Hope isn’t always what multiple myeloma patients need

The title of my column is “Hope Is My Superpower.” In my efforts to bring hope to multiple myeloma patients, I try to focus on exciting and encouraging news about statistics, studies, and treatments from the many research centers and medical agencies around the world. I love to focus on news like last week’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of a quadruplet treatment for a broader range of patients.

I admit I’m a fixer, and my default response to just about everything is to try to make it better. But sometimes the last thing a patient is looking for is an info dump of all the latest research.

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January 5, 2026 by Gina Diamante

Starting a new year with hope for myeloma treatment

Sometimes the best action is inaction

Sometimes I forget that not everyone wants an immediate fix. They might want a shoulder to cry on, or someone to listen to their fears, or someone who will just let them be for a bit.

They want to be seen and heard — even in the silence of the place I call “The Land of ‘I Don’t Know.’”

These are all normal, valid wants and needs, whether you are newly diagnosed, relapsed, or even in a long period of remission. And yes, even when you’re in remission (which your doctor might call “complete response” or “stringent complete response”), it is very possible to experience fear and doubt, because despite the many treatments currently available, we still don’t have a cure.

Nor are all treatments equally effective for every patient. For me, a stem cell transplant was the right path, but other patients had no success at all with it or had only a very brief period of progression-free survival, where they live with myeloma that does not worsen.

Myeloma patients live in a state of ambiguity. Sometimes, the only ones who understand that are other patients also living in ambiguity. They’ve been through those times when the only thing you can do is wait — for the tests to come back, for the treatment to take effect, or for the side effects to lessen. It’s tough for patients and caregivers, who only want to help but might wind up pushing just the wrong buttons in their quest to make things better.

Support is vital

Family is usually the first line of support. They’re the people who know us best and love us even when we’re pretty unlovable, like the time I nearly crushed my husband’s hand while undergoing a bone marrow biopsy without sedation. Still, it can be a heavy burden. Fellow Rare Cancer News columnist Samuel Ike calls it “the unspoken weight.”

Outside support can help lighten the load. My city, just north of San Diego, has a cancer center called Michelle’s Place. Originally founded to provide breast cancer support, just before my diagnosis in 2019, it expanded its reach to cover all cancers, with services for patients and caregivers.

Myeloma-specific support is available through the major myeloma groups: the HealthTree Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, and the International Myeloma Foundation. There are also lots of online support groups, including several on Facebook.

These are all places you can turn when you just need someone to listen to what you are going through — or read about — and find validation for your feelings.

And with that, at some point down the line, you might be ready to reconsider hope.

Note: Rare Cancer News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Rare Cancer News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to rare cancer.