How many times have you seen an abstract summarizing the results from a study or clinical trial in multiple myeloma that reads something like this:

The median progression-free survival (PFS) for 24 patients taking drug X was 18 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 73 months.

So what useful conclusion can you make from this?

In a nutshell, not too much.

First, you need to understand what the "median" is. In statistical terms, if you have a set of values arranged in numerical order, the median is the middle value.  …

We have a hair dryer at home that cannot be run on its highest heat setting, otherwise it overheats in a few minutes and shuts down.  After that, you cannot turn it on again until it's cooled down sufficiently.

A lot of electronics function this way, as do nuclear plants, steam turbines, and a variety of other devices that tend to break or explode if they get too hot, spin too fast, or build up too much pressure.  In most cases, this helps prevent damage to the device, to nearby people, and …

It seems that one of the most common (and reviled) topics in the Beacon's columns and forums is dexa­meth­a­sone and its side effects.

For most of the 15 cycles I've been receiving treat­ment, I haven't had much in the way of side effects related to the dexamethasone (Decadron).  I certainly haven't experienced some of the significant issues that a lot of others have.

Recently however, the effects have been getting more noticeable.

Still, I hadn't planned on using it as a subject for a column, but as fate would have it, …

Two to three years.

That's what the first doctor told me the average survival for multiple myeloma was.

Not long after my diagnosis, I was making a list of things I needed to take care of while I could and, for all practical purposes, starting to plan my own funeral.

Fortunately, my second doctor was more knowledgeable about multiple myeloma, and between him and a lot of Internet research, I've since come to realize overall survival varies considerably and depends on a variety of factors.

While many people still only survive less …

As cancer patients, how many times have we heard that our previous concept of normal is gone and we need to adjust to a "new normal"?

One of the first things my first doctor told me was that I would need to accept a new normal.

The health section of my local newspaper has a column each weekend written by a breast cancer survivor, and her article the week after I was diagnosed was about accepting the new normal.

I've found myself using the phrase to explain to people how I deal …

In keeping with my "war-against-cancer" theme, I thought I'd touch on the topic of unsung heroes this month.

I had originally planned a different topic for this month’s column, but after reading Nancy D’s comment regarding not having a strong support group (in a reply to Nancy S’s recent column), I began reflecting on the people that support me.

Every war has its unsung heroes, those individuals that work behind the lines making sure the war runs smoothly but rarely getting the attention that those actually fighting the battle get.

These are …

How do you keep yourself from constantly thinking about this disease?

I realize I'm very fortunate to be healthy (except for the fact I have cancer) and don't have any of the physical issues associated with multiple myeloma that so many others have to deal with.  Consequently, however, the battle for me tends to be mostly psychological.

For me, that's not necessarily a good thing.

I have degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics, and as you might imagine, I'm a geek, I'm a problem solver, and I will obsess on any topic …