After a routine blood test, Yolanda Brunson-Sarrabo was diagnosed with myeloma in 2008 at the age of 38. Like many patients before her, Yolanda was unfamiliar with the term "multiple myeloma" prior to her diagnosis.

"[My husband and I] were just kind of mind boggled, it hit us so quickly. I wasn't sure what myeloma was. I had never heard of it," said Yolanda.

After her initial diagnosis was confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy, her doctor planned to put her on a thalidomide (Thalomid)-based regimen. However, Yolanda was not ready …

Brenda Driver, a 59-year old former nurse from California, was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) in August last year.

She took the diagnosis as a blessing in disguise. “I’m grateful that I didn’t present with myeloma right away. Having MGUS gives me a chance to learn about myeloma,” she said.

MGUS is a plasma cell disorder, characterized by the presence of increased levels of monoclonal (M) protein in the blood. Unlike myeloma patients, however, those with MGUS do not experience any disease-related symptoms. MGUS patients currently follow a “watch …

This article is the fifth in a five-part series about emerging vaccines for multiple myeloma. It tells the story of a patient who participated in a myeloma vaccine clinical trial.  The first article in the series provides an introduction to the concept of a myeloma vaccine, the second article provides an introduction to the various types of myeloma vaccines that are currently under development, the third article describes vaccines for which clinical trials have been completed, and the fourth article focuses on ongoing myeloma vaccine research.

Tom Liebert …

After bruising her shoulder from a fall in the spring of 2009, Ayse Sule Sevin, a native of Turkey, noticed that the bruise was not going away. She visited a doctor in hopes of finding out what was wrong, but the doctor was unable to determine the problem. A few months later, Sevin began experiencing chest pain and bleeding gums. Although her doctor prescribed medications to treat these symptoms, her problems continued to worsen. Finally, in October 2009, doctors diagnosed the then 64-year-old Sevin with stage 2 multiple myeloma.

At Istanbul University, …

This article is the third in a three-part series about caring for a loved one with multiple myeloma. The first article provides an introduction to caring for a cancer patient as well as resources for caregivers. The second article provides practical tips for caregivers, and the third article explains the tolls of being a caregiver.

When Nan Manzo’s husband Dom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008, their family doctor shared some advice about how to deal with the ups and downs of dealing with cancer. “Ants will show up at this …

This article is the second in a three-part series about caring for a loved one with multiple myeloma. The first article provides an introduction to caring for a cancer patient as well as resources for caregivers. The second article provides practical tips for caregivers, and the third article will explain the tolls of being a caregiver.

When Lori Puente’s husband Dave was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008, she decided that she would need to take time off from work and her activities in order to give Dave the best care possible. …

This article is the first in a three-part series about caring for a loved one with multiple myeloma. The first article provides an introduction to caring for a cancer patient as well as resources for caregivers. The second article will provide practical tips for caregivers, and the third article will explain the tolls of being a caregiver.

In October 2008, Dianna Allred’s husband, Mark, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma after suffering a severe spine fracture.

As Mark’s pain increased dramatically after the fracture, Dianna took action. “I called the doctor and told …