this year’s meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), which took place last month.

Several of these presentations were about the Phase 3 clinical trial that found Pomalyst (pomalidomide, Imnovid) plus low-dose dex­a­meth­a­sone (Decadron) significantly improved overall survival of relapsed and re­frac­to­ry myeloma pa­tients compared to high-dose dex­a­meth­a­sone alone (see related Beacon news).  This is the study that led to the ap­prov­al of pomalidomide …

I’m a big fan of New Year’s resolutions.  Sure, most of us never really give them a shot; often they’re broken before the ink is dry.  But what have we got to lose?

I have trouble planning for more than a year or two anyway.  I’m a realist and don’t want to tempt fate.  But one year at a time?  Perfect!

Like many of you, 2013 wasn’t my best year.  Although my hip replacement went off without a hitch, I …

Fellow myeloma patients: Is it ever possible to “forget” your disease?

If you’re having painful symptoms or side effects, or if treatment has turned your normal life upside down, I know the answer is a big, re­sound­ing "No." Myeloma is there every second of the day. But what about the times myeloma is smol­der­ing, in remission, or stabilized by drugs? Dur­ing these times, your every­day life is mostly “normal,” but can you ever really forget?

I usually can’t. Then, this …

The winter solstice occurred this past Saturday.   The temperature rose to the high 60’s (close to 20 Celsius) in Manhattan.  The warm weather melted the ice in Central Park’s ponds and the layer of snow that had blanketed the grass and the paths the previous weekend.

I was sorry to see the snow and ice disappear.   After the snow had first fallen, there were still mallards, geese, and brants swimming on the 106 acre Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir in Central Park.  …

As the 2013 holiday season reaches it peak, all of us here at The Myeloma Beacon would like to thank you, our readers, for giving us the greatest gift possible: your time.  We appreciate your coming to The Beacon and reading our articles, sharing your thoughts about them with us, and discussing them – and many other topics! – in our forums.

The holiday season is a time of many different traditions.  It also is a busy time, when it …

Results from three clinical trials involving the inves­ti­ga­tional drug filanesib were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting earlier this month.

The trials evaluated the efficacy of filanesib (ARRY-520) alone and in com­bi­na­tion with other agents as potential treat­ments for re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

Overall, the trial results presented at ASH con­firm existing impressions of filanesib as a promising potential myeloma ther­apy.

Results of a Phase 2 trial of filanesib with or …

Even though those of us with multiple myeloma live all across the world, many of our experiences are very similar.

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma two years ago. Since then I have been in treatment at a major medical center that has one of the leading hematology/​oncology departments in Israel, where I live.

I have been an active and involved multiple myeloma patient, engaged with my treatment center's medical staff and all the associated ancillary services. I have also …