One of the things I think I know is that multiple myeloma is often harder on caregivers than it is on the person with the disease.

To some, that may seem counter-intuitive. You’d probably consider that the person with the disease is the one confronting the harder road to travel on, but I believe such a perspective ignores the turmoil, the emotional roller-coaster. and the uncertainty that caregivers face.

I don’t mean to diminish the impact of what becomes an endless life-and-death battle with disease for those with myeloma. I do think, …

We all realize good nutrition is important. But like everyone else, multiple myeloma patients are often too busy to eat well all of the time.

And even if we do eat well, nutritional science teaches us there are advantages to additional supplementation.

No problem, right? Head off to the health food store and begin loading-up?

How about extract from exotic berries from the Amazon, touted to contain super concentrated anti-oxidants?

Or how about supplements designed to lesson the ongoing struggle many of us have with pain and tingling in …

Hello, multiple myeloma friends!

I know that some of you Northern Hemisphere dwellers are getting hit hard with cold temperatures and a snowy, icy mix right about now. While I hope that you are safely weathering the deep freeze, I have to admit, without shame, that I am a Fall Guy. And sorry Mr. Shakespeare, I suffer no discontent in winter.

Now while some folks like to bask in the fun-in-the-sun days of summer and others are jazzed by the new growth of spring, I eagerly await the yearly metamorphosis from late …

A majority of multiple myeloma patients experience some kind of bone involvement. In other words, myeloma has negatively affected their bones. Lesions, a fancy word for holes, in and around the bone are common. So is a more general “osteoporosis”-like weakening of the bone.

Those of you who are fortunate enough not to have had multiple myeloma hurt your bones should take advantage of your good fortune by engaging in a systematic and rigorous exercise program.

I know, I know—who wants to exercise when they aren’t feeling well? Dex, chemo, bisphosphonate IV’s—YUCK! …

Just over four years ago, a very good friend of mine, named Gene, dropped by my real estate office on a Saturday morning.

My partner Bruce and I greeted Gene warmly. A fellow Realtor, Gene had committed to joining our real estate team later that year.

Unfortunately, we soon discovered Gene had not stopped in to talk shop. No, Gene was on his way home from seeing an oncologist. Gene had just learned he had prostate cancer.

To make matters worse, Gene shared with us that his cancer was advanced and …

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma during December of 2003 at a time just before social networking and blogging took off. I spent a lot of days hospitalized without Internet access. I look back and think about what a nice diversion and support it may have been to be able to connect with others via the Internet.

As I recovered and moved beyond illness to my “new normal” life, I lost track of much of the medical terminology of my case. I also wanted distance from all of that. However, I have …

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of my fellow multiple myeloma patients, their friends, families, and caregivers a happy Thanksgiving!

If you think about it, Thanksgiving is an ideal holiday. Rich or poor, young or old, healthy or sick with cancer, everyone has something to be thankful for. And it is a relatively non-denominational holiday.

But it isn't perfect. It is a difficult day to be alone. And yet large family gatherings can be overwhelming, stressful, or disappointing.

When I first sat down to write this column, I was …