If you are a multiple myeloma patient, you probably understand the costs associated with your cancer. Unlike some people who probably need to trim their budget by bringing a bag lunch to work or skipping their daily latte, that kind of “fiscal responsibility” won't help much with monthly chemotherapy bills totaling as much as $7,000 a month or more!

Financially surviving multiple myeloma takes careful budgeting and planning—no fun when you are already sick and stressed. Here are some tips to help begin or refine your new cancer related budget and financial …

No doubt, you remember exactly how you found out that you had multiple myeloma. There are as many unique diagnosis stories as there are patients. Below is how I became a full-fledged citizen of what I respectfully call "Myelomaville."

I was counting on the fact that Superman would never lead me astray. Well, not really Superman, but Dr. Christopher Reeves, D.O., one of my local physicians. Imbued with an active imagination, it was a short hop for me to promote Dr. Reeves to the stature of Superman. I promised not to tug …

After reading last week's column, hopefully you have had some time to ponder the all-important question: What am I going to do with the rest of my post-cancer life?

As you continue to identify your post-cancer priorities, it is time to set some goals to help make your new life plan a reality.

Goal setting can be difficult for any cancer patient—but especially for those with multiple myeloma. We live in a “no man's land” filled with uncertainty. Many of us are living longer than patients who came before us. Some …

Last week, I wrote that it’s important to develop a life plan after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. In order to create a plan, you need to set goals and create a budget, but it’s hard to do either of those unless you have a feel for what you want to do or achieve.

This is one of life's most difficult questions: What do you want to do with the rest of your life?

Didn't you hate hearing that question from your parents or teachers when you were young? Talk about …

Three months after my initial multiple myeloma diagnosis in the spring of 2007, my oncologist at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Zeldenrust, looked me in eyes and said, “The average Stage II patient lives 43 months.”

That's less than four years. It was an accurate, honest answer at the time. I had pushed and prodded him to give me a prognosis. Like many patients, I needed some idea about how to plan for my now shortened future.

I was 51 years old. My wife, Pattie, and I were both full time realtors. We raised …

By way of introduction, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma on May 5, 2006. That puts me right smack at the halfway point of what one of my doctors said back then. I recall his words well. “I think I can give you a good seven to eight years,” he said.

But, who’s counting.

I will be writing a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon about my experiences since my diagnosis with myeloma.

You can look for my future columns under the title “Birds in Spring.” The title comes from a line …

Having multiple myeloma isn't simple – It's hard! Not only do you have cancer, but you also have a dizzying array of treatment options available to you. Additionally, it doesn’t just affect your health–it can affect just about all aspects of your life.

First, you and your caregiver need to decide where to go for treatment. Do you travel across state lines to a large, regional or national cancer center that specializes in treating myeloma? Or do you pick a medical center closer to home?

What about insurance? Cost …