Myeloma in a Minute or Less: How to Manage Pain with Multiple Myeloma (https://www.myeloma.org/videos/myeloma-minute-or-less-how-manage-pain-multiple-myeloma)
Myeloma in a Minute or Less: How to Manage Pain with Multiple Myeloma
Pain is an unfortunate reality for many people living with multiple myeloma, but it can be managed. In this Myeloma in a Minute or Less video, Dr. Joseph Mikhael, Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, breaks down practical, patient-focused strategies to help manage myeloma-related pain.
He explains why controlling the myeloma itself is often the first step, how pain medications can be used safely and effectively, what supportive therapies may help strengthen bones and the body, and why having the right healthcare team, including pain specialists, matters. Whether you are a myeloma patient or a care partner, this quick video offers clear, compassionate guidance to help improve comfort and quality of life.
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What can help multiple myeloma patients manage their pain? Hi, everyone, Doctor Joseph Mikhael here, Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation. And I'm going to break down pain management in myeloma in less than a minute. It's an unfortunate reality of multiple myeloma that many of our patients experience pain, and sometimes it can be really quite severe. There's no perfect formula for treating pain but let me approach it with you this way. Number one, control the myeloma. Very often it's the disease itself that is causing a lot of the pain that is damaging the bones and myeloma. So, we want to control the myeloma #2 not to be afraid of direct pain management. I know that often we can be afraid of taking painkillers, but given in the right circumstances, in the right way, they can really help our patients #3 there can be alternatives to pain management that can be given along with or instead of certain painkillers. Things that can strengthen the bones, things that can boost the body in general. And lastly, it's important to have the right healthcare team taking care of you, which may involve a pain specialist. All of these strategies together can really help patients manage their pain in the short term and indeed the long term.
For more information or if you have personal questions about multiple myeloma for yourself or a loved one, please reach out to us at Myeloma.org.
Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO
International Myeloma Foundation Medical Advisor
TGen, City of Hope Cancer Center—Phoenix, AZ, USA
Dr Mikhael is a Professor in the Clinical Genomics and Therapeutics Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope Cancer Center. He is also the Director of Myeloma research at the HonorHealth Research Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr Mikhael specializes clinically in plasma cell disorders, namely multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. He is the PI of many clinical trials, primarily in relapsed multiple myeloma, and his other clinical research interests include pharmaco-economics, communication skills, and media relations.
Dr. Mikhael recently served as the Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) from 2018 to 2026 – he now serves as Medical Advisor to the IMF to provide guidance and strategic input in areas such as patient education, health disparities, collaboration with partners, international research, and publications.
Dr Mikhael has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in these fields and lectures internationally on a regular basis. Dr. Mikhael is deeply committed to health disparities in myeloma and is the chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council at TGen. Dr. Mikhael is heavily involved in training future researchers and mentors junior faculty worldwide. Dr. Mikhael is an active member of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) and recently led the ASCO guidelines in myeloma. Dr. Mikhael also serves as the Treasurer on the executive of the American Society of Hematology.
Dr. Mikhael did his medical training in Canada, including a fellowship in Multiple Myeloma at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. He also obtained his master’s degree in education from the University of Toronto. He then worked at the Mayo Clinic Arizona as a Hematologist from 2008-2018.
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