Videos
In this webinar Angela Hummel MS, RD, CSO, LDN tackles the importance of diet and nutrition for myeloma patients.
Videos
In this webinar Sandra E. Kurtin, RN, MS, AOCN®, ANP-C, member of the IMF Nurse Leadership Board, discusses Complementary and Alternative Medicines
Videos
In this week’s video, Dr. Brian G.M. Durie explains that even if dexamethasone gives you a boost, you should not take it daily.
BOTTOM LINE:
Ongoing daily use of dex is not recommended, and even weekly dosing has its risks…
Videos
In this week’s video, Dr. Brian GM Durie explains how to determine if monoclonal protein spikes in the blood are actually spikes due to daratumumab therapy.
BOTTOM LINE:
When assessing response, ensure that a monoclonal protein…
News Article
This #MyelomaVoices story was submitted on February 24, 2017 by S. Lin.
In late 2013, my finding of having myeloma came as a strange and blessed experience—starting with an annual checkup. My general physician saw the blood test result and suggested that I might have an enlarged…
News Article
Clinical trials play a critically important role in bringing to market innovative new therapies for patients facing life-threatening disease. It is an exciting time for medical innovation. Already, clinical trials have helped realize exciting and meaningful advancements for patients with critical…
Videos
In this video, Dr. Brian GM Durie explains why the risk of myeloma cells in the blood re-infused during transplant is low and unlikely to be harmful.
BOTTOM LINE:
Myeloma cells might be in harvested stem cells, but they do not cause relapse…
News Article
This #MyelomaVoices story was submitted on February 10, 2017 by Rose C.
My myeloma was actually caught accidentally when I had a routine urine test because my life insurance was up for renewal. The result was protein in my urine, and they wouldn’t renew my insurance policy until…
Videos
click on the image above to watch the teleconference
(to view the webinar in fullscreen, click on the bottom right square icon beside the YouTube logo)
Join the IMF’s Medical Editor Debbie Birns and Dr. Rafat Abonour for a “Living Well with Myeloma” webinar on Making Sense of…
Audio
Physically abused by her partner in October of 2013, Denise Brunson went to the hospital to treat those injuries—so much more was revealed to her. In a matter of days, she pressed charges against her assailant; and unfortunately, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Having undergone two stem…
Audio
When Shirley Jonas was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, her first response was “What is that?” A few days later, she was referred to a hematologist/oncologist in Bismarck, North Dakota, and thereafter underwent an autologous stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Today,…
Audio
As a gastroenterologist, Dr. John DeFlice was no stranger to cancer diagnoses. However, he was usually the one diagnosing others. While at work, John was adjusting a patient for an X-ray, and he felt a sharp pain in his back. Soon, he had an MRI and learned he had a lytic lesion in his T12…
Audio
Diagnosed with myeloma nine years ago, Joyce Schultz endured many drug combination regimens and a stem cell transplant, but was faced with multiple relapses. Today, she is on a steady maintenance regimen, and shares that “everyone [with myeloma] is very, very different,” in regards to the types of…
Audio
A 24-year myeloma survivor, Marilyn Alexander has undergone a bone marrow transplant, and her twin sister (as well as caregiver) Sharon Alexander was her donor. Through her ups and downs with the disease, Marilyn has lived through periods of leading a “normal life,” as well as undergoing such…
News Article
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, a national clinical trials network supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is sponsoring a clinical trial for patients with solitary…
Videos
In this week’s video, Dr. Brian G.M. Durie explains why there is no precise treatment protocol for “high-risk” myeloma patients.
BOTTOM LINE:
Get a second opinion at a myeloma center if your myeloma is “high-risk,” or call the IMF’s InfoLine to…
News Article
This #MyelomaVoices story was submitted on March 6, 2017, by Cynthia, who was diagnosed with myeloma in November 2015.
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma the week of Thanksgiving 2015. Stage 2. The doctors say no cure. Lol. I’ve heard those words before.
For those who…
News Article
North Hollywood, CA, August 5, 2015 – The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) – improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure – announced the publication of newly revised guidelines for the International Staging System that are used…
News Article
The IMF’s signature Black Swan Research Initiative® (BSRI®) is forging ahead at full speed in early 2017, with many accomplishments behind us and many more exciting projects under way. We share with you the current BSRI checklist and a preview of the exciting projects that will unfold this year…
Videos
In this week’s video, Dr. Brian G.M. Durie explains when and if a relapsed myeloma patient should undergo a second ASCT.
BOTTOM LINE:
If the first remission after ASCT was at least 18 months to 2…
News Article
This #MyelomaVoices story was submitted on March 8, 2017, by Richard B. from Dana Point, California, who was diagnosed with myeloma in September 2004.
Born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England on Feb 1960; currently live in Dana Point, California, USA. Diagnosed on…
News Article
While Dr. Craig Cole was studying at Michigan State University, his grandmother Vesta announced to the family that she had advanced-stage colon cancer. “I had no intention of going into medicine at the time,” Dr. Cole recollects. “She called and asked me to come to Detroit to drive her to her…
News Article
Spring 2011: My primary care physician (PCP) found elevated creatinine and protein in my urine. I was feeling fine at this “well check-up” until these test results. Anxiety rose. I felt frantic. The nephrologist believed that I had interstitial nephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys. It resolved…
News Article
At 34 years old I was living a pretty incredible life. My wife and I had welcomed our second daughter in March of 2015. We were in the final months of construction on our new house and looking forward to soon calling it home. Yet something wasn’t quite right.
For close to a year I had been…
Videos
In this week’s video, Dr. Brian G.M. Durie explains why a baseline skeletal survey may be helpful, but more sensitive imaging is more precise.
BOTTOM LINE:
Rather than skeletal surveys, opt for MRI, CT-scans, or PET-CT scans to search for myeloma bone lesions.
…
News Article
When Edward Curtis’ wife Carolyn was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2011, they had never heard of the disease. Seeking information and support, the Curtises attended an IMF Patient & Family seminar in Boca Raton, Florida. There, they met Anne Pacowta, the IMF’s Florida Regional Director of…
News Article
Access to expensive medications has always been an issue for myeloma patients, particularly for Medicare patients taking oral medications. Each year, and this year in particular, January brings changes in healthcare coverage that cause uncertainty at best and problems at worst. This is the time of…
News Article
The flurry of new drug approvals at the end of 2015 for Darzalex® (daratumumab), Ninlaro® (ixazomib), and Empliciti® (elotuzumab) left the myeloma community wondering what could possibly be next. While there have been no new…
Videos
In this week’s video, Dr. Brian G.M. Durie explains why serum β2-microglobulin may increase in some myeloma patients, but does not indicate relapse.
BOTTOM LINE:
An increase in serum β2-microglobulin usually indicates infections, but do investigate its cause further.…
Videos
The IMWG Summit is an annual brainstorming session with leading myeloma experts who consider myeloma treatment guidelines and new research initiatives.
BOTTOM LINE:
The IMWG Summit is essential to progress in the field of myeloma…
News Article
North Hollywood, CA, June 13, 2017 – The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) – improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure – will host the 8th Annual International Myeloma Working…
Videos
In this week's video, Dr. Brian G.M. Durie answers a patient's concern about the potential of adverse side effects or toxicity issues from long-term Revlimid use.
BOTTOM LINE:
Discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of Revlimid maintenance…
Videos
Dr. Wilson I. Gonslaves on the Impact of BMI on Early Progression of Smoldering Myeloma
Background: Human adipocytes can contribute directly to the in vitro growth and progression of multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines. Clinically, an elevated body mass index (BMI) has been…
Videos
Dr. Andrzej J. Jakubowiak Discusses a Daratumumab Combination Therapy
Background: DARA in combination with established standard of care regimens prolongs progression-free survival, deepens responses, and demonstrates a favorable safety profile in…
Videos
Dr. Saad Z. Usmani Discusses the POLLUX and CASTOR Trials
Background: Daratumumab (D) plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd; POLLUX) or with bortezomib and dexamethasone (Vd; CASTOR) demonstrated prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and tolerability compared with Rd and…
Videos
Dr. Philip McCarthy on the Phase III CALGB-ECOG 100104 Study Background: At a prespecified interim analysis (Dec 2009), the phase 3 CALGB study results surpassed the prespecified superiority boundary (significantly improved progression-free survival for…
Videos
Dr. Noopur S. Raje Compares Denosumab to Zometa (Zoledronic Acid)
Background: Osteolytic bone disease and renal dysfunction are complications of multiple myeloma. Zometa (zoledronic acid), used for the prevention and treatment of bone complications, can…
Videos
Dr. Sagar Lonial Discusses the Phase 3 ELOQUENT-2 Study
Background: Elotuzumab, an immunostimulatory monoclonal antibody, has a dual mechanism of action: directly activating natural killer (NK) cells and tagging myeloma cells for recognition/death via antibody-dependent cell-…
Videos
Dr. Sagar Lonial Discusses the CheckMate 602 Study
Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) cells may evade immune surveillance by suppressing immune responses through the PD-1 pathway, via upregulation of PD-L1.Nivolumab (nivo), a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor that blocks PD-L1…
News Article
North Hollywood, CA, June 1, 2017—The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) today announced that Paul G. Richardson, MD, the R.J. Corman Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Clinical Program Leader / Director of Clinical Research at the Jerome Lipper…
Videos
click on the image above to watch the teleconference
(to view the teleconference in fullscreen, click on the bottom right square icon beside the YouTube logo)
Watch the replay of the “Living Well with Myeloma” teleconference followed by a 15-minute Q&A from callers. The topic…
News Article
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA – The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) expressed its deep concerns with the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer. Despite the advances in treating this…
News Article
Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders reached a government funding compromise deal on Sunday evening. We are happy to report this compromise includes $2 billion in new NIH funds, despite fears the agency would receive cuts. Specifically, the bill provides for an additional $476 million to…
Audio
David Waits woke up early at 4:30 a.m. to begin his work day with the hopes of being able to get to an afternoon golf tournament. However, that afternoon, he experienced extreme back pain and decided to sit out of golfing. Unable to see his usual general practitioner, he went to the ER. It was…
Audio
Deb Lacey visited an endocrinologist for another health issue, and after undergoing a number of tests at this doctor, she learned that she not only had thyroid cancer, but a high-level of protein in her blood. She soon had her thyroid removed, and then followed-up about the blood protein at Moffatt…
Audio
In December 2014, Bob Nist developed a rash on his chest. After it did not go away, the dermatologist sent Bob to an oncologist, and Bob was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma. After emailing his college classmate who connected Bob to Dr. Paul Richardson at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Bob…
Videos
In this week’s video, Dr. Brian G.M. Durie explains how certain variations in genes may predispose a person to myeloma.
BOTTOM LINE:
Stay tuned to learn the latest on research regarding myeloma prevention.
Audio
As a Nurse Practitioner, Julia Pallentino felt that her recurrent back pain was no cause for alarm. In 2011, a couple months before a planned vacation, the pain began to get worse and her chiropractor demanded she see an orthopedist. A large plasmacytoma was discovered on her spine, yet she had no…
Audio
Guy Ratzlaf was getting ready to go work one Friday morning, and he couldn’t turn the steering wheel in his car. Immediately, he and his wife went to the ER. Before he even knew much about myeloma, he began his initial treatment. Guy participated in a clinical trial, in which he took thalidomide…
Audio
One morning Joe Petty suffered from excruciating back pain in the shower, and his wife Patricia called an ambulance to take him to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. It was there he learned he had multiple myeloma. Familiar with the disease because he had lost a first cousin to myeloma, Joe was still…