Throughout 2012, multiple myeloma patients and caregivers have continued to graciously share their personal experiences with myeloma in columns they wrote for The Beacon.

In the past year, there was a new addition to The Beacon's columnists, who began her column describing the events leading up to her diagnosis. Several columnists took a chronological approach and wrote about their recent myeloma-related happenings, including recent lab results, changes to their current treatment regimen, or how they have been doing lately. 

Other columnist have written about their struggles with side effects, relapsing, and dealing with the disease psychologically and emotionally.  Many of the columnists provided tips in their articles based on their own experiences, and a number of the year's columns used humor to convey important lessons.

As a service to its readers, The Myeloma Beacon has compiled a list of the columnist articles Beacon readers found most interesting during 2012.  If you sometimes feel like you are battling this disease alone, please read these columns.  It helps to know others have had experiences similar to your own.

Also, please join all of us here at The Beacon in expressing our sincere appreciation to these columnists for taking the time, and for being willing, to share their personal stories with the Beacon’s readers on a regular basis.

Arnie’s Rebounding World by Dr. Arnold Goodman

Dr. Arnold Goodman was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2006 at the age of 47.  He has been living with relapsed/refractory disease for a number of years, and has been treated with a wide range of different treatment regimens – including a donor stem cell transplant this past year.  Dr. Goodman writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon.  Below are two of his articles that Beacon readers found particularly interesting.

Multiple Myeloma On The Ropes – Really? – In this column, Dr. Goodman discussed a news article that stated multiple myeloma is “on the ropes,” with new agents “poised to deliver what could be a knockout blow.”  Although excited about the amount of progress being made in the treatment of myeloma, Dr. Goodman is not convinced that myeloma is really “on the ropes” yet.

The Roller Coaster Ride – After taking a few months off from his column to focus on his health, Dr. Goodman described the roller coaster ride that myeloma had taken him on during the time off from his column.  Dr. Goodman announced that his M-spike had recently risen rapidly and several treatments had failed, so he was going to move forward with a donor stem cell transplant.

Big Sis In Burgundy by Deborah Dietzler

Deborah Dietzler’s sister Deana was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2011 at the age of 39.  Deana received a stem cell transplant in late 2011 and has been in remission for the past year.  Deborah wrote a Beacon column every two weeks for the very beginning of 2012 and switched to writing monthly for the rest of the year.

Perhaps I Spoke Too Soon – In this column, Deb wrote about Deana’s month-long struggle with a series of infections that required a visit to the emergency room.  She also described her own struggle with being located a sizable distance from her sister.

Birds In Spring by Lou Ganim

Lou Ganim was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2006 at the age of 60. After two autologous stem cell transplants, he achieved a complete response lasting three years.  Since relapsing more than two years ago, he has been undergoing continuous treatment.  Lou writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon.  Below are two of his articles that Beacon readers found particularly interesting.

Waiting On Carfilzomib – In Lou’s first column of 2012, he discussed his feelings about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision to grant standard, not priority, review to Kyprolis (carfilzomib).  Fortunately for Lou, and many other myeloma patients, Kyprolis was approved by the FDA in the summer, and it is now available for whenever Lou may need it.

This Is Your Brain On Myeloma – In another column, Lou discussed “chemo brain,” a decline in cognitive function that seems to affect a significant portion of cancer patients.  Despite the impact that it has on so many cancer patients, including myeloma patients, Lou pointed out that very little research is being done to better understand the causes and effects of chemo brain.

Manhattan Tales by Stephen Kramer

Stephen Kramer was diagnosed with myeloma in January 2010 at the age of 62.  After he stopped responding to his initial treatment, Stephen underwent a stem cell transplant in early 2012 that, unfortunately, did not put his myeloma in remission.  He just began treatment with an investigational drug through participation in a clinical trial.  Stephen writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon.  Below are two of his articles that Beacon readers found particularly interesting.

Stem Cell Transplants – How Far We Have Come – In this column, Stephen described the history of stem cell transplantation and the progress that has been made over the last five to six decades toward developing a safer and more effective procedure.

The Stem Cell Transplant And Beyond – In another of Stephen’s columns, he described his personal stem cell transplant experience.  Two months into his recovery process, Stephen reflected on the not-so-bad days as well as the worst days of his hospital stay.

Me vs. MM by Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January 2011 at the age of 52.  He recently completed his initial treatment as part of a clinical trial.  Kevin writes a monthly Beacon column.  Below are three of his articles that Beacon readers found particularly interesting.

The Psychological Battle – In his first column of 2012, Kevin wrote about his psychological battle with multiple myeloma, including his inability to stop obsessing about myeloma, chemo brain, chemo dreams, and the emotional roller coaster he has been on since his diagnosis.

Practical Considerations – Although Kevin’s prognosis is good, he described in this column the planning he has done to help his family care for him should his health decline and to settle his estate when the time comes.

Prognosis? – In this column, Kevin analytically and philosophically discussed how long he might live.  Based on his treatment and disease characteristics, he did a back-of-the-envelop calculation of his potential survival time.

Northern Lights by Nancy Shamanna

Nancy Shamanna was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in July 2009 at the age of 58.  She has been successfully treated with induction therapy, a stem cell transplant, and maintenance therapy.  Nancy resides in Canada and writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon.  Below are two of her articles that Beacon readers found particularly interesting.

Late Frost In The Foothills – In Nancy’s first column, she described the back pain and injuries that led up to her multiple myeloma diagnosis three years ago.

A Crash Course In Multiple Myeloma And Initial Chemotherapy – In a later column, Nancy discussed her feelings as she began to research multiple myeloma and her prognosis.  She also described her first treatments along with their benefits and side effects.

Pat’s Cracked Cup by Pat Pendleton

Pat Pendleton was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in December 2003 at the age of 52.  After undergoing a stem cell transplant, Pat has been in remission for the past seven years.  She writes a monthly Beacon column.

Living With Multiple Myeloma And Quality Of Life – In this column, Pat discussed how her quality of life has in many ways improved since she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  She concluded her column by stating, “Quality of life is living with intention and appreciation – living with possibility.”

Pat’s Place by Pat Killingsworth

Pat Killingsworth was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2007 at the age of 51.  Pat underwent a stem cell transplant in mid-2011 that, unfortunately, did not put his cancer in remission.  After many months of additional treatment, Pat finally achieved remission, but his M-spike may be on the rise again. Pat writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon.  Below are three of his 2012 articles that Beacon readers found particularly interesting.

Fourteen Months And Still No Go! – In this column written 14 months after his stem cell transplant, Pat recounted how he still has not yet fully recovered from the procedure.  He still tires easily, his blood counts take a long time to recover between treatments, and he struggles with rebuilding muscle.

Multiple Myeloma Survivors Need To Take Regular “Myeloma Breaks” – Pat admitted that living with multiple myeloma is tougher mentally than physically.  He said that myeloma survivors need to take breaks from myeloma from time to time so that the disease does not drag them down.

What a Wonderful Word – Remission! – After a stem cell transplant that did not work followed by eight months of treatment to bring his M-spike down, Pat discussed in this column how he felt when he found out that he was finally in remission.

Sean’s Burgundy Thread by Sean Murray

Sean was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in November 2008 at the age of 49 and with two young daughters.  He chose to pursue aggressive therapy, very recently completing his three years of maintenance therapy. He is currently in complete remission.  Sean writes a monthly Beacon column.  Below are two of his articles that Beacon readers found particularly interesting.

Saying Goodbye – In this column, Sean wrote about the many things he has had to say goodbye to since he was diagnosed with myeloma four years ago, including travel, certain aspects of his job, normal life, control, and, unfortunately, some of his myeloma friends.  He joked that if given the choice of taking on multiple myeloma or being slathered in honey and forced to square dance with a bear, he would choose the bear.

A Letter To Myself – Sean wrote this column as if it were a letter that he could mail back in time to his newly-diagnosed self.  In his letter, he includes ten important tips for newly diagnosed myeloma patients.

The Myeloma Beacon also recently published a compilation of the top Myeloma Beacon news articles from 2012.