Questions to ask a caregiver — and which ones to avoid
I recently went to the supermarket to pick up some groceries. While I was shopping for avocados, an acquaintance approached me. “How is your mother?”…
Myeloma
Survival time for myeloma patients nearly doubled since 2005
Over a 15-year period, the median survival time for people with myeloma has nearly doubled, increasing from 2.4 years for those diagnosed in 2005…
From Mum’s myeloma diagnosis to our shared mission of advocacy
It started like any ordinary ache — something my mum, Esther, was all too familiar with. She often woke up with a crick in her…
Caring for my mother taught me to recognize my privilege
The first time I saw a patient all by himself in the infusion room, I didn’t notice him. No, that’s not what happened. On that…
FDA approves 2 biosimilar drugs for cancer-related bone problems
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two new biosimilar drugs — versions of brand-name therapies that have no clinically meaningful differences compared…
Why I sometimes hide my caregiver status from others
At my last school reunion, someone asked me, “What do you do?” “I am a writer and a columnist,” I said. At the coffee…
New campaigns launch for Blood Cancer Awareness Month
This September, during Blood Cancer Awareness Month, major organizations are launching new campaigns to increase awareness and support for the three main types of…
Caring for someone with a rare cancer involves unique challenges
Last year, while I was attending a fundraiser for breast cancer, I watched several hundred people adorned in pink shirts cheering with joy and excitement…
New gene therapy for multiple myeloma enters clinical trial
The first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial that’s testing a gene therapy for people with recurring or treatment-resistant multiple…
Navigating conflicting medical advice when doctors don’t agree
Dr. A is insisting that we should start treating my mother with a new myeloma medication right away. Dr. B is asking us to wait…
