More and more studies are showing that using maintenance therapy after a patient achieves a complete or very good partial response delays progression of multiple myeloma.

In this case, disease progression is the amount of time it takes for your multiple myeloma to return after it responds to treatment, also frequently called relapse. Maintenance therapy can be used following a stem cell transplant or after using novel therapies during the initial phase of treatment.

The jury is still out whether maintenance therapy can actually extend a patient's life, but delaying relapse is …

Air travel can be challenging, especially with an ongoing health condition. Multiple myeloma is certainly no exception. Busy airports, long security lines, and packed planes can be frustrating or even bad for your health.

Here are a few things multiple myeloma patients can do to in preparation for flying:

1. Don’t forget your address book. It is important to have all of your medical contact info with you when you travel, including your doctors’ phone numbers and insurance information. You might consider creating a smaller, condensed satellite version for when you …

On Monday night, I attended a National Hockey League game here in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Bay Lightning played the Dallas Stars at an event billed as “Hockey Fights Cancer Night.”

Modeled loosely after the National Football League's breast cancer awareness program—you know, the one that has all of the players wearing pink shoes and hats—this promotion wasn't as big a deal.

No pink skates or helmets to be found. There were a few public announcements and banners. Young girls did pass out pink ribbons to some of the fans entering the …

Over the years, I have heard a large number of patients—and especially caregivers—aggressively defend their anti-myeloma therapy and treatment center choices.

At first I was confused by this. I didn't understand why others could become so upset and defensive over different therapy choices.

But the truth is: nearly every multiple myeloma patient and caregiver today has been placed in a horribly unfair and difficult position.

I'm not talking about our cancer—of course that isn’t fair! But I'm talking about the divergent therapy choices we are all expected to make.

Do I …

I like to look over other reader's comments after I read an article here at The Myeloma Beacon.

That's exactly what I did on Tuesday after reading Sean Murray’s column, Sean's Burgundy Thread: Staying Connected To Yourself While Living With Myeloma. If you haven't read Sean's columns yet, you should—it is a really fun read.

Sean and I both tend to be very proactive and positive when dealing with our cancer.

Anyway, I have noticed lots of similar comments following both of our columns recently. The consensus seems to be that …

Enduring cancer treatment—especially early on—can be painful and lonely. Having a great caregiver helps. But even then, a cancer patient often spends many hours alone getting x-rays, MRI’s and IV’s.

The one constant and saving grace for me has always been an oncology nurse. And I have had more than one good one, mind you. Wherever I have been treated, I have always received thoughtful, excellent care.

My nurses over the years have served as friends and counselors. They have listened when I needed support and given me pep talks when …

I had been putting off seeing a doctor for over a year. Not my oncologist, mind you. I’m talking about my primary care physician—or family doctor.

As soon as I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma three and a half years ago, my primary care physician, Dr. Carrie Smith, stepped aside, turning all of my care over to my medical oncologist and myeloma specialist.

It’s hard to argue with that—fighting multiple myeloma requires a doctor who devotes their full time to learning about and treating it.

At the time, someone like me was …