As this year’s Mother’s Day drew near, my thoughts turned to­ward the two ‘mothers’ who have had a major influence on the way I have ap­proached my battle with multiple myeloma: my mother, Eva, and the mother of my chil­dren, Karen.

After years of dealing with an array of perplexing symp­toms initially, and incorrectly, attributed to arthritis, my mom, while in her mid 40s, was diag­nosed with multiple sclerosis. We myeloma patients know all about tricky diagnoses.

In a matter of a few short years, multiple sclerosis, an auto­immune disease that …

I love it when a well-laid plan comes together and I can thumb my nose at that dastardly myeloma, yet again!

My wife, a busy teacher, our two energetic school-aged daughters, and I were excitedly planning our mid-March Spring Break vacation.

At the same time, I had been trying to schedule my next quarterly multiple myeloma check-up, but because of other obligations and a full patient load at the treatment center, the only time available to squeeze me in was, you guessed it, during the girls’ Spring Break. Bummer!

Karen …

I recently enjoyed having an early morning breakfast with a good friend and fellow multiple myeloma patient. Like me, he was diagnosed in his late 40s, has young children, has a challenging career, and is currently in remission.

He half-jokingly shared that while the doctors have gotten his cancer into remission, he can’t quite figure out how to make myeloma fit in with the rest of his life.

“Sean, do you honestly think that it’s possible to be happy and normal ever again with the Big M (as he calls it) looming …

Her eyes twinkled at me through the slit below her bright green stocking cap and above the powder blue mask that covered her nose and mouth. She was tiny compared to the waiting room chair. Her feet didn’t quite reach the floor, and I noticed that her tennis shoes had a fuzzy green ball on the laces that matched her stocking cap in both color and whimsy.

I had arrived at the clinic without an appointment and checked in at the reception desk to see if my doctor could squeeze me in. …

Happy New Year!

As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season fades away in the rear-view mirror, I find myself entering the third year of my journey living with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma.

And as with many things in life, I have learned as much about what NOT to do, as what to do. Sometimes the lessons haven’t been easy.

Therefore, in 2011, I hereby resolve:

1. To stop referring to my pain medication as ‘Oxy-cotton-candy’. My pharmacist knows that I use the drug to control bone pain, …

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 …

In November of 2008, my local physician referred me to specialists at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for a diagnostic work-up, and it was there that his suspicions were confirmed. I, indeed, at 49 years old, had multiple myeloma. Whatever the heck that was!

My first order of business, after learning how to say ‘myeloma,’ was to seek qualified information and opinions from respected myeloma centers around the country, to interview knowledgeable physicians and oncology nurses, and to talk with every multiple myeloma patient I could get a hold …