From Medspoke: An Interview with Myeloma Patient Donna Cunningham (https://www.myeloma.org/audio/medspoke-interview-myeloma-patient-donna-cunningham)
Medspoke Interviews Multiple Myeloma Patient Donna Cunningham at the 2025 IMF Patient and Family Seminar in Los Angeles
When Donna Cunningham was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma, she spent months before meeting another patient. The early days felt isolating, until she discovered the power of support groups, conferences, and a community that understands.
Now, nearly two years into her journey, Donna leans on that community for strength, encouragement, and knowledge. At events like the IMF Patient and Family Seminar, she finds expert guidance, patient stories, and the reassurance that life with myeloma can still be full of joy and possibility.
In this podcast, Donna shares:
- How support groups turned her loneliness into connection and hope.
- Why she tells newly diagnosed patients: don’t rely on outdated internet searches.
- Her perspective on new treatments that continue to expand options for patients.
- The mindset that gets her through hard days: be grateful, hold onto hope, and don’t give up.
Donna’s story is one of resilience, gratitude, and optimism—reminding us that while the journey is not always easy, no one has to walk it alone.
Anna: Hi, Donna. Thank you so much for speaking with us at Medspoke here today. Could you start by introducing yourself?
Donna: Sure. My name is Donna Cunningham, and I'm almost 68 years old, and I've had my multiple myeloma for almost two years now.
Anna: Wow. And what inspired you to come out today?
Donna: This is my second conference. I came last year, and it was fantastic, and every opportunity I get I'm either on a webinar or I'm going to an event. And it's been really helpful because I've learned so much about the disease and how to handle it.
Anna: Absolutely. And how has the myeloma community supported you in your journey?
Donna: They're great. And when I first got diagnosed, it was six months before I met another soul with this disease, and it was very lonely. And since then, I've been going to just different opportunities. I'm in a whole bunch of support groups. Out of the eight groups, four are myeloma and then four are just general cancer, but it's been life-changing because you feel like you're not alone in this.
Anna: Absolutely, that makes a lot of sense. And what message would you share with others living with myeloma?
Donna: I would say don't go on the internet. It's not a death sentence anymore. The data that's out there is old. There's constantly new advances. And if one treatment doesn't work, there's another one, and there's even some - it's like waiting for a taxi, there's always another one coming down the road. So you just have to hang in there long enough for the next treatment, and there's people that are twenty-five, thirty years out. They're still with us.
Anna: Absolutely. And you touched on you've been to a conference before. Would you like to speak on that experience, sort of what attending these means to you?
Donna: Sure. So I've done Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's annual Blood Cancer Conference twice, and this is my second Patient and Family Seminar with the IMF. And it's just fantastic. They have the best speakers. People really know their stuff. You're hearing from the experts, and then they also have patients that share their stories. And it's very encouraging as a patient to hear that people are having successful treatment, that they're out living their lives, they're traveling, they're, you know, skydiving, they're doing what they need to do. So it's very helpful. Really, really encouraging to be around people in the same boat that are thriving.
Anna: Absolutely, that makes a lot of sense. And if you could touch on what gives you strength on hard days?
Donna: I just don't give up. It's - even before cancer, I call it BC, everybody has a hard day from now and then. This is really no different than that, other than sometimes it's like, medically related, the reason why you're having a bad day. But you have to realize that you woke up. The sun is out. You're here. This is just one day out of many, and you always have hope that tomorrow maybe you'll feel better.
Anna: Absolutely. Is there anything else you'd like to touch on that you feel that I've missed?
Donna: No. I'm just so thankful for the IMF, and I love these people. They're like a family. And it's great when it's in our own backyard here in Los Angeles.
Anna: Absolutely. Thank you for taking the time today, Donna.
Donna: Okay. Thank you.