Just Diagnosed With Multiple Myeloma? Ask Your Doctor These 3 Questions (In 60 Seconds) (https://www.myeloma.org/videos/just-diagnosed-multiple-myeloma-ask-your-doctor-these-3-questions-60-seconds)
Just Diagnosed With Multiple Myeloma? Ask Your Doctor These 3 Questions (In 60 Seconds)
Just diagnosed with multiple myeloma and not sure what to ask your doctor? In this quick video, Dr. Joseph Mikhael from the International Myeloma Foundation shares the three most important questions every newly diagnosed patient should ask.
Learn how risk level (standard vs high-risk), baseline lab markers like M-spike and light chains, and your treatment plan can shape your care. This video is designed to help myeloma patients and families feel more informed, confident, and prepared from day one.
Dr. Joseph Mikhael:
Have you been recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma? Ask your doctor these questions. Hi, everyone. Dr. Joseph Mikhael here from the International Myeloma Foundation, and I'm going to empower you with the questions to ask your doctor with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in less than a minute.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that you've been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, but you're beginning a journey that we want to help you through at the International Myeloma Foundation. And that starts with an important conversation with your doctor. I'm suggesting you ask three questions. Question number one, do I have standard risk or high-risk multiple myeloma? That may influence the treatment you get and for how long you'll receive it. Question number two, what are my baseline studies? What is my light chain level? What is my M-spike? What are those things that we're going to follow to see that the disease is improving?
And number three, what's the treatment plan? Typically, patients are treated with a four-drug combination. Sometimes we call that a quadruplet, and they may or may not go towards an autologous stem cell transplant. Mapping out the plan with your doctor is critical so that you're engaged every step of the way, so that you can get the best treatment possible to get the deepest and most durable remission.
For more information about multiple myeloma or if you have questions, please come and visit 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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